青帝小说

第35部分（第2页）

but　needing　to　be　there。

Finally；　he　put　his　head　back；　drew　in　a　great　breath；　straightened；　and

turned。　His　eyes　were　tired；　his　face　more　drawn　than　she　remembered　it。

He　drank　the　last　of　his　coffee　and　set　the　mug　on　the　mantel。　His　smile

was　wan；　but　it　was　a　smile。　〃Youre　looking　well。〃

She　rested　her　chin　on　her　knees；　which　were　drawn　up　and　held　by　her

arms。　〃I　have　been；　thanks　to　you。　The　antibiotic　did　the　trick。〃

〃No　more　trouble？〃　When　she　shook　her　head；　he　said；　〃Thats　good；〃　and

looked　back　at　the　fire。

〃Whats　wrong；　Mitch？〃

He　shot　her　a　dry　look。　〃Dont　ask。　I　wouldnt　know　where　to　begin。〃

〃Was　it　a　bad　drive　up？〃

〃The　usual。〃

A　silence　followed。

〃I　received　the　message；〃　she　tried。　〃Thanks　for　sending　it。〃

〃I　didnt　want　you　waiting。〃

Or　worrying；　she　added　silently；　bitterly。　His　aloofness　scared　her。　It

suggested　he　hadnt　wanted　to　e　at　all。　Perhaps　he　even　regretted

having　given　her　the　key。

〃Would　you　like　me　to　leave；　Mitch？〃

He　looked　at　her　like　she　was　deft。　〃Of　course　not。　Why　do　you　suggest

that？〃

〃Because　youre　two　days　late；　then　you　walk　in　here　like　a　zombie　and

stare　at　the　fire。　It　occurs　to　me　that　you　might　just　want　your　house

to　yourself〃

〃If　I　had　wanted　that；　Id　never　have　given　you　a　key　to　the　place。〃

〃Why　did　you？　I　keep　asking　myself　that；　but　I　cant　e　up　with　a　good

answer。〃

〃I　wanted　you　to　have　access　to　the　place　whenever　you　wanted。〃

Gewhy？〃

〃Thats　a　crazy　question。〃

〃And　this　is　a　crazy　situation。〃

He　went　to　the　front　window　and　stared　out　at　the　darkness。　〃I　never

promised　you　more。〃

Well；　he　was　right。　A　heavy　weight　settled　in　Annes　stomach。　Head

bowed；　she　rose　from　the　sofa；　reached　for　the　empty　mug；　and　headed　for

the　kitchen。　At　the　door；　she　stopped；　but　she　didnt　turn。　〃Have　you

had　any　supper？〃

〃No。〃

〃Ill　make　something。〃