第32部分(第2/7 頁)

hands　up　to

frame　his　face；　to　trace　the　powerful　line　of　his　cheeks；　his　jaw；　his

chin。　Then　she　leaned　forward　and　gave　him　a　soft　and　heartfelt　kiss。　〃I

wish　I　had　something　to　give　you；〃　she　whispered　when　it　was　done。

In　a　trembling　breath；　he　said；　〃You　already　have；　Anne。　And　I　thank

you。〃

Anne　drove　north　again　on　a　Friday　afternoon　in　the　second　week　of

February。　As　the　first　flakes　of　snow　began　to　fall；　she　sniffled　and

pulled　another　Kleenex　from　the　glove　box。　For　the　better　part　of　the

week　she'd　had　a　cold。　If　she　had　known　Mitch's　number；　she　might　have

called　to　cancel　their　meeting。　But　she　didn't　know　it；　and　she　wanted

to　see　him。　She　was　counting　on　feeling　better　in　the　clean　country　air。

What　she　hadn't　counted　on　was　the　snow。

As　she　crossed　the　border　from　New　York　into　Vermont；　the　flakes　grew

larger　and　more　feathery。　They　were　sticking　to　anything　and　everything

in　sight。　Traffic　had　slowed　with　the　decreased　visibility；　but　that　was

a　double…edged　sword。　Yes；　it　was　safer　driving　slower。　But　it　meant　the

trip　took　longer；　and　the　longer　she　was　on　the　roads；　the　worse　they

became。

She　was　impatient　to　reach　the　cottage。　Even　aside　from　a　hacking　cough

and　the　accumulation　of　snow　on　the　windshield；　she　wanted　to　be　in　a

place　that　had　bee；　in　some　ways；　more　real　a　world　than　the　other。

The　past　six　weeks　in　New　York　had　been　a　way　of　passing　time　between

trips。　She　was　happier　here；　more　relaxed　and　alive　with　Mitch　than

anywhere　else。

Traffic　slowed　another　notch。　She　glanced　at　her　watch。　Two　hours

behind；　already！　It　was　late　afternoon。　Darkness　would　be　here