669小说网

第41部分（第2页）

whole　lot　for　a　single　trip。

Rachel　poked　her　golden　head　between　the　bucket　seats　and　rubbed　her

cheek　against　the　soft　velour。　〃I　like　this　car。　Daddy　says　the　color

matches　my　eyes。〃

〃It　does；　at　that；〃　Anne　said　with　a　warm　smile。　How　not　to　smile　at　a

child　who　exuded　sweetness　like　this　one？　She　prayed　there　would　be

pouts；　crankiness；　and　temper　tantrums　as　the　week　progressed。

Otherwise；　she　could　be　in　big　trouble。

There　werent　any　pouts；　crankiness；　or　temper　tantrums；　and　Anne　grew

more　and　more　attached　to　the　child。　Even　knowing　that　Mitch　contrived

it　didnt　detract　from　the　pleasure　Anne　took　in　simple　custodial　things

like　bathing　her；　bing　those　long　blond　curls；　helping　retie　the

shoelaces　that　came　undone　after　Rachel　laboriously　tied　them　herself。

There　were　substantive　things　to　cherish；　like　cookie　baking；　hikes　in

the　woods；　and　reading　stories　before　the　fire　at　night。

And　if　Anne　was　in　love；　she　felt　it　ing　right　back　from　Rachel。　Such

innocent；　heartfelt；　freely　given　affection　was　the　most　precious　thing

in　the　world。

Staying　indifferent　to　Mitch　was　a　problem；　but　she　did　her　best　and；　to

his　credit；　he　didnt　push。　She　slept　upstairs；　he　slept　downstairs；

with　Rachel　in　a　sleeping　bag　on　the　floor　of　his　room。　By　Wednesday

morning；　though；　Anne　felt　she　was　walking　a　tight…rope　of　conflicting

emotions；　with　Mitch　watching　from　morning　to　night　to　see　which　way　she

would　go。

Memory　nagged。　She　remembered　beautiful　times　here　with　Mitch；　innocent

times　of　fulfillment　and　love。　She　might　put　them　aside　in　New　York；　but

they　were　more　real　here　and　harder　to　flee。

Still　she　tried。　〃Im　going　for　a　walk；〃　she　announced　after　a

postbreakfast　bit　of　brooding。

〃Thats　a　good　idea；〃　Mitch　said　without　mockery；　but　then；　his

gentleness　was　part　of　the　torture。　〃Take　your　time。　I　think　I　can

manage　Rachel　for　a　few　hours。〃

Despite　the　little　girls　protest；　Anne　left。　It　was　the　first　time　she

had　been　alone　since　they　had　arrived；　and　she　needed　it　badly。　She　was

feeling　frayed　at　the　seams；　but　there　were　still　two　days　left　in　the

week。　She　had　to　find　a　way　of　surviving。

Spring　was　everywhere。　What　had　been　damp　and　gray　a　month　before　was

now　a　fresh；　vibrant　green。　The　scent　was　of　rebirth；　spreading　upward