第25部分(第7/7 頁)

y。　I　wouldn't　have　pushed　if　I'd　known。　It　was

thoughtless　of　me。〃

She　brushed　at　the　tears。　〃It　doesn't　matter。〃　But　it　did。　It　had　been

months　since　she　had　cried；　but　she　couldn't　seem　to　stop。　When　she

brushed　them　away；　more　tears　came。　To　her　horror；　they　came　faster；

until　she　was　a　sniffling　bundle　of　misery。

Had　she　been　thinking　clearly；　she　would　have　shied　from　him　the　instant

his　hands　touched　her　shoulders。　But　clear　thought　was　beyond　her。　She

needed　fort；　and　he　offered　it。　Turning　her；　he　pressed　her　head　to

his　chest　and　held　her　while　her　whole　body　shook。

〃Better？〃　he　murmured　when　she　finally　quieted。　He　stroked　her　hair；

smoothing　loose　strands　from　her　damp　cheeks　as　she　nodded。　It　was　only

when　he　framed　her　face　with　his　hands　to　inspect　it　that　she　realized

she　was　hugging　his　waist。

Awkward；　she　blushed；　stepped　back；　and　turned　to　leave。

〃Wait；〃　he　ordered；　but　gently　now。　〃Why　don't　you　sit　down。　I'll　make

breakfast　for　both　of　us。　You　can　even　water　down　the　coffee　if　you'd

like。〃

He　hesitated。　In　the　silence；　she　saw　a　glint　of　humor　in　his　eyes。

〃Funny。　I've　taken　my　coffee　strong　and　black　since　I　was　sixteen。

Someone　told　me　it　would　put　hair　on　my　chest。　I　guess　you　don't　want

that；　do　you？〃

Anne　smiled　sadly。　〃Not　quite。〃　Her　voice　still　quivered；　but　her　eyes

were　drying　fast。　She　felt　more　calm　now；　purged。

〃You　sit　down；〃　he　repeated；　〃while　I