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When； after an hour of questions； they took a short break； her lawyer
explained； 〃He has to establish a lifestyle。 He needs to determine the
way you live in order to estimate the value of your loss。〃
〃I lost Jeff！ How do you put a dollar sign on that？〃
The lawyer shrugged； and when they returned to the table； Anne was on
the hot seat again。 Had she loved her husband？ Had they been faithful to
one another？ What had she done when he was away on business？
Did she have friends？ Did she have male friends？
Anne responded in a low voice； willing it to be steady； but she couldn't
hide the shake of the hand she used to wipe away tears。
Mitch whispered something to his lawyer； who shook his head and went on
with a vengeance。
Had Jeff been generous with her？ Did he buy her gifts？ Did he call her
when he traveled？ How often？ Did he ever invite her along on business
trips？ ；Anne had broken out in a cold sweat； but the questions went on。
〃Mrs。 Boulton； you were married for seven years。 Did you have any
children？〃
〃No；〃 she whispered。 〃Why not？〃
She was mortified。 〃We just…didn't have any。〃
〃Did you want a child？〃
〃Yes！ 〃
〃Did your husband want a child？〃
〃Yes。〃 She brushed at more tears。 〃Then why…〃 Mitch cut in。 〃That's
enough； Peter。 She's upset。 Is this necessary？〃
The lawyer called for a short recess and led Mitch from the room。
Anne bowed her head and put a hand to her forehead。 Inhaling deeply； she
tried to steady herself 〃Are you all right？〃 her father…in…law asked。
Her plea was a barely audible whisper。 〃I have to get out of here。 How
much longer can this go on？〃 She reached into her purse for a tissue to
wipe her eyes。
〃Not much longer。 Try to hold up； Anne。 Once this is over； you'll never
have to face it again。〃
In her heart Anne knew that the agony was just beginning； but she had no
time to dwell on it。 Mitch and his lawyer returned to their seats。
The lawyer said； 〃My client feels strongly that we have all the
information we need。 I have no further questions。〃
〃Excuse me；〃 broke in the man who had been introduced as counsel for the
manufacturing pany。 〃If you have nothing more to ask； I do。〃
His tone was ominous。 Clearly； he wasn't having his client go down
without a fight。
Simmons spared Mitch a glance before saying； 〃Certainly； Mr。 Parks； but
try to be brief Mrs。 Boulton is under a strain。〃 To Anne； he said； 〃Are
you up for a few more questions？〃
Anne dared a look at Mitch； but his expression was masked。 Angry at him；
angry at the world； she turned back to the lawyer and nodded。
Parks picked up where Simmons had left off。 〃On the matter of children；
we want to know why； after so many years of supposedly wanting them； you
never had them。〃
Anne stared at the man in astonishment。 She couldn't imagine any greater
invasion of her privacy than this。
Terrence Carpenter leaned sideways to explain in a low voice； 〃They want
to know the extent of your loss in terms of future parenthood。 If you
and Jeff wanted a child and he's no longer here to sire it； the loss is
greater。 Do you understand？〃
She nodded。 Yes。 She could understand that。
She took a breath。 〃We wanted to have a child； but it just never 。。。
happened。〃
〃You mean； you never conceived？〃
〃I did conceive。 TWICE。 I miscarried both times。〃 In the silence that
followed； her father…in…law took her hand。
〃Did you see doctors？〃 the lawyer prodded。
〃Of course！〃 Her voice rose。 As if the memories weren't painful enough；
the humiliation of airing them before this hostile group was traumatic。
〃They couldn't find a cause。 They insisted that another time the baby
would be fine。〃
〃And you kept trying？〃
〃How could I； Mr。 Parks？ My husband died。〃
Her words brought silence to the room。 Anne sat stiff； clenched her jaw；
and looked nowhere but at the lawyer； who quickly redirected the
discussion。
〃Do you date； Mrs。 Boulton？〃 When she frowned； he rephrased the
question。 〃Have you begun to date since your husband's death？〃
The sudden hammering in her chest threatened to rob her of breath。 She
refused； absolutely refused to look at Mitch。 〃No；〃 she whispered。
〃I'm sorry； I couldn't hear that； Mrs。 Boulton。〃
She raised her voice。 〃No。〃 It was a technicality； she knew； but she
didn't care。
〃That's hard to believe； if you'll excuse me for saying so。 You're an
attractive young woman。 Aren't you planning to date？〃
〃Not now；〃 she said with a bitter laugh。 After what Mitch had done； she
was a wasteland inside。
〃Wouldn't you like to marry again？〃
〃No。〃
Disappointed at not ferreting out information that would help his
client； Parks made a final stab。 〃You mean； there have been no men in
your life…〃
〃The woman answered you once； Mr。 Parks；〃 Peter Simmons broke in
forcefully。 〃Unless you have anything different to ask； I suggest we let
Mrs。 Boulton go。 There are other depositions to be taken； from my client
and yours。〃
Reluctantly the other lawyer agreed。 〃Very well。 Thank you； Mrs。
Boulton。 I have no further questions。〃
Anne heard nothing of the remaining exchange。 Feeling hollowed out； she
let her father…in…law guide her from the room and the building； then
drive her home。
〃There； now； that wasn't so bad；〃 he said when they were back at Anne's
place； but her silence must have tipped him off。 He went to the liquor
cabi and returned with a glass of amber liquid。 〃Drink this。 It'll
help。〃
She downed the liquid quickly； sputtering in reaction to the flame that
scared her throat。 Unable to think； much less speak； she let her head
fall back against the sofa and closed her eyes to the world。
〃Let me call your mother； Anne。 She'll want to be with you。〃
Anne shook her head once； then again。
〃Are you sure？ Would you like me to stay awhile？〃
She forced her head up and her eyes open。 〃No。 I think I'd like to be
alone。〃
He looked torn； but he bent and kissed her head。 〃It's over now。 Keep
telling yourself that。 It's all over。〃 With a reassuring pat to her
shoulder； he let himself out。
Over。 Well； it certainly was that。 Anne's heart might have grieved for
what had been lost that day； but her mind simply shu