第38部分(第4/7 頁)

statement　of　them。　It's　legal　and

binding。　It's　just　a　formality；　but　an　important　one。〃

Anne　rested　against　the　back　of　the　sofa。　〃I　see；〃　she　said　when　there

seemed　nothing　else　to　say。　〃Are　my　parents　meeting　us　at　the

courthouse？〃

〃My　wife　will　have　called　them　by　now。　There's　no　need　for　them　to　be

there；　not　at　a　meeting　like　this。〃

She　nodded；　then　searched　the　room　for　memories　of　Jeff　that　were　warm

and　treasured；　memories　that　had　finally　found　their　place。　When　her

eyes　pleted　the　circle；　they　fell　once　more　on　her　father…in…law。

〃Shouldn't　we　be　going？〃

He　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃We　don't　have　to　be　there　until　eleven。　Was

there　something　else　you　wanted　to　do　first？〃

She　laughed　sadly。　〃I'd　pretty　much　chalked　off　the　day；　not　to　mention

the　next　few。〃

〃Do　you　have　much　work　to　do？〃

〃Right　now？　No。　I　was　expecting　the　worst　from　this　hearing；　so　I　gave

myself　a　week's　vacation。〃

〃I　hear　you　got　a　good　rest　in　Vermont　the　week　before　last。〃

〃You've　been　talking　to　my　mother；〃　she　accused　lightly；　astonished　at

how　the　mere　mention　of　Vermont　could　cheer　her。

〃We　all　worry　about　you；　Anne。　But　you've　been　looking　more　yourself

lately。　Something　is　working　for　you。〃

It　was　the　perfect　opening；　but　she　couldn't　get　herself　to　tell　him

about　Mitch。　It　seemed　so　soon；　and；　in　light　of　the　day's　happenings；

inappropriate。

She　blushed…but　her　father…in…law　couldn't　know　why。　〃I've　accepted

Jeff's　death；　which　is　why　this　whole　legal　thing　is　so　hard。　It　helps

spending　time　away　from　it　all　in　Vermont。〃

〃I　suspect　you'd　like　to　be　there　now。〃

Her　grin　was　sheep