Esme wrapped an arm around me, pulling me against her side. "Thank goodness Alice made it in time." She gave my shoulders a gentle squeeze, and then took one of my hands as she rose to her feet. I stood as well when she gave my hand a gentle tug. "Why don't we pause the inquisition for just a little while? You must be hungry." She beamed encouragingly at me, and I couldn't help but smile back. I had made only a brief mention that I'd been raised on human food and still preferred it to hunting most of the time, and I couldn't doubt the genuine kindness in her eyes as she offered.

"You don't have to go to any trouble Esme," I started to say, but she was already leading me into the bright, white kitchen. The morning sunshine streamed in through a window that appeared to encompass the entire southern wall. The snow that blanketed the grass and trees magnified the daylight; the cool light was almost harsh in contrast to the warmth of the living room, but the change of scenery was welcome. I exhaled as if I had been holding my breath for the last hour.

From the other room, I could hear quiet but rapid talking as the others - most of whom I could not even name - peppered Edward with questions. I had long resented my father's ability to read every thought with a single touch, and I imagine living with someone who could pluck anything from your mind as soon as it manifested would be difficult, but for now, I was grateful that someone else could answer their questions. I sat down at the center island in the kitchen as Esme busied herself, whirling around the kitchen pulling things out of cabinets and the refrigerator.

"Please, Esme, don't worry…"

She paused, raised one eyebrow, and held up one finger. Something beeped and she plucked a mug from the counter, filled it with coffee, and placed it in front of me. It smelled delicious, and I took a grateful sip, shaking my head when she held up sugar and creamer.

"This is wonderful," I said. "Thank you."

"You said something about being a doctor when you were talking before." She nodded toward the mug that I gripped in both hands. "Carlisle's a doctor, did you know that?"

I shook my head and took another sip. A vampire doctor. I thought I was weird enough practicing medicine while only half-human but I couldn't imagine doing that while dealing with the burning thirst that full vampires have to live with.

"He doesn't drink coffee, of course," Esme continued while my thoughts raced. "But he always takes a mug with him, and carries some throughout the day."

"It keeps my hands warm." I jumped at the sound of Carlisle's voice as he strolled into the kitchen, leaning against the counter opposite from where I sat. Esme handed him a knife and an onion, which he set to work slicing at once.

I grinned. "That's a good trick." I bit my lip, debating the question I was pondering before he came in, but he beat me to it.

"The blood hardly bothers me anymore. It took a long time, and a lot of practice, but now, when I'm working with patients, I can almost completely ignore the burn." He glanced up at me, still chopping while he spoke. "I'm sure you know we're a bit…unusual."

Before I could do more than nod, the door to the outside burst open, and a gust of frigid air blasted into the kitchen. Two men, howling with laughter shoved each other through the door. Esme whipped around, pointing a spatula in their direction.

"Boys you better not be tracking an entire snowdrift into this house."

I watched over my shoulder as Kate sauntered in, reaching to give one of the men a hug. I recognized him - my father had called him Garrett after he made a valiant speech in defense of Carlisle's family.

"Jesus, you're soaked through," she said, pushing away as the man shook off ice pellets into her hair.

"It's Christopher's fault," he sputtered, chuckling once more. I watched as his jovial mood fell away, a look of deep concern reshaping his expression as he pulled back to look at her face.

Christopher, for his part, raised his hands as if in surrender. "Guilty." I caught his eye as I watched the commotion over my shoulder, and I thought it must have been me, but I would have sworn his mood shifted just as quickly as Garrett's had. With his head tilted and his eyes firmly fixed on mine, Christopher turned on his heel and started walking toward me.

"You're new."