第35部分(第3/7 頁)

〃I　received　the　message；〃　she　tried。　〃Thanks　for　sending　it。〃

〃I　didn't　want　you　waiting。〃

Or　worrying；　she　added　silently；　bitterly。　His　aloofness　scared　her。　It

suggested　he　hadn't　wanted　to　e　at　all。　Perhaps　he　even　regretted

having　given　her　the　key。

〃Would　you　like　me　to　leave；　Mitch？〃

He　looked　at　her　like　she　was　deft。　〃Of　course　not。　Why　do　you　suggest

that？〃

〃Because　you're　two　days　late；　then　you　walk　in　here　like　a　zombie　and

stare　at　the　fire。　It　occurs　to　me　that　you　might　just　want　your　house

to　yourself〃

〃If　I　had　wanted　that；　I'd　never　have　given　you　a　key　to　the　place。〃

〃Why　did　you？　I　keep　asking　myself　that；　but　I　can't　e　up　with　a　good

answer。〃

〃I　wanted　you　to　have　access　to　the　place　whenever　you　wanted。〃

Gewhy？〃

〃That's　a　crazy　question。〃

〃And　this　is　a　crazy　situation。〃

He　went　to　the　front　window　and　stared　out　at　the　darkness。　〃I　never

promised　you　more。〃

Well；　he　was　right。　A　heavy　weight　settled　in　Anne's　stomach。　Head

bowed；　she　rose　from　the　sofa；　reached　for　the　empty　mug；　and　headed　for

the　kitchen。　At　the　door；　she　stopped；　but　she　didn't　turn。　〃Have　you

had　any　supper？〃

〃No。〃

〃I'll　make　something。〃

〃That's　not　necessary。〃

〃I'll　do　it。〃

Five　minutes　later；　she　sat　across　from　him　and　watched　him　down　the

club　sandwich　that　she　had　made　with　the　chicken　that　had　gone　uneaten

on　Friday　night。　Conversation　was　sparse　and　cryptic；　pounding　her

frustration。　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said　when　only　crumbs　remained。　〃That　hit

the　spot。〃

〃I'm　glad　I've　finally　done　something　right；〃　she　murmured；　standing　to

clear　th