rekindled(英文版)- 第38部分

She　dreaded　the　moment　of　parting。　What　they　had　was　so　new；　so　fragile；
so　precious　that　she　would　have　liked　nothing　more　than　to　stay　in　the
cottage　forever。

But　Mitch　grew　preoccupied　as　that　moment　of　parting　drew　near。　Finally；
cautiously；　he　said；　〃The　next　few　weeks　are　going　to　be　impossible　for
me；　Annie。　I　have　some　business　matters　ing　to　a　head；　and　I'll　want
to　spend　extra　time　with　Rachel。　Let　me　call　you　as　soon　as　things　clear
up。　Is　that　okay？〃

Given　their　intimacy　and　the　number　of　times　he'd　said　he　loved　her；
Anne　might　have　been　puzzled　by　his　unsureness；　but　she　was　starting　to
grow　preoccupied　herself。　The　court　hearing　on　the　matter　of　her　law
suit　was　only　a　week　and　a　half　off。

She　took　a　resigned　breath　and　gave　him　a　hopeful　smile。　〃I'll　be
waiting。

Wait　she　did；　day　after　day；　night　after　night。　The　knowledge　that　Mitch
was　suffering　through　a　busy　spell　was　small　solace。　Only　the　belief
that　he　loved　her　carried　her　through　to　the　evening　before　her　court
appearance；　when　the　phone　finally　rang。

〃How　are　you；　Annie？〃　He　sounded　caring；　but　a　little　guarded。

〃Fine。　But　I　miss　you。〃　She　had　no　pride。

〃Same　here；　honey。　Are　you　all　set　for　tomorrow？〃

She　was　touched　that　he　remembered　the　date；　touched　that　he　was　calling
to　give　her　last…minute　encouragement。　〃I　don't　think　I'll　ever　be
ready；〃　she　answered　honestly。　〃But　my　family　and　Jeff's　will　be　ing
to　get　me　first　thing　in　the　morning。　I　think　they're　not　sure　that　I'll
show　up　on　my　own。〃

〃They'll　all　be　there？〃

〃Most　of　them。　I'll　have　plenty　of　emotional　support。〃

〃I'm　glad。〃

A　silence　fell。　To　lighten　it；　she　asked；　〃How's　Rachel？〃

〃Fine。　Thanks　for　asking。　A　few　scabs　still　left；　but　she's　back　at
school。〃　Again　a　pause；　even　heavier　this　time。　〃Anne？〃

〃Yes？〃

〃I　love　you　very　much。〃　His　voice　was　melancholy。　Anne　wanted　to　believe
that　he　was　as　bothered　by　the　separation　as　she　was。

〃I　love　you；　too。　When　will　I　see　you？〃

〃Soon；　honey；　soon。　I'll　talk　with　you　again　soon。　Just　remember　that　I
love　you。〃

Tears　filled　her　eyes。　Something　felt　wrong。　But　he　said　he　loved　her。
She　had　to　hold　on　to　that。

The　next　day　was　warm　by　April　standards；　but　Anne　woke　up　feeling
chilled。　At　nine　o'clock　sharp；　Jeff's　father　rang　her　bell。

She　kissed　him；　feeling　the　same　fondness　she　always　had；　and　reached
for　her　coat　and　purse。　〃Are　the　others　downstairs？〃　She　was　eager　to　be
gone。　The　sooner　the　day　was　done；　the　better。　She　had　been　unable　to
touch　any　breakfast；　and　her　stomach　continued　to　knot。

〃Actually；　no。　There's　been　a　slight　change。　Our　lawyer　got　the　call
this　morning。〃

〃What　kind　of　change？〃

He　took　her　arm　and　directed　her　back　into　the　room。　〃Sit　for　a　minute
and　I'll　explain。〃　When　they　were　seated　on　the　sofa；　he　said；　〃The
hearing　has　been　called　off。〃

〃What？〃　After　dreading　the　day　for　so　long；　the　last　thing　Anne　wanted
was　to　have　to　go　through　the　agony　of　anticipation　all　over　again。
〃Why？〃

〃It's　good　news；　really。　There　will　probably　be　an　out…of…court
settlement。〃

A　wave　of　relief　swept　her。　〃You　mean；　there　won't　be　a　hearing　at　all？〃

He　shook　his　head。　〃I　doubt　it。〃

〃Then　today？〃　The　first　thing　she　could　think　of　was　changing　out　of　her
suit　and　into　jeans；　and　putting　the　whole　matter　behind　her　at　last。

〃Today　we　go　to　the　lawyer's　office。　The　lawyer　representing　the
airline；　that　is。　It　seems　that　Southeast　American　Air　has　counter…filed
a　suit；　one　against　the　manufacturer　of　the　aircraft　itself。〃　He　waited
for　her　nod；　just　as　Jeff　would　have　done。　Then　he　went　on。　〃The　latest
investigation　points　to　a　weakness　in　the　design　of　the　craft　as　the
cause　of　the　accident；　rather　than　pilot　error　or　substandard
maintenance　procedures。　Southeast　American　Air　has　a　fine　reputation　on
those　scores。〃

