Esme's desk was stacked with plans and blueprints； everything neatly laid out in tall piles。 The desk had a
slew of pigeonholes above the work surface； in one was a box of stationery。 I took a fresh sheet of paper
and a pen。
Then I stared at the blank ivory page for a full five minutes； concentrating on my decision。 Alice might
not be able to see Jacob or Renesmee； but she could see me。 I visualized her seeing this moment； hoping
desperately that she wasn't too busy to pay attention。
Slowly； deliberately； I wrote the words RIO DE JANEIRO in all caps across the page。
Rio seemed the best place to send them： It was far away from here； Alice and Jasper were already in
South America at last report； and it wasn't like our old problems had ceased to exist just because we had
worse problems now。 There was still the mystery of Renesmee's future； the terror of her racing age。
We'd been headed south anyway。 Now it would be Jacob's； and hopefully Alice's； job to search for the
legends。
I bowed my head again against a sudden urge to sob； clenching my teeth together。 It was better that
Renesmee go on without me。 But I already missed her so much I could barely stand it。
I took a deep breath and put the note at the bottom of the duffel bag； where Jacob would find it soon
enough。
I crossed my fingers that—since it was unlikely that his high school offered Portuguese—Jake had at
least taken Spanish as his language elective。
There was nothing left now but waiting。
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For two days； Edward and Carlisle stayed in the clearing where Alice had seen the Volturi arrive。 It was
the same killing field where Victoria's newborns had attacked last summer。 I wondered if it felt repetitive
to Carlisle； like deja vu。 For me； it would be all new。 This time Edward and I would stand with our
family。
We could only imagine that the Volturi would be tracking either Edward or Carlisle。 I wondered if it
would surprise them that their prey didn't run。 Would that make them wary？ I couldn't imagine the Volturi
ever feeling a need for caution。
Though I was—hopefully—invisible to Demetri； I stayed with Edward。 Of course。 We only had a few
hours left to be together。
Edward and I had not had a last grand scene of farewell； nor did I plan one。 To speak the word was to
make it final。 It would be the same as typing the words The End on the last page of a manuscript。 So we
did not say our goodbyes； and we stayed very close to each other； always touching。 Whatever end found
us； it would not find us separated。
We set up a tent for Renesmee a few yards back into the protective forest； and then there was more
deja vu as we found ourselves camping in the cold again with Jacob。 It was almost impossible to believe
how much things had changed since last June。 Seven months ago； our triangular relationship seemed
impossible； three different kinds of heartbreak that could not be avoided。 Now everything was in perfect
balance。 It seemed hideously ironic that the puzzle pieces would fit together just in time for all of them to
be destroyed。
It started to snow again the night before New Year's Eve。 This time； the tiny flakes did not dissolve into
the stony ground of the clearing。 While Renesmee and Jacob slept—Jacob snoring so loudly I wondered
how Renesmee didn't wake—the snow made first a thin icing over the earth； then built into thicker drifts。
By the time the sun rose； the scene from Alice's vision was plete。 Edward and I held hands as we
stared across the glittering white field； and neither of us spoke。
Through the early morning； the others gathered； their eyes bearing mute evidence of their preparations
—some light gold； some rich crimson。 Soon after we all were together； we could hear the wolves moving
in the woods。 Jacob emerged from the tent； leaving Renesmee still sleeping； to join them。
Edward and Carlisle were arraying the others into a loose formation； our witnesses to the sides like
galleries。
I watched from a distance； waiting by the tent for Renesmee to wake。 When she did； I helped her dress
in the clothes I'd carefully picked out two days before。 Clothes that looked frilly and feminine but that
were actually sturdy enough to not show any wear—even if a person wore them while riding a giant
werewolf through a couple of states。 Over her jacket I put on the black leather backpack with the
documents； the money； the clue； and my love notes for her and Jacob； Charlie and Renee。 She was
strong enough that it was no burden to her。
Her eyes were huge as she read the agony on my face。 But she had guessed enough not to ask me what
I was doing。
〃I love you；〃 I told her。 〃More than anything。〃
〃I love you； too； Momma；〃 she answered。 She touched the locket at her neck； which now held a tiny
photo of her； Edward； and me。 〃We'll always be together。〃
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〃In our hearts we'll always be together；〃 I corrected in a whisper as quiet as a breath。 〃But when the time
es today； you have to leave me。〃
Her eyes widened； and she touched her hand to my cheek。 The silent no was louder than if she'd
shouted it。
I fought to swallow； my throat felt swollen。 〃Will you do it for me？ Please？〃
She pressed her fingers harder to my face。 Why？
〃I can't tell you；〃 I whispered。 〃But you'll understand soon。 I promise。'7
In my head； I saw Jacob's face。
I nodded； then pulled her fingers away。 〃Don't think of it；〃 I breathed into her ear。 〃Don't tell Jacob until I
tell you to run； okay？〃
This she understood。 She nodded； too。
I took from my pocket one last detail。
While packing Renesmee's things； an unexpected sparkle of color had caught my eye。 A chance ray of
sun through the skylight had hit the jewels on the ancient precious box stuffed high overhead on a shelf in
an untouched corner。 I considered it for a moment and then shrugged。 After putting together Alice's
clues； I couldn't hope that the ing confrontation would be resolved peacefully。 But why not try to
start things out as friendly as possible？ I asked myself。 What could it hurt？ So I guess I must have had
some hope left after all—blind； senseless hope—because I'd scaled the shelves and retrieved Aro's
wedding present to me。
Now I fastened the thick gold rope around my neck and felt the weight of the enormous diamond nestle
into the hollow of my throat。
〃Pretty；〃 Renesmee whispered。 Then she wrapped her arms like a vise around my neck。 I squeezed her
against my chest。 Interlocked this way； I carried her out of the tent and to the clearing。
Edward cocked one eyebrow as I approached； but otherwise did not remark on my accessory or
Renesmee's。 He just put his arms tight around us both for one long moment and then； with a deep sigh； let
us go。 I couldn't see a goodbye anywhere in his eyes。 Maybe he had more hope for something after this
life than he'd let on。
We took our place； Renesmee climbing agilely onto my back to leave my hands free。 I st