第5部分(第1/7 頁)

you　say？　Small？？　He　gestured　with　his　hands　to　indicate　someone　short。

Vanessa　nodded；　taking　a　sip　of　the　dark　beer。　？You　mean　when　she　was　a　little　girl？？　？Yes！？

Piotr　said　with　relief。　？Little　girl。　Anyway；　she　tell　me　how　she　and　you？？he　pointed　at　Vanessa

with　his　full　glass？？make　tea　party　with　apple　juice？？　She　burst　out　laughing；　trying　not　to　spit　a

mouthful　of

Guinness　all　over　the　table。　That　wasnot　what　she？d　been　expecting　Piotr　to　say。　She　remembered

how　she　and　Ruby　used　to　play　dress…up　in　their　mother？s　closet　for　hours；　putting　together

outrageous　ensembles　of　feathers；　beads；　and　long；　tie…dyed　hippie　dresses　before　sitting　down　at

the　kitchen　table　to　drink　Red　Cheek　apple　juice　from　their　mother？s　special　china　cups。　They？d

sit　there　for　hours；　talking　in　fake　British　accents　and　giggling　as　they　said　things　like　？Pass　the

bloody　crumpets！？　and　？Hand　me　me　bloomin？　bloomers！？　even　though　that　one　didn？t　even

make　sense。

？So；　I　look　all　day；？　Piotr　continued；　refilling　his　and　Vanessa？s　now…empty　glasses；　？for　antique

tea　set　for　her；　and　I　finally　find　one　this　afternoon。？　He　looked　up　worriedly；　his　forehead　a　mass

of　wrinkles。　？You　think　she　will　like？？　Vanessa　looked　at　the　concern　in　Piotr？s　blue　eyes；　the　love

that　was　so　obviously　there　for　her　sister；　and　something　inside　her　melted。　He　obviously　loved

Ruby？only　a　guy　in　love　would　run　around　New　York　all　day　to　find　a　freaking　tea　set。

？Yes。？　Vanessa　nodded；　raising　her　camera　to　her　face　and　pointing　it　toward　the　stage　to　check

the　exposure；　but　mostly　to　hide　the　fact　that　she　was　touched。　？I　think　she　will　likevery　much。？

Seeing　Piotr　so　obviously　in　lo