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maple syrup。
No matter that he had done this before； his enthusiasm and genuine
enjoyment of the process were in no way watered down。
As for Anne； she was enchanted watching the thin； colorless liquid
bubble and thicken to a dense golden brown。 On impulse； she slid an arm
around his waist； happier in that moment than in any in recent memory。
Regardless of what the future held； she would cherish this memory。
He grinned down at her。 〃What？〃
She sighed her pleasure。 〃It's been a tin week。 This is a great finish
to it。〃 She was leaving in the morning。 As it was； she had stayed a day
longer than she'd planned； but he had asked her to。
〃I'd rather a more personal finish；〃 he said now。 〃Better still； I'd
rather no finish at all。〃
She basked in the tenderness of his expression； loving him and aching to
say it。 But she wasn't setting herself up for rejection again。 And
anyway； just then the sap gurgled wildly。
〃It shouldn't be long；〃 he said； lifting a large wooden spoon to stir
the solution and test for its thickness。 〃Should we have pancakes or
French toast for dinner？〃
〃For dinner？〃
〃I don't know about you； but I don't have the willpower to wait until
breakfast for this。〃
Anne drew a finger across the back of the cooling wooden spoon and
licked the sweet syrup from its tip。 〃Mmmmmm。 You may be right。〃 She
paused。 〃French toast。〃
〃French toast； it is。〃 Following her example； he tasted the syrup； then
ran his finger over the spoon and held it to her mouth。 The syrup was as
rich and sweet as the moment itself。 Anne thought she could go no
higher。
Suddenly； a faraway gleam entered his eyes。 His voice was filled with
gentleness。 〃Rachel enjoyed this taste…testing stage the most last year；
too。〃
Anne froze。 Rachel？ His 〃obligation〃？ She frowned； then stood
straighter； then backed away from the arm on her shoulders。 Rachel？
With that faraway gleam； and such gentleness？ Oh； yes； he loved Rachel。
Anne didn't doubt it for a minute。
He was frowning。 〃What is it？〃
〃How could you？〃
〃How could I what？〃 His innocence riled her。
〃How could you do that to me？ How could you mention her name at a time
like this？〃 She felt eviscerated； as though he had bee part of her
and was being cut free。
〃Her name？〃 Then he realized what he had done； and his frown gentled。 〃I
mentioned Rachel； didn't I？〃
The softness in his voice at the mention of her name ravaged Anne。 〃How
could you？〃 she repeated。 Tears welled。 When he reached out； she
flinched and took a step back。
〃Annie； listen…〃
She took another step； then another。 〃I don't want to hear about your
love life。〃
〃You're wrong…〃
〃Yes； I'm wrong。 I'm wrong to want to stay up here with you； when I
should be back in New York trying to build a new life。 I'm wrong to
think that you really wanted me here； when in one careless minute you go
wimpy over another woman。 How could you； Mitch？ Can't you see that I
love you？〃
Whirling around； she ran from the kitchen； taking the steps with
reckless speed； stopping only when the door to her bedroom was slammed
and flush to her back。 Trembling hands covered her eyes and grew wet
with tears。 The pounding of her heart drowned out the sound of footsteps
on the stairs。
He rapped on the door。 〃Open up； Anne。〃
〃No。〃 She was mortified by what she had said； and heartsick that it had
e to this。
〃There are things I have to tell you； Anne。 Open the door。〃
Weeping； she only shook her head。
〃Anne 。。 。〃
〃Go away！〃 she pleaded。 She couldn't face him。 Nothing he said mattered。
〃I love you； Annie。〃 His voice filtered soft and sensuous through the
ancient wood of the door； and suddenly it did matter； very much。 If this
was a cruel hoax； she would never forgive him。
Turning； she laid her wet cheek against the door。 Afraid to listen；
afraid not to； she waited。
〃Did you hear me； Annie？〃 Again the velvet sound； too dear to be
dismissed； too real to be denied。 〃I love you。〃
Her pulse raced。 She wanted to believe that he did； wanted to believe it
more than anything in the world。 But there was a crucial question still
to be answered。
Slowly she turned the knob and drew open the door。 Fearful； she raised
her eyes to his。 And she saw love； surely she did； unless she wanted it
so bad that she was imagining it。
〃Do you love Rachel； too？〃 she asked in a faltering whisper。
When he reached for her arms； she didn't resist。 Neither did she melt
toward him； but held her line； waiting； waiting for his answer。
His smile was sad but tender。 〃Yes； I love Rachel。〃 His hands tightened
when she would have pulled free。 〃But I love her in a very different way
from how I love you； Annie。 Rachel is my daughter。〃
Anne was shocked。 His daughter？ She had been jealous of his daughter？
〃Why didn't you tell me？〃 she cried； wanting to hit him but slipping her
arms around his neck instead。
He held her tightly。 〃I've wanted to so many times。 But it never seemed
appropriate。 At the beginning； there was a part of me that wanted…God
forgive me…that wanted to forget her existence while I was up here。
Fatherhood has its merits； but it's been my greatest challenge since
Bey's death。〃
He had a daughter。 Anne could only begin to imagine that； much less the
challenge of going it alone。 〃Maybe I could have helped。〃
〃You've had enough to face without having to cope with a child。〃
〃How old is she？〃
〃She turned six last week。 And she came down with the chicken pox the
day after her birthday。 It's the first time she's been sick…really
sick since her mother died。〃
Anne understood。 〃That's why you were late arriving last weekend？〃
He nodded against her head。 〃My parents have been wonderful； taking her
for weeks at a stretch。 They're often more cheerful than me。〃 He looked
down at her。 〃But I couldn't leave them with a sick child who only
wanted her mother to hold her。〃 His voice broke at the last。
〃Why didn't you bring her up here with you？〃 Anne scolded。
He studied her closely。 〃I wasn't sure how you felt about kids。 We've
never talked about that； you and me。 I only know you have none of your
own。〃
〃Not through choice； Mitch； not through