第35部分(第4/7 頁)

e　dishes。

He　caught　her　hand。　〃What's　that　supposed　to　mean？〃

〃I　think　you　know。〃　She　freed　her　hand　and　she　continued　to　the　sink。

Suddenly　he　was　directly　behind　her。　〃You've　been　vague　about　something

for　the　last　hour。　What　is　it？〃

Fiercely；　she　scrubbed　at　the　dish。

〃You're　angry　because　I　showed　up　late？〃

〃No。〃

〃What　else　could　it　be？　I　sent　word。　I　even　did　it　through　Miles　so　you

wouldn't　worry　that　I　knew　your　last　name。〃

〃That's　not　bothering　me。〃

He　turned　her　around。　〃Look　at　me；　Anne。〃

Her　hands　dripped　of　soap。　She　held　them　out　to　the　sides。

〃I　want　you　to　tell　me　what's　wrong；〃　he　insisted；　and　she　was　suddenly

angry。

〃Why？　I　don't　owe　you　an　explanation　for　my　behavior；　any　more　than　you

owe　me　one　for　yours！〃

His　eyes　held　hers　for　long　minutes。　〃Ah。　That's　it。　You　want　an

explanation　for　my　lateness；　like　this　is　some　kind　of　a　business

meeting。〃

〃I　don't　want　a　thing！〃　she　cried；　whipping　out　of　his　grasp　to　dry　her

hands　on　the　towel。　She　thrust　a　damp　rag　into　his　hand。　〃Here。　You

finish　cleaning。　I'm　going　to　bed。〃

She　held　off　tears　until　she　was　safely　up　in　her　attic　room　and　sure　of

not　being　followed。　Then　they　came　with　a　vengeance。　She　had　loved　Jeff

and　lost　him；　through　powers　that　were　beyond　her。　Now　it　was　happening

all　over　again　with　Mitch。

Oh；　yes；　she　loved　Mitch　。。。　Mitch；　whose　last　name　she　didn't　even

know。　She　knew　that　she　had　missed　him　desperately；　that　his　brooding

upset　her；　along　with　her　inability　to　console　him。　She　knew　that　she

wanted　an　explanation　for　his　delay。

For　long　hours　she　agonized。　Leave　here