第37部分(第2/7 页)

ered　his　eyes。　His　voice　was　filled　with

gentleness。　〃Rachel　enjoyed　this　taste…testing　stage　the　most　last　year；

too。〃

Anne　froze。　Rachel？　His　〃obligation〃？　She　frowned；　then　stood

straighter；　then　backed　away　from　the　arm　on　her　shoulders。　Rachel？

With　that　faraway　gleam；　and　such　gentleness？　Oh；　yes；　he　loved　Rachel。

Anne　didn't　doubt　it　for　a　minute。

He　was　frowning。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃How　could　you？〃

〃How　could　I　what？〃　His　innocence　riled　her。

〃How　could　you　do　that　to　me？　How　could　you　mention　her　name　at　a　time

like　this？〃　She　felt　eviscerated；　as　though　he　had　bee　part　of　her

and　was　being　cut　free。

〃Her　name？〃　Then　he　realized　what　he　had　done；　and　his　frown　gentled。　〃I

mentioned　Rachel；　didn't　I？〃

The　softness　in　his　voice　at　the　mention　of　her　name　ravaged　Anne。　〃How

could　you？〃　she　repeated。　Tears　welled。　When　he　reached　out；　she

flinched　and　took　a　step　back。

〃Annie；　listen…〃

She　took　another　step；　then　another。　〃I　don't　want　to　hear　about　your

love　life。〃

〃You're　wrong…〃

〃Yes；　I'm　wrong。　I'm　wrong　to　want　to　stay　up　here　with　you；　when　I

should　be　back　in　New　York　trying　to　build　a　new　life。　I'm　wrong　to

think　that　you　really　wanted　me　here；　when　in　one　careless　minute　you　go

wimpy　over　another　woman。　How　could　you；　Mitch？　Can't　you　see　that　I

love　you？〃

Whirling　around；　she　ran　from　the　kitchen；　taking　the　steps　with

reckless　speed；　stopping　only　when　the　door　to　her　bedroom　was　slammed

and　flush　to　her　back。　Trembling　hands　covered　her　eyes　and　grew　wet

with　tears。　The　pounding　of　her　heart　drowned　out　the　sound　of　footsteps

on　the　stairs。