第34部分(第2/7 頁)

　I　was　really　able　to　reconnect　with　Jennifer　when

she　was　in　Prague；？　she　went　on；　her　voice　warbling　as　though　she　were　about　to　cry。　？And　then

when　this　opportunity　to　support　you　came　up？well；　it　just　seemed　like　the　right　time　for　a　visit。？

Dan　nodded；　not　sure　what　to　say。　It　made　him　happy　that　things　were　right　between　Jenny　and

their　mother；　but　did　that　really　mean　she　had　to　fly　to　New　York　and　ruin　his　life？　？Well；　um；

thanks；？　he　finally　stammered。

？Now！？　Jeanette　blinked　her　eyes　rapidly　and　grabbed　his　hand。　？Your　darling　boyfriend　was　just

teaching　me　how　to　make　Cosmopolitans！？　Dan　frowned。　Boyfriend？　He　looked　across　the　room

and　was　shocked　to　see　Greg　at　the　kitchen　counter　wearing　a　pair　of　brown　American　Apparel

cargo　pants　rolled　just　past　the　knees；　rainbow　suspenders；　and　a　crisp　white　T…shirt；　vigorously

shaking　a　chrome　cocktail　shaker；　his　glasses　sliding　down　the　bridge　of　his　nose。　Dan　lifted　a

hand　in　a　tentative　wave；　trying　to　look　cheerful；　and　walked　over　with　his　mother　at　his　heels。

？Hey！？　Greg　grinned　widely　as　he　approached；　putting　down　the　martini　shaker。　He　opened　his

arms　to　give　Dan　a　hug；　his　shaggy　blond　hair　falling　into　his　eyes。　？Sorry　I　didn？t　tell　you　I　was

ing　back？I　wanted　it　to　be　a　surprise；　and　I　wouldn？t　have　missed　this　for　the　world；？　he

whispered；　his　breath　tickling　Dan？s　neck。　？My　parents　didn？t　do　anythinghalf　this　nice　when　I

came　out　to　them　last　year。？　He　gave　Dan　an　extra　squeeze　before　releasing　him。

？Thanks；？　Dan　said；　stepping　back　from　Greg？s　arms。　？It　was；　uh；　sweet　of　you　to　e　back　for

this。　How　did　my　mom；　um；　find　you？？　He　took　a　nervous　sip　of　his　way…too…sweet　drink。　As