第30部分(第3/7 頁)

〃I　say　this　is　starting　to　sound　like　a　Neil　Simon　script。〃　She　wanted

reassurance　that　meeting　again　was　right。　She　wanted　him　to　say；　There's

reason　why　that　script　made　millions　for　the　guy；　it's　a　damned　good

plot；　it　makes　a　whole　lot　of　sense。

But　Mitch　only　shrugged。　Dropping　his　arms；　he　moved　back。　〃It's　your

choice。　I'll　be　here　anyway。〃

She　hated　the　sudden　sound　of　indifference；　but　it　made　it　easier　to

leave。　When　he　opened　the　door；　she　slipped　behind　the　wheel。

〃Drive　carefully；〃　he　said。

〃I　will。〃　Backing　the　car　around；　she　straightened　the　wheel。　She　gave

Mitch　a　last；　longing　glance　before　putting　a　foot　on　the　gas。　The　car

had　barely　moved　forward　when　his　voice　echoed　in　the　winter　wood。

〃Hey；　wait！〃

She　braked。　His　long…legged　gait　quickly　brought　him　alongside　the　car。

His　breath　misted　the　air　when　he　leaned　into　the　window。

〃Don't　forget　to　pack　a　dress。　We'll　be　going　out。〃　He　grinned　and

popped　a　featherlight　kiss　on　the　tip　of　her　nose。　〃Now；　go；　before　the

snow　gets　here。〃

She　went。

Thanksgiving　wasn't　nearly　as　bad　as　Anne　had　expected。　She　spent　it　at

her　parents'　house　with　their　usual　crowd；　and；　yes；　she　missed　Jeff。

But　there　were　interesting　people　to　talk　with；　and　chaos　enough　to

pretend　that　Jeff　might　just　be　off　in　another　room。　Her　major

disfort　proved　to　be　a　stomachache　from　eating　more　heavily　than　she

had　in　a　year；　but　an　antacid　and　a　long　walk　with　her　father　eased　that

pain。

Work　kept　her　busy；　as　did；　to　her　dismay；　unfinished　business　relating

to　the　plane　crash。　The　FAA　had　finally　e　through　with　its　findings；

and　Anne