" I don't know, Jake. Hasn't happened yet!" So what if I asked you to ... do twenty jumping jacks?"Abbie stood up and began to jump up and down. "What...s the big deal? It's just exercise! Everyone should exercise more." What if I asked you to ... dump your coffee on the floor, and then use your sweater to clean it up?"Abbie looked at Jake, shrugged, and then poured her coffee on the floor. "Seems kind of a waste of time, coffee, and maybe even my sweater. But what the heck, I'll do it!" She. .. preordained, or something. I am having a hard time finding words to describe what I am feeling. It just seems right that I do this," Mariel said with an intent look.I nodded slowly. But I also got an idea that struck me like lightning! It was perfect! Mariel must have seen by the look on my face, and asked me what I was thinking. I just shook my head, but I could hardly contain my excitement.We talked for a few minutes more, but nothing new was resolved. I felt better, though, having come up. .. this pleased Jasper. The guys weren't much better, their whispers only minimally softer but ultimately decipherable. He'd lean in over his desk to catch their phantom and intangible murmurings, wanted to pluck them out of the air and shove them in his pocket for safekeeping. His hidden smile grew wider with every second.Edward had stayed home today, as had Bella.If it weren't for the school gossip, Jasper would have never recognized his fortune. For in the hallways and the stolen seconds. Even on Christmas day, the temperature had to be somewhere in the seventies. Most of us were getting some tan from being out in the open like we were.Georgia, Mama, and Aunt Clara went to a hot springs close by, and enjoyed a day filled with mud baths and massages, and seemingly unlimited complimentary champagne. All of my girls were pregnant, so they contented themselves with a day spent shopping for new maternity clothes. With the three nursery girls, and four double strollers, seven women.