Anne　didn't　understand。　〃Then　isn't　this　the　end　between　the　airline　and
me？　Why　do　I　need　to　do　anything　more？〃

Theodore　Boulton　took　her　cold　hand。　〃They　need　a　deposition　from　you；　a
statement　of　what　you　suffered　and　will　suffer　in　the　future　because　of
the　accident。　The　lawyer　asks　questions　and　you　answer　under　oath。　You
see；〃　he　explained；　〃in　order　to　arrange　a　settlement；　there　has　to　be
some　assessment　of　damages；　of　losses。　Not　only　will　our　lawyer；　the
airline's　lawyer；　and　its　president　be　there；　but　there　will　be　similar
representation　by　the　airplane　manufacturer。〃

She　sighed。　What　he　described　sounded　less　threatening　than　a　court
hearing。　Still；　the　prospect　of　a　question…and…answer　session　was　less
than　pleasant。　〃What　will　I　be　asked？〃

He　gave　a　negligent　shrug。　〃They'll　want　to　know　about　you　and　Jeff。　How
old　you　were　when　you　met　him。　How　long　you　were　married。　Where　he
worked。　How　much　money　he　earned。〃

〃But　aren't　those　things　matters　of　record；　already？〃

〃Yes；　but　a　deposition　is　a　sworn　statement　of　them。　It's　legal　and
binding。　It's　just　a　formality；　but　an　important　one。〃

Anne　rested　against　the　back　of　the　sofa。　〃I　see；〃　she　said　when　there
seemed　nothing　else　to　say。　〃Are　my　parents　meeting　us　at　the
courthouse？〃

〃My　wife　will　have　called　them　by　now。　There's　no　need　for　them　to　be
there；　not　at　a　meeting　like　this。〃

She　nodded；　then　searched　the　room　for　memories　of　Jeff　that　were　warm
and　treasured；　memories　that　had　finally　found　their　place。　When　her
eyes　pleted　the　circle；　they　fell　once　more　on　her　father…in…law。

〃Shouldn't　we　be　going？〃

He　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃We　don't　have　to　be　there　until　eleven。　Was
there　something　else　you　wanted　to　do　first？〃

She　laughed　sadly。　〃I'd　pretty　much　chalked　off　the　day；　not　to　mention
the　next　few。〃

〃Do　you　have　much　work　to　do？〃

〃Right　now？　No。　I　was　expecting　the　worst　from　this　hearing；　so　I　gave
myself　a　week's　vacation。〃

〃I　hear　you　got　a　good　rest　in　Vermont　the　week　before　last。〃

〃You've　been　talking　to　my　mother；〃　she　accused　lightly；　astonished　at
how　the　mere　mention　of　Vermont　could　cheer　her。

〃We　all　worry　about　you；　Anne。　But　you've　been　looking　more　yourself
lately。　Something　is　working　for　you。〃

It　was　the　perfect　opening；　but　she　couldn't　get　herself　to　tell　him
about　Mitch。　It　seemed　so　soon；　and；　in　light　of　the　day's　happenings；
inappropriate。

She　blushed…but　her　father…in…law　couldn't　know　why。　〃I've　accepted
Jeff's　death；　which　is　why　this　whole　legal　thing　is　so　hard。　It　helps
spending　time　away　from　it　all　in　Vermont。〃

〃I　suspect　you'd　like　to　be　there　now。〃

Her　grin　was　sheepish。　〃Oh；　I　wouldn't　mind　it；　no　offense　to　present
pany；　of　course。〃

〃Have　you　started　to　date　yet；　Anne？〃

She　took　a　breath　the　wrong　way　and　coughed。　〃Not。。　。　really。〃　She　and
Mitch　had　never　actually　〃dated。〃

Theodore　Boulton　was　sober。　〃We　think　you　should；　Anne。　You're　young　and
beautiful。　I　know　how　much　you　and　Jeff　loved　each　other；　but　he's　gone。
Dot　and　I　have　accepted　that；　too。　He　was　our　son。　Not　a　day　goes　by
when　we　don't　think　about　him。　But　it's　been　over　a　year　now；　and　life
has　to　go　on。　You're　only　twenty…eight。　You　should　be　enjoying　yourself
and　your　friends；　finding　someone　else　to　love；　having　babies。〃　His
cheeks　reddened。　〃e　the　day　you　do　have　a　baby；　I'll　think　of　it　as
my　own　grandchild。〃

