青帝小说

第29部分（第4页）

when　Mitch　sat　back　and　asked　quietly；　〃How　did　Jeff　die？〃

She　glanced　around　the　room；　but　there　was　no　avoiding　the　issue。　So　she

studied　her　wedding　band。　〃He　was　in　an　accident。〃

〃I　know　that。　But　what　kind？　Were　you　with　him？〃

She　shook　her　head。　〃No。〃

〃Tell　me。〃

〃He　was　on　a　business　trip。　The　plane　went　down。〃

In　the　silence　that　followed；　she　raised　her　eyes。　Mitch　looked　pale。

〃When　did　it　happen？〃　he　asked。

〃Last　January。〃　He　flinched。　It　was　a　while　before　he　said；　〃Its　been

nearly　a　year。　Do　you　date　at　all？〃

〃No。〃

〃You　should。〃

〃Now　look　whos　being　sanctimonious。　When　did　your　wife　die？〃

〃Last　winter。〃　He　held　her　gaze。

〃Do　you　date？〃　It　was　a　foolish　question。　She　knew　it　the　minute　she　saw

the　wry　twist　of　his　mouth。

〃Im　not　sure　youd　call　it　dating。　When　I　want　a　woman；　I　get　one。〃　He

took　a　breath；　paused　on　the　verge　of　saying　more；　then　dropped　it。　〃At

any　rate；　I　have　other　obligations。〃

〃Female…related　obligations？〃

He　watched　her　closely。　〃Yes。〃

〃see。〃

〃No；　I　doubt　you　do。　But　maybe　thats　better　for　now。〃

She　didnt　know　what　he　meant；　but　she　wasnt　asking。　She　had　too　much

pride。　Besides；　questions　werent　part　of　the　deal。　If　she　hadnt　asked

that　last　one；　she　wouldnt　be　feeling　suddenly　low。

Mitch　stirred。　〃Do　me　a　favor？〃　His　eyes　were　softer。　〃Take　those　pins

out　of　your　hair　and　put　a　red　ribbon　in　it。〃

〃I　dont　have　a　red　ribbon。〃

〃Anything　bright　will　do。〃

〃Am　I　that　depressing　to　be　with？〃

He　left　his　seat　then　and　circled　the　table。　〃No；　Annie。　Ive　never

found　you　depressing。〃　He　began　removing　the　hairpins　and　didnt　stop

until　he　had　her　hair　spread　over　her　shoulders。　Then　he　hunkered　down

so　that　he　was　closer　to　eye　level。　〃But　I　think　you　overdo　the

starkness。　You　dont　have　to　punish　yourself　for　your　husbands　death。

Losing　him　is　ample　punishment　all　by　itself。〃

She　had　to　hand　it　to　him。　He　was　perceptive　enough；　but　she　assumed

that　he　spoke　from　experience。　So　what　was　his　punishment？　His　arm？