第30部分(第6/7 頁)

date　had　been　seated；　but　the　table　was　empty　now；　reset　with　fresh

linen　and　silver。

Biting　her　lip；　she　reread　the　message。

〃What　is　it；　Anne？　Any　problem？〃　Alex's　concern　made　her　aware　of　the

others'　attention。

Embarrassed；　she　refolded　the　paper。　〃It's　nothing。　An　old　friend　was　in

and　saw　us。〃　With　a　feeble　smile；　she　tucked　the　note　in　her　purse。

〃Must　have　been　some　old　friend；〃　Alex　whispered。　〃You're　blushing。〃

〃I　am　not；〃　Anne　replied。　〃It's　the　wine。〃

But　her　cheeks　grew　red　more　than　once　in　the　following　days。　Sometimes

it　was　with　annoyance　that　Mitch　had　embarrassed　her　in　front　of　her

friends；　sometimes　with　frustration　that　he　hadn't　approached；　sometimes

with　anger　that　he　hadn't　made　his　note　more　personal。　One　or　twice；　it

was　even　with　jealousy。　He　had　been　with　a　woman。　His　〃other

obligation〃？　Anne　couldn't　recall　anything　about　her；　not　her　looks；　her

age；　her　dress；　or　her　expression。　She　wished　she　could；　but　she'd　had

eyes　only　for　the　man　who　looked　so　much　like　Mitch。

Thinking　about　this　faceless　woman；　she　had　second　thoughts　about

returning　to　Vermont。　If　Mitch　wasn't　free；　what　was　the　point？　Already

she　thought　about　him　far　too　often。　Better　to　cut　her　losses　and　make　a

clean　break。

But　she　did　think　about　him　a　lot；　and　she　needed　Vermont。　No　matter

that　it　would　be　safer　spending　New　Year's　Eve　home　alone；　she　found

herself　driving　to　the　cabin。

The　landscape　was　snow…covered　and　bleak　now。　Ice　hung　in　spikes　from

the　boughs　of　trees　and　the　caves　of　tidy　farmhouses　and　cottages　along

the　familiar　route。　Everything　in　sight　was　either　gray；　ash…green；