第29部分(第5/7 頁)

ous？　I　was　just　trying　to　help。　After　what　I

went　through　not　so　long　ago；　I　may　be　feeling　some　of　what　you　are；　and

yes；　I　may　want　to　talk　about　it。　I　may　want　a　little　help；　myself。〃

The　confession　startled　her。　She　was　wondering　where　it　had　e　from；

when　Mitch　sat　back　and　asked　quietly；　〃How　did　Jeff　die？〃

She　glanced　around　the　room；　but　there　was　no　avoiding　the　issue。　So　she

studied　her　wedding　band。　〃He　was　in　an　accident。〃

〃I　know　that。　But　what　kind？　Were　you　with　him？〃

She　shook　her　head。　〃No。〃

〃Tell　me。〃

〃He　was　on　a　business　trip。　The　plane　went　down。〃

In　the　silence　that　followed；　she　raised　her　eyes。　Mitch　looked　pale。

〃When　did　it　happen？〃　he　asked。

〃Last　January。〃　He　flinched。　It　was　a　while　before　he　said；　〃It's　been

nearly　a　year。　Do　you　date　at　all？〃

〃No。〃

〃You　should。〃

〃Now　look　who's　being　sanctimonious。　When　did　your　wife　die？〃

〃Last　winter。〃　He　held　her　gaze。

〃Do　you　date？〃　It　was　a　foolish　question。　She　knew　it　the　minute　she　saw

the　wry　twist　of　his　mouth。

〃I'm　not　sure　you'd　call　it　dating。　When　I　want　a　woman；　I　get　one。〃　He

took　a　breath；　paused　on　the　verge　of　saying　more；　then　dropped　it。　〃At

any　rate；　I　have　other　obligations。〃

〃Female…related　obligations？〃

He　watched　her　closely。　〃Yes。〃

〃see。〃

〃No；　I　doubt　you　do。　But　maybe　that's　better　for　now。〃

She　didn't　know　what　he　meant；　but　she　wasn't　asking。　She　had　too　much

pride。　Besides；　questions　weren't　part　of　the　deal。　If　she　hadn't　asked

that　last　one；　she　wouldn't　be　feeling　suddenly　low。

Mitch　stirred。　〃Do　me　a　favor？〃　His　eyes　were　softer。　〃Take　those　pins

out　of