第25部分(第6/7 頁)

dispense　with　breakfast　and　get　to　work　finding　a　solution　to　this

mess。〃　Only　when　she　stopped；　did　she　realize　she'd　been　shouting。　There

were　also　tears　in　her　eyes　again。　Again。　Jamming　her　knuckles　against

her　mouth；　she　looked　away。

More　softly；　Mitch　asked；　〃How　did　you　get　into　this　mess；　as　you　call

it；　Anne？　Why　aren't　you　with　your　husband？〃

〃That's　none　of　your　business。〃

〃Are　you　divorced？〃

〃No。〃

〃Are　you　working　on　the　separate…vacation　concept？〃

〃No。〃

〃He　doesn't　know　you're　here？〃

She　gave　a　bitter　laugh。　〃No。〃

〃You've　run　away？〃

Her　posure　cracked。　〃Will　you　leave　me　alone？　Just　go！　Get　out！

Let　me　be！〃

He　didn't　move。　〃Why　did　you　leave　your　husband？〃

〃That's　none　of　your　business！〃

〃No？　In　my　book；　marriage　is　a　precious　thing。　Some　people　treasure　it

and　then　lose　it　through　no　fault　of　their　own。　Others　throw　it　away。　If

we're　going　to　spend　the　week　together；　I　want　to　know　which　it　is。　So

tell　me　why　you　left　him。　If　it　was　just　your　lousy　cooking　or　your

selfishness　in　the　shower；　he'd　have　left　you。〃　He　paused。　〃Is　that　what

happened？〃

She　looked　him　in　the　eye。　〃He　didn't　leave　me。　I　didn't　leave　him。　We

loved　each　other。　He　was　in　an　accident；　and　now　he's　dead。　Dead！〃　Her

chair　scraped　across　the　floor　as　she　stood　abruptly；　reached　angrily

for　his　plate；　and　stormed　to　the　sink。　She　slammed　the　food　facedown　in

it。　Then　emotion　overwhelmed　her。　Bracing　shaky　arms　against　the

counter；　she　hung　her　head。　Helplessly　she　gave　in　to　quiet　sobs。

She　didn't　hear　him　e　up；　but　there　was　a　genuine　softness　in　his

voice。　〃I'm　sorr