第38部分(第2/7 頁)

ilence　fell。　To　lighten　it；　she　asked；　〃How's　Rachel？〃

〃Fine。　Thanks　for　asking。　A　few　scabs　still　left；　but　she's　back　at

school。〃　Again　a　pause；　even　heavier　this　time。　〃Anne？〃

〃Yes？〃

〃I　love　you　very　much。〃　His　voice　was　melancholy。　Anne　wanted　to　believe

that　he　was　as　bothered　by　the　separation　as　she　was。

〃I　love　you；　too。　When　will　I　see　you？〃

〃Soon；　honey；　soon。　I'll　talk　with　you　again　soon。　Just　remember　that　I

love　you。〃

Tears　filled　her　eyes。　Something　felt　wrong。　But　he　said　he　loved　her。

She　had　to　hold　on　to　that。

The　next　day　was　warm　by　April　standards；　but　Anne　woke　up　feeling

chilled。　At　nine　o'clock　sharp；　Jeff's　father　rang　her　bell。

She　kissed　him；　feeling　the　same　fondness　she　always　had；　and　reached

for　her　coat　and　purse。　〃Are　the　others　downstairs？〃　She　was　eager　to　be

gone。　The　sooner　the　day　was　done；　the　better。　She　had　been　unable　to

touch　any　breakfast；　and　her　stomach　continued　to　knot。

〃Actually；　no。　There's　been　a　slight　change。　Our　lawyer　got　the　call

this　morning。〃

〃What　kind　of　change？〃

He　took　her　arm　and　directed　her　back　into　the　room。　〃Sit　for　a　minute

and　I'll　explain。〃　When　they　were　seated　on　the　sofa；　he　said；　〃The

hearing　has　been　called　off。〃

〃What？〃　After　dreading　the　day　for　so　long；　the　last　thing　Anne　wanted

was　to　have　to　go　through　the　agony　of　anticipation　all　over　again。

〃Why？〃

〃It's　good　news；　really。　There　will　probably　be　an　out…of…court

settlement。〃

A　wave　of　relief　swept　her。　〃You　mean；　there　won't　be　a　hearing　at　all？〃

He　shook　his　head。　〃I　doubt　it。〃

〃Then　today？〃　The　first　thing　she　could　think　of　was