天锡小说网

第22部分（第2页）

near　sixty　years。　Anne　took　the　darkness　of　her　hair　and　eyes　from　him；

though　her　willowed　shapeliness　was　her　mothers。　〃But　wed　have　liked

to　have　you　join　us　on　the　shore　in　several　weeks。　Wont　you　reconsider

and　wait　until　then？〃

Anne　shook　her　head。　Not　a　hair　moved。　It　was　in　a　somber　knot　at　the

nape　of　her　neck。　〃Nows　the　time。　Ive　already　made　the　arrangements

and　paid　for　the　place。〃

Her　mother　tried　again。　〃But　youve　never　enjoyed　traveling　alone。

Wouldnt　it　be　better　to　have　someone　with　you？　If　I　didnt　have　the

charity　luncheon　on　Wednesday；　Id　go　with　you　myself。　You　need　pany；

Anne。〃

Anne　hated　worrying　her　parents。　They　had　suffered　nearly　as　much　as　she

had；　having　to　stand　by　and　watch　helplessly　as　their　elder　daughters

life　fell　apart。　When　they　looked　at　her；　Anne　knew　what　they　saw。　She

saw　it　in　the　mirror　each　morning；　the　pallor　in　an　oval　face　framed　by

pitch…black　hair。

Still；　she　said；　〃I　really　have　no　choice；　have　I；　Mother？　Ive　been

more　fortunate　than　others；　always　having　someone　to　be　with。　When　it

wasnt　you　and　Dad；　it　was　Peggy；　then　my　roommates　at　college；　then

Jeff。〃　Her　voice　caught　on　his　name。　She　had　long…since　cried　herself

out；　but　that　little　break　in　her　breath　remained。

Marjorie　Faulke　grasped　at　straws。　〃Call　Peggy。　She　wont　be　starting

classes　for　another　few　weeks。　Shell　make　the　trip　with　you。〃

But　Anne　shook　her　head。　〃No；　Mom。　Peggys　terrific。　For　a　sister；　I

couldnt　ask　for　finer。　But　she　has　her　own　life；　her　own　friends。　Its

not　her　job　to　baby…sit　me。　And　Id　really　prefer　to　be　alone。〃　Her

voice　hardened。　〃Id　better　get　used　to　it；　dont　you　think？〃　Oh；　yes；

there　was　anger。　Its　only　cure　was　through　the　courts；　but　it　would　be

months　more　before　things　were　resolved　there。

A　silence　had　hung　over　the　intimate　round　table；　its　elegant　place

settings　and　fine　food　for　otten。　This　had　bee　a　pattern；　this　family

gathering　turned　wake；　but　it　had　to　be　broken。　Anne　had　to　start　to

live　again。　The　trip　to　Vermont　was　a　first　step。

As　the　full　blaze　in　the　fireplace　settled　to　a　more　sedate　crackle；　the

patter　of　raindrops　broke　through　Annes　reverie。　Stretching　her　legs；