rekindled(英文版)-第41部分

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more　than　anything　in　the　world。　But　there　was　a　crucial　question　still
to　be　answered。

Slowly　she　turned　the　knob　and　drew　open　the　door。　Fearful；　she　raised
her　eyes　to　his。　And　she　saw　love；　surely　she　did；　unless　she　wanted　it
so　bad　that　she　was　imagining　it。

〃Do　you　love　Rachel；　too？〃　she　asked　in　a　faltering　whisper。

When　he　reached　for　her　arms；　she　didn't　resist。　Neither　did　she　melt
toward　him；　but　held　her　line；　waiting；　waiting　for　his　answer。

His　smile　was　sad　but　tender。　〃Yes；　I　love　Rachel。〃　His　hands　tightened
when　she　would　have　pulled　free。　〃But　I　love　her　in　a　very　different　way
from　how　I　love　you；　Annie。　Rachel　is　my　daughter。〃

Anne　was　shocked。　His　daughter？　She　had　been　jealous　of　his　daughter？

〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me？〃　she　cried；　wanting　to　hit　him　but　slipping　her
arms　around　his　neck　instead。

He　held　her　tightly。　〃I've　wanted　to　so　many　times。　But　it　never　seemed
appropriate。　At　the　beginning；　there　was　a　part　of　me　that　wanted…God
forgive　me…that　wanted　to　forget　her　existence　while　I　was　up　here。
Fatherhood　has　its　merits；　but　it's　been　my　greatest　challenge　since
Bey's　death。〃

He　had　a　daughter。　Anne　could　only　begin　to　imagine　that；　much　less　the
challenge　of　going　it　alone。　〃Maybe　I　could　have　helped。〃

〃You've　had　enough　to　face　without　having　to　cope　with　a　child。〃

〃How　old　is　she？〃

〃She　turned　six　last　week。　And　she　came　down　with　the　chicken　pox　the
day　after　her　birthday。　It's　the　first　time　she's　been　sick…really
sick　since　her　mother　died。〃

Anne　understood。　〃That's　why　you　were　late　arriving　last　weekend？〃

He　nodded　against　her　head。　〃My　parents　have　been　wonderful；　taking　her
for　weeks　at　a　stretch。　They're　often　more　cheerful　than　me。〃　He　looked
down　at　her。　〃But　I　couldn't　leave　them　with　a　sick　child　who　only
wanted　her　mother　to　hold　her。〃　His　voice　broke　at　the　last。

〃Why　didn't　you　bring　her　up　here　with　you？〃　Anne　scolded。

He　studied　her　closely。　〃I　wasn't　sure　how　you　felt　about　kids。　We've
never　talked　about　that；　you　and　me。　I　only　know　you　have　none　of　your
own。〃

〃Not　through　choice；　Mitch；　not　through　choice。〃

〃But　to　foist　a　sick　child　on　you？　How　could　I　do　that？〃

Anne　spoke　from　the　heart。　〃I　would　have　loved　to　have　met　your
daughter。　I'd　have　loved　helping　you　take　care　of　her。　She's　your
daughter。〃　Her　voice　fell。　〃And　I　love　you。〃

He　crushed　her　in　his　arms。　The　force　of　it　said　all　that　he　didn't；　but
seconds　later　he　was　kissing　her。　If　she　hadn't　already　gotten　the
message；　he　did　then。　There　was　a　vow　in　his　kiss；　a　declaration；　a
promise。

〃I　love　you　。。。　love　you　。。。　love　you；〃　she　whispered　at　the　very　first
chance；　loving　being　able　to　say　it　at　last。

When　his　hands　moved　down　to　frame　her　face　and　tip　it　up；　she　savored
the　devotion　she　saw。　His　eyes　asked　a　question；　hers　answered。　Then　he
lifted　her　into　his　arms　and　carried　her　back　down　the　narrow　staircase
to　the　room　with　the　large　bed；　his　bed。

This　time；　when　he　lowered　her　and　reached　for　the　hem　of　her　sweater；
she　caught　his　hands　and　stilled　them。　〃Let　me；〃　she　said。　〃I　need　to
know　you。〃

He　searched　her　eyes　for　a　minute。　Then；　silently；　he　sat　back　on　the
bed　and　let　her　undress　him。　When　his　big　body　was　bare；　she　could　only
marvel　at　its　beauty；　at　the　beauty　of　the　love　she　felt。　She　explored
his　every　sinew；　touching　him　with　innocent　wonder　from　his　shoulders　to
his　thighs；　skimming　lean　planes；　tracing　manly　swells；　delighting