第37部分(第3/9 頁)

e　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。

He　rapped　on　the　door。　〃Open　up；　Anne。〃

〃No。〃　She　was　mortified　by　what　she　had　said；　and　heartsick　that　it　had

e　to　this。

〃There　are　things　I　have　to　tell　you；　Anne。　Open　the　door。〃

Weeping；　she　only　shook　her　head。

〃Anne　。。　。〃

〃Go　away！〃　she　pleaded。　She　couldn't　face　him。　Nothing　he　said　mattered。

〃I　love　you；　Annie。〃　His　voice　filtered　soft　and　sensuous　through　the

ancient　wood　of　the　door；　and　suddenly　it　did　matter；　very　much。　If　this

was　a　cruel　hoax；　she　would　never　forgive　him。

Turning；　she　laid　her　wet　cheek　against　the　door。　Afraid　to　listen；

afraid　not　to；　she　waited。

〃Did　you　hear　me；　Annie？〃　Again　the　velvet　sound；　too　dear　to　be

dismissed；　too　real　to　be　denied。　〃I　love　you。〃

Her　pulse　raced。　She　wanted　to　believe　that　he　did；　wanted　to　believe　it

more　than　anything