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and your friends； finding someone else to love； having babies。〃 His
cheeks reddened。 〃e the day you do have a baby； I'll think of it as
my own grandchild。〃
Anne's eyes filled with tears。 Reaching out； she hugged him soundly。
〃Thank you。〃 He had lifted a burden from her shoulders。 She felt better
knowing that when she told them about Mitch； they would support her。 She
prayed that that day would e soon； particularly once this one was
over。 The midmorning traffic was heavy。 Sitting in it on Manhattan's
residential side streets； Anne looked around for a distraction from the
uping interview。 Her eyes fell on the first of the flowers that had
appeared in window boxes； then； when the car reached the wider avenues；
on trees that were beginning to bud。 They were tall； thin； and pale；
pared to her memory of the trees in Vermont。
Those Vermont trees； being farther north and later to blossom； would be
barely swelling with buds now； but those buds held promise of a rich and
fruitful spring。
Soon； Mitch had said。 Soon they would talk again。 Soon they would see
each other； and the waiting would be done。
Her father…in…law touched her hand as they waited for a traffic light to
change。 〃Such a wistful look。〃
She sighed。 〃I'll just be glad when this is over。〃
He smiled Jeff's warm and reassuring smile。 〃It's going to be fine；
Anne。 Just fine。〃
Within minutes； he pulled into a parking lot and guided Anne into the
posh skyscraper that housed the offices of the attorney for Southeast
American Air。 The elevator ride to the sixty…eighth floor seemed
endless。 Her palms were moist and her stomach jumpy by the time they
finally reached the law firm。
The Boulton family attorney； Terrence Carpenter； met then in the outer
waiting room。 He spent several minutes explaining the types of questions
Anne would be asked； then led her through the double doors。 They walked
down long corridors of secretaries' stations； past open doors of office
after office to one at the very end of the hall。
It was a conference room； dominated by a long； rectangular table of a
rich wood； surrounded by large leather chairs。 On the opposite side was
the window； but the city seemed far away from this height。 The wall to
her left held oil paintings of past partners； the one to her right
offered blackboards and panels； a television set； and a bar。
Others were already in the room； a woman and several men talking
intently； but they quickly grew silent。 Anne felt every pair of their
eyes turn her way。
〃Coffee； Mrs。 Boulton？〃 her attorney asked； gesturing toward the
percolator at the side of the room。
〃Yes…ah…no；〃 she whispered。 Caffeine was the last thing her jangling
nerves needed。 But her mouth was very dry。 〃If I could have some water；
that would be fine。〃
Moments later； when she had her water and a seat on one side of the long
table； a man from the other group approached her。 〃We'll be ready to
start soon； Mrs。 Boulton。 My client should be here momentarily。〃
Terrence Carpenter； who sat on her left； leaned in when the man left。
〃That was Peter Simmons； counsel for SEAA。 He'll be deposing you。 He'll
introduce you to the others； but I believe the tall dark fellow is the
attorney for Jet…Star Aircraft； the manufacturer； and the man with him
must be its president。〃
Anne nodded and took a sip of water。 She wasn't sure she could do this。
It had been bad enough in the instant when they had looked at her。 She
had felt like the guilty party； rather than the one who had been
wronged。
A professional…looking woman entered the room； whispered something to
Peter Simmons； then left； closing the door behind her。
Simmons cleared his throat； 〃Ladies and gentlemen； let's begin。 My
client is delayed and will join us shortly。〃
The others took their seats。 Formal introductions were made； ending with
the stenographer； who would be making transcripts of the meeting。 She
was the one who put Anne under oath。
The next fifteen minutes passed harmlessly enough。 Peter Simmons posed
questions； Anne answered them。 It was much as she had been told to
expect； straightforward questions so innocuous that she was actually
feeling a sense of security。
Then the door opened quietly and Simmons' client slipped into the room。
The lawyer said； 〃For the record； this is the President of SEAA；
Mitchell D。 Anderson； Jr。〃
The only thing Anne could even begin to appreciate was that all eyes in
the room were momentarily somewhere else。 She felt her color drain and
her stomach twist； felt a shaking； then shock； pure shock。
It was Mitch。 Wearing an immaculately tailored blue suit。 Groomed
impeccably。 Tall； well…built； and handsome。 Hair neatly brushed； jaw
firm and confident； eyes looking everywhere but at her。
It was Mitch。 Head of the airline that she was suing。 What had he said；
that he had 〃other interests〃 beside real estate？ When she had prodded；
he evaded her。 Then he had known all along？ Had he planned the whole
thing？ How naive she had been！
She fought a rising nausea when he crossed the room and took a seat
beside his lawyer； who proceeded to introduce him to the others in the
room。 When her name was given； he nodded politely； for all indications a
total stranger meeting her for the first time。
The situation was so unreal； so horrific； that she actually distanced
herself and found the strength to go on。 Her voice was more unsteady；
and she didn't dare take a drink of water lest her trembling hand spill
it； but she managed。 She kept her eyes on the lawyer； pletely
blotting out the man to his right。
When did she meet Jeff？ How long had she known him before their
marriage？ How long had they been married？ Where did his family live？
Her family？ How many members in each？
The questions grew more personal。 What had Jeff done for a living？
How long had he done it？ Annual ine？ Rising or steady？ Did their
parents help them financially？ Did they travel？ How often and where to？
How much rent did she pay each month？
Had Anne been herself； she would have been annoyed with the questions。
When； after an hour of questions； they took a short break； her lawyer
explained； 〃He has to establ