青帝小说

第29部分（第3页）

It　was　inevitable　that　the　talk　would　turn　personal　on　some　level；　and

she　had　nothing　to　hide。　〃I　realized　that　you　were　right。　The　holidays

are　closing　in。　Im　hoping　to　take　home　a　little　extra　strength。　Theyll

be　tough。〃

His　voice　iss　him　a　lot？〃

〃Yes。　It　isnt　as　bad　as　it　was。　I　can　accept　that　hes　gone　now。　Im

used　to　waking　up　without　him。　The　people　around　me　are　having　more

trouble。　Theyre　sometimes　so　solicitous　itd　make　you　sick。

Thanksgivings　apt　to　be　one　long　lets…cheer…up…Anne　ordeal。〃

Mitch　blew　out　a　breath。　〃Oh；　boy。　I　know　what　you　mean　there。〃

〃How　so？〃　she　asked；　not　letting　it　go　this　time。　〃Are　you　married？〃

Lips　pursed；　he　studied　his　hands。　〃No。〃

〃Have　you　ever　been　married？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Are　you　divorced？〃

〃No。〃

〃Separated？〃

〃No。〃

There　was　only　one　other　possibility。　It　made　sense　on　many　different

levels。

〃My　wife　died；〃　he　said；　looking　at　her　now。

Anne　saw　the　pain　in　his　eyes。　〃Im　sorry。　You　must　have　loved　her　very

much。〃

&（l　did。〃

〃How　did　she　die？〃

His　jaw　clenched；　and　anger　joined　the　pain。　She　was　wondering　if　the

anger　was　directed　at　her；　when　he　grew　mellow　again。　〃Id　rather　not　go

into　it。　Thatd　be　getting　more　personal　than　we　planned。〃

〃But　it　helps　to　talk　sometimes。　Doesnt　it？　I　mean；　if　youre　angry…〃

〃Whos　angry？〃

〃I　thought　I　saw…〃

〃What　about　your　anger？　Ive　heard　it；　you　know。　Do　you　talk　about　it？〃

He　pushed　his　chair　back　but　didnt　rise。　Both　hands　clutched　the　edge

of　the　table。　〃You　dont　know　what　Im　feeling。　You　dont　know　anything

about　me；　about　my　work；　my　responsibilities。　How　can　you　be　so

sanctimonious？〃

She　recoiled。　〃Sanctimonious？　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；