669小说网

第41部分（第1页）

Anne　turned　on　him。　〃You　arranged　this　with　my　parents；　didnt　you？〃

He　grinned。　〃Theyre　wonderful　people。　When　I　explained　the　situation；

they　were　more　than　glad　to　help　out。〃

〃Well；　thats　just　fine；　but　Im　not　going！　For　all　your　smugness　and

your　crafty　little　plans；　Im　not　going！〃

His　grin　died。　〃I　told　Rachel　that　youd　be　spending　the　week　with　us。〃

〃You　had　no　right　to　do　that。〃

〃But　its　done。　Shes　counting　on　your　being　there。　Would　you　disappoint

her？〃

Anne　was　exasperated。　〃How　can　you　use　her　like　this？　You　know　I　cant

hurt　her。〃

〃I　was　counting　on　that。〃

〃So　youre　going　to　go　out　there〃…she　pointed　a　shaky　finger　toward　the

street…〃and　tell　her　I　cant　go。〃

〃But　you　can。　Your　bags　are　packed　and　loaded。　Your　work　has　been

cleared　for　the　next　two　weeks。　Theres　nothing　left　to　hold　you　here。〃

Anne　felt　trapped。　With　a　tired　sigh；　she　slumped　back　against　the　wall。

〃Why　dont　you　leave　me　alone？　Cant　you　see　that　I　dont　want　to　be

with　you？〃

He　was　sober　then。　〃Thats　because　you　wont　listen　to　reason。　Ive

tried　to　explain；　and　more　than　once；　but　you　wouldnt　answer　my　calls

or　let　me　in　when　I　banged　on　your　door。　You　wouldnt　give　me　the

courtesy　of　hearing　me　out。　So　now　Im　asking　you；　for　Rachels　sake；　to

e　with　us。　Just　this　once。　At　the　end　of　the　week；　if　you　still　feel

this　way；　I　will　leave　you　alone。〃

Anne　wondered　if　it　was　the　only　way　out。　She　couldnt　bear　the　thought

of　hurting　a　child　who　had　already　been　so　badly　hurt　in　life。　And　the

little　girl　would　be　a　chaperon　of　sorts。　What　harm　could　there　be？

〃Is　that　a　promise？〃　she　asked　cautiously。

〃Yes。〃　There　was　no　point　belaboring　the　matter。　With　a　defeated　sigh；

she　pushed　away　from　the　wall　and　returned　to　the　car　with　Mitch。

Within　the　hour　they　left　the　traffic　of　the　city　behind　and　sped

northward。　〃When　did　you　get　the　new　car？〃　Anne　asked；　groping　for

conversation　with　Mitch　as　Rachel　knelt　on　the　backseat；　studying　the

receding　skyline。

〃About　a　week　ago。　This　is　her　maiden　voyage。　The　Honda　was　a　bit　small

for　three。〃　The　eyebrow　that　arched　her　way　was　subtle；　but　Anne　had　to

marvel　at　his　presumption。　If　the　three　included　her；　he　had　paid　a