第38部分(第1/7 頁)

She　dreaded　the　moment　of　parting。　What　they　had　was　so　new；　so　fragile；

so　precious　that　she　would　have　liked　nothing　more　than　to　stay　in　the

cottage　forever。

But　Mitch　grew　preoccupied　as　that　moment　of　parting　drew　near。　Finally；

cautiously；　he　said；　〃The　next　few　weeks　are　going　to　be　impossible　for

me；　Annie。　I　have　some　business　matters　ing　to　a　head；　and　I'll　want

to　spend　extra　time　with　Rachel。　Let　me　call　you　as　soon　as　things　clear

up。　Is　that　okay？〃

Given　their　intimacy　and　the　number　of　times　he'd　said　he　loved　her；

Anne　might　have　been　puzzled　by　his　unsureness；　but　she　was　starting　to

grow　preoccupied　herself。　The　court　hearing　on　the　matter　of　her　law

suit　was　only　a　week　and　a　half　off。

She　took　a　resigned　breath　and　gave　him　a　hopeful　smile。　〃I'll　be

waiting。

Wait　she　did；　day　after　day；　night　after　night。　The　knowledge　that　Mitch

was　suffering　through　a　busy　spell　was　small　solace。　Only　the　belief

that　he　loved　her　carried　her　through　to　the　evening　before　her　court

appearance；　when　the　phone　finally　rang。

〃How　are　you；　Annie？〃　He　sounded　caring；　but　a　little　guarded。

〃Fine。　But　I　miss　you。〃　She　had　no　pride。

〃Same　here；　honey。　Are　you　all　set　for　tomorrow？〃

She　was　touched　that　he　remembered　the　date；　touched　that　he　was　calling

to　give　her　last…minute　encouragement。　〃I　don't　think　I'll　ever　be

ready；〃　she　answered　honestly。　〃But　my　family　and　Jeff's　will　be　ing

to　get　me　first　thing　in　the　morning。　I　think　they're　not　sure　that　I'll

show　up　on　my　own。〃

〃They'll　all　be　there？〃

〃Most　of　them。　I'll　have　plenty　of　emotional　support。〃

〃I'm　glad。〃

A　s