第26部分(第3/7 頁)

omed　to　the　gray　of　the　pigeon；　she　smiled　at　the　chickadee's

black　cap　and　white　bib　and　the　red　breast　of　the　robin。　She　watched　the

play　of　the　sun　through　the　boughs　of　thick；　healthy　trees。　The

crispness　of　the　air；　sharp　without　chill；　invigorated　her。

When　she　finally　returned　to　the　house；　Mitch　was　nowhere　about。　No　car；

no　man；　no　note。　Exhausted　from　fresh　air　and　lack　of　sleep；　she

stretched　out　on　her　quilt　and　fell　into　a　deep　and　restful　sleep。

The　tension　of　the　past　weeks　took　its　due。　When　she　awakened；　it　was

dusk。　After　freshening　up　in　the　bathroom；　she　fixed　a　supper　of　soup

and　crackers；　then　settled　before　the　fire　to　finish　the　mystery　she'd

started。　But　the　story's　momentum　had　been　broken。　She　never　quite　got

back　into　the　terror　of　it。

When　she　finished　the　last　page；　she　sat　back　to　watch　the　flames。　Their

play　entranced　her；　calmed　her；　lulled　her　into　a　peaceful　daze；　and　for

the　very　first　time；　and　at　long　last；　she　felt　removed　from　Jeff's

death。

It　had　been　a　nightmare…first　news　of　the　plane　crash；　then　the　limbo

when　rescue　teams　set　to　work；　hope　when　survivors　appeared；　total　and

utter　despair　when　the　worst　became　reality。　But　her　heart　felt　lighter

now　than　it　had　at　any　time　since　then。　She　didn't　know　if　it　was　the

change　of　scenery；　or　the　start　of　true　healing。　But　it　felt　good。

Of　course；　Mitch　was　still　gone。　Though　it　was　after　nine；　he　hadn't

returned。　Just　as　well。　They　were　like　fire　and　water。

She　had　to　give　him　points；　though。　He　hadn't　gone　on　and　on　about　what

a　shame　it　was；　how　young　a　widow　she　made；　how　tragic　that　Jeff　had

been　taken　from