Anne's　eyes　filled　with　tears。　Reaching　out；　she　hugged　him　soundly。
〃Thank　you。〃　He　had　lifted　a　burden　from　her　shoulders。　She　felt　better
knowing　that　when　she　told　them　about　Mitch；　they　would　support　her。　She
prayed　that　that　day　would　e　soon；　particularly　once　this　one　was
over。　The　midmorning　traffic　was　heavy。　Sitting　in　it　on　Manhattan's
residential　side　streets；　Anne　looked　around　for　a　distraction　from　the
uping　interview。　Her　eyes　fell　on　the　first　of　the　flowers　that　had
appeared　in　window　boxes；　then；　when　the　car　reached　the　wider　avenues；
on　trees　that　were　beginning　to　bud。　They　were　tall；　thin；　and　pale；
pared　to　her　memory　of　the　trees　in　Vermont。

Those　Vermont　trees；　being　farther　north　and　later　to　blossom；　would　be
barely　swelling　with　buds　now；　but　those　buds　held　promise　of　a　rich　and
fruitful　spring。

Soon；　Mitch　had　said。　Soon　they　would　talk　again。　Soon　they　would　see
each　other；　and　the　waiting　would　be　done。

Her　father…in…law　touched　her　hand　as　they　waited　for　a　traffic　light　to
change。　〃Such　a　wistful　look。〃

She　sighed。　〃I'll　just　be　glad　when　this　is　over。〃

He　smiled　Jeff's　warm　and　reassuring　smile。　〃It's　going　to　be　fine；
Anne。　Just　fine。〃

Within　minutes；　he　pulled　into　a　parking　lot　and　guided　Anne　into　the
posh　skyscraper　that　housed　the　offices　of　the　attorney　for　Southeast
American　Air。　The　elevator　ride　to　the　sixty…eighth　floor　seemed
endless。　Her　palms　were　moist　and　her　stomach　jumpy　by　the　time　they
finally　reached　the　law　firm。

The　Boulton　family　attorney；　Terrence　Carpenter；　met　then　in　the　outer
waiting　room。　He　spent　several　minutes　explaining　the　types　of　questions
Anne　would　be　asked；　then　led　her　through　the　double　doors。　They　walked
down　long　corridors　of　secretaries'　stations；　past　open　doors　of　office
after　office　to　one　at　the　very　end　of　the　hall。

It　was　a　conference　room；　dominated　by　a　long；　rectangular　table　of　a
rich　wood；　surrounded　by　large　leather　chairs。　On　the　opposite　side　was
the　window；　but　the　city　seemed　far　away　from　this　height。　The　wall　to
her　left　held　oil　paintings　of　past　partners；　the　one　to　her　right
offered　blackboards　and　panels；　a　television　set；　and　a　bar。

Others　were　already　in　the　room；　a　woman　and　several　men　talking
intently；　but　they　quickly　grew　silent。　Anne　felt　every　pair　of　their
eyes　turn　her　way。

〃Coffee；　Mrs。　Boulton？〃　her　attorney　asked；　gesturing　toward　the
percolator　at　the　side　of　the　room。

〃Yes…ah…no；〃　she　whispered。　Caffeine　was　the　last　thing　her　jangling
nerves　needed。　But　her　mouth　was　very　dry。　〃If　I　could　have　some　water；
that　would　be　fine。〃

Moments　later；　when　she　had　her　water　and　a　seat　on　one　side　of　the　long
table；　a　man　from　the　other　group　approached　her。　〃We'll　be　ready　to
start　soon；　Mrs。　Boulton。　My　client　should　be　here　momentarily。〃

Terrence　Carpenter；　who　sat　on　her　left；　leaned　in　when　the　man　left。
〃That　was　Peter　Simmons；　counsel　for　SEAA。　He'll　be　deposing　you。　He'll
introduce　you　to　the　others；　but　I　believe　the　tall　dark　fellow　is　the
attorney　for　Jet…Star　Aircraft；　the　manufacturer；　and　the　man　with　him
must　be　its　president。〃

Anne　nodded　and　took　a　sip　of　water。　She　wasn't　sure　she　could　do　this。
It　had　been　bad　enough　in　the　instant　when　they　had　looked　at　her。　She
had　felt　like　the　guilty　party；　rather　than　the　one　who　had　been
wronged。

A　professional…looking　woman　entered　the　room；　whispered　something　to
Peter　Simmons；　then　left；　closing　the　door　behind　her。

Simmons　cleared　his　throat；　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　let's　begin。　My
client　is　delayed　and　will　join　us　shortly。〃

The　others　took　their　seats。　Formal　introductions　were　made；　ending　with
the　stenographer；　who　would　be　making　transcripts　of　the　meeting。　She
was　the　one　who　put　Anne　under　oath。

The　next　fifteen　minutes　passed　harmlessly　enough。　Peter　Simmons　posed
questions；　Anne　answered　them。　It　was　much　as　she　had　been　told　to
expect；　straightforward　questio