按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
He must have wondered about that quiet； because he asked； 〃Is your
father dead？〃
〃Oh； no。 But it's been years since I lived at home。〃
〃Do you live in the same place you did with your husband？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Does it bother you？〃
〃Sometimes。〃 An understatement。
〃Do you have children？〃
〃No。〃 Regretfully。
〃You're lucky。〃
Frowning； she lowered the gas under the perking coffee。 〃Why do you say
that？ I've often thought it would have been easier to have part of him
left。〃
〃It isn't；〃 Mitch said tightly。 〃Take my word for it。〃
Anne heard vehemence enough to suggest personal experience。 She wanted
to ask more； but it seemed against the rules。 When he didn't offer more
himself； she figured he agreed。 Anonymity was best。 Definitely。
He finished his pie and coffee； tossed a playful； 〃Getting better！〃 over
his shoulder in passing； and left her to add coffee to her own cuppa
Joe。 Soon after； he left the cottage。
Noise from the kitchen late that afternoon announced his return。 Anne
put the finishing touches on the piece she had translated； stacked her
papers neatly； then paused。 She sniffed the air。 There was a new； vile
smell。
〃You went fishing！〃 she moaned from the kitchen door； staring in horror
at the mess on the counter。 She crinkled her nose in disgust。
〃Now； now；〃 he chided； 〃it may smell bad at first； but once this bass is
fried； the end result will be worth it。 You'll join me for dinner； won't
you？〃
The invitation sounded sincere。 He looked sincere issuing it。 This was
her last night at the cottage。 She'd had a week's worth of time； space；
and her solitude。
Oil sizzled in the skillet。 The sound oddly inviting。
〃If you have enough；〃 she said graciously and was rewarded with a smile。
〃Oh； I have enough。 More than enough； and whatever we don't eat tonight
goes to waste。 This is great bass。 Trust me。 I'm a champion fisherman。〃
〃And an immodest one；〃 she added； smiling back。 She didn't doubt his
ability for a minute。 She half…suspected he would be good at whatever he
did。 He had an air of petence that went well beyond an arrogant jaw。
Indeed； the fish was delicious。 As was the fresh…squeezed orange juice
she found at breakfast the next morning。 He was； it seemed； a handy man
to have around。
This was Anne's last morning in Vermont。 To her surprise； when she
headed for the woods； Mitch fell into step beside her； and it was as
peaceful a hike as any she'd had。 There was silence； the soft sounds of
nature； and Mitch's occasional ments。 He was knowledgeable in the
ways of the forest and had a wealth of information to share。 He talked
about species of trees and flowers； habits of woodland creatures； the
history of the area itself； and did it all in an easygoing；
unpretentious manner。 He read Anne well； and knew when to speak and when
to be still。 She was almost sorry when they arrived back at the cabin；
since her next chore was to pack。
Too soon that was done。 With her luggage stowed in the trunk； she put
her key in the ignition…and for a brief minute hoped her engine would
fail。 It was a possibility； wasn't it？ She hadn't started the car once
all week。
But it coughed to life at the first turn； and hummed smoothly as it
warmed。 Which left only one thing left to do。
She was about to climb from the car when that one thing rounded the
house。 〃You weren't going to leave without saying good…bye； were you？〃
he asked； bending to talk through the open window of the car。
〃I was just going to e and find you。〃
〃Do you have all your stuff。？〃
〃Uh…huh。 I left the rest of the apple pie for you。〃
His eyes sparkled warmly。 〃Thanks。 You do make a good one； even though
your coffee is still too weak。〃
〃Then you'll be glad to be rid of me。〃 She smiled wryly。 〃When do you
leave？〃
〃Later today。〃
〃Oh。〃 What else to say？ His fingers curved over the window ledge。 They
were strong fingers； nice ones。
〃Will you be back up here at all？〃 he asked quietly。
She shrugged。 〃I don't know。 I haven't thought too far ahead。 It's been
a good week； though。 I'm sorry to be leaving。〃
〃It wasn't all that bad； was it？〃 He seemed suddenly hesitant。 〃Look；〃
he began tentatively； 〃I'll be ing up the week before Thanksgiving。
Kind of to give myself a boost before the holidays。 Keep it in mind。〃 He
stopped short of an open invitation； but the implication was there。
It struck her that she would probably want a boost herself。 〃I'll
remember。〃 She cleared her throat。 〃Well； good…bye； then。〃
He smiled； hit the ledge once； and pushed himself straight。 〃Safe trip。〃
When he stepped away； she put the car in reverse； backed around； and
headed for the road； all the time thinking that she might have liked a
kiss。 It was a whimsical thought。 Not so whimsically； his lank image
shrank steadily in the rearview mirror。 When the car took a curve and he
disappeared； she narrowed her sights on reality and New York。
How different the road looked this time around。 Parched brown leaves
blanketed the ground； forests of bare branches joined evergreens in a
blur of gray…green on distant hills。 Mountains stood stark； more harsh
without greenery on their slopes。 Leaf peepers had long since gone home
to city beat and thoughts of Thanksgiving； barely two weeks away。
Those thoughts had precipitated Anne's trip； or so she told herself as
she drove steadily north。 On one hand； things had improved in New York。
Her return trip had been uneventful； her apprehension at facing life and
its memories eased by the onset of autumn and a renewed strength。
〃You look marvelous！〃 her mother had said the first night of her return。
〃I like that pink on your cheeks。 It bees you。〃
Even after the long drive； Anne was full of energy； which was why she
had stopped at her parents in the first place。 〃It was perfect；〃 she
said。 〃Just what I needed。〃
〃Sit down and tell me all about it；〃 the older woman ordered； and Anne
had。 Almost。 She didn't mention Mitch。 He played no role in her real
life。 She didn't even know his last name。
At first she gave little thought to the idea of returning to Vermont in
November。 The new semester had begun； and she was up to her ear