第34部分(第2/9 頁)

t　case　hanging　over　my　head。〃

〃What　court　case？〃

〃The　accident。　My　husband's　family　has　been　pushing　me　to　sue　for

negligence。　I　agreed　at　first　because　I　was　as　angry　as　they　were　and　we

were　all　so　helpless。　Now　I'd　rather　put　the　whole　thing　behind　me。〃

Mitch　was　silent　for　a　time。　〃And　the　nightmare？〃　he　asked　quietly。　His

arms　were　exquisitely　tender　as　they　held　her　to　his　chest。

She　took　a　shuddering　breath。　〃I　dreamed　I　was　on　that　plane　with　Jeff

when　it　crashed；　but　that　I　wasn't　injured　and　had　to　stand　by　and　watch

while　he　burned　to　death。　There　were　no　doctors；　no　medics；　nothing　but

flames　and　smoke　and　debris　and　people's　screams。〃　She　buried　her　face

in　his　chest。　〃It　was　awful。〃

He　spoke　softly　against　her　hair。　〃I　know；　honey；　I　know。　But　it　was

only　a　dream。〃　His　nearness　forted　her。　〃Only　a　dream；〃　he　repeated

and　said　it　on　and　off；　between　gentle　rocking；　until　she　fell　back　to

sleep。

Mitch　seemed　preoccupied。　She　sensed　it　from　time　to　time　and　guessed

that　he　had　work　on　his　mind。　On　the　last　night　before　she　was　to　leave；

though；　she　looked　up　to　find　him　brooding　at　the　flames　in　the　hearth。

He　was　sitting　on　the　floor　by　her　chair；　with　his　legs　stretched　toward

the　warmth。

She　touched　his　shoulder。　〃Is　something　wrong？〃

Snatched　from　some　distant　place；　he　jerked　his　head　around。　〃Hmm？〃

〃Y