天锡小说网

第36部分（第2页）

be　near　Mitch。

But　she　wasnt　being　humiliated　again。　She　wasnt　begging　for　love　until

it　was　freely　offered　first。

Needing　to　make　a　statement　to　that　effect；　she　slipped　from　bed；　went

to　the　dresser；　and　pulled　on　a　pair　of　corduroys　and　a　turtleneck

sweater。　Then　she　went　downstairs　with　her　head　held　high。

But　her　show　of　confidence　was　wasted。　Mitch　was　nowhere　in　sight。　He

had　eaten。　She　saw　dishes　in　the　sink。　And　the　blue　Honda　was　parked

outside。　Deflated；　she　guessed　that　he　was　out　in　the　woods。

Resigned　to　spending　the　afternoon　alone；　Anne　built　a　roaring　fire　and

settled　before　it。　She　had　a　short　essay　to　translate；　and　a　new　novel；

of　the　bestseller　type；　to　read。　She　set　to　it。

Late　afternoon　became　early　evening　without　a　sign　of　Mitch。　More

restless　than　bored；　more　concerned　than　angry；　she　wandered　into　the

kitchen。　But　she　didnt　have　it　in　her　to　make　dinner；　so　she　returned

to　the　fireplace。

Not　long　after；　the　back　door　opened　and　shut。　Heavy　boots　crossed　the

kitchen　floor。　A　slicker…clad　figure　appeared。

Without　a　word　he　approached；　shucking　the　slicker　along　the　way　and

draping　it　over　a　chair。　Then　he　hunkered　down　near　her　and　added

another　log　to　the　fire。　When　it　had　begun　to　sizzle　and　smoke；　he

swiveled　to　face　her。

〃Angry？〃　The　fire　behind　him　threw　a　halo　around　his　head；　but　his　face

was　in　shadow。　Unable　to　tell　whether　he　empathized　or　taunted；　she　went

with　the　truth。

〃No。　I　have　no　right　to　be　angry。〃

〃I　needed　to　walk。　Even　wet；　it　was　good。　I　needed　to　think。〃

About　her？　About　another　〃obligation〃？　〃You　sound　like　you　have　the

weight　of　the　world　on　your　shoulders；〃　she　teased。

〃It　sometimes　seems　that　way。〃　His　voice　was　softer；　more　rueful。　〃Its

been　a　bad　week。〃

〃Work？〃　she　asked　with　caution。

〃No。　Works　fine。　I　have　good　backup　there。　They　keep　things　running

when　I　fade　out。〃