第37部分(第4/7 頁)

。

He　held　her　tightly。　〃I've　wanted　to　so　many　times。　But　it　never　seemed

appropriate。　At　the　beginning；　there　was　a　part　of　me　that　wanted…God

forgive　me…that　wanted　to　forget　her　existence　while　I　was　up　here。

Fatherhood　has　its　merits；　but　it's　been　my　greatest　challenge　since

Bey's　death。〃

He　had　a　daughter。　Anne　could　only　begin　to　imagine　that；　much　less　the

challenge　of　going　it　alone。　〃Maybe　I　could　have　helped。〃

〃You've　had　enough　to　face　without　having　to　cope　with　a　child。〃

〃How　old　is　she？〃

〃She　turned　six　last　week。　And　she　came　down　with　the　chicken　pox　the

day　after　her　birthday。　It's　the　first　time　she's　been　sick…really

sick　since　her　mother　died。〃

Anne　understood。　〃That's　why　you　were　late　arriving　last　weekend？〃

He　nodded　against　her　head。　〃My　parents　have　been　wonderful；　taking　her

for　weeks　at　a　stretch。　They're　often　more　cheerful　than　me。〃　He　looked

down　at　her。　〃But　I　couldn't　leave　them　with　a　sick　child　who　only

wanted　her　mother　to　hold　her。〃　His　voice　broke　at　the　last。

〃Why　didn't　you　bring　her　up　here　with　you？〃　Anne　scolded。

He　studied　her　closely。　〃I　wasn't　sure　how　you　felt　about　kids。　We've

never　talked　about　that；　you　and　me。　I　only　know　you　have　none　of　your

own。〃

〃Not　through　choice；　Mitch；　not　through　choice。〃

〃But　to　foist　a　sick　child　on　you？　How　could　I　do　that？〃

Anne　spoke　from　the　heart。　〃I　would　have　loved　to　have　met　your

daughter。　I'd　have　loved　helping　you　take　care　of　her。　She's　your

daughter。〃　Her　voice　fell。　〃And　I　love　you。〃

He　crushed　her　in　his　arms。　The　force　of　it　said　all　that　he　didn't；　but

seconds　later　he　was　kissing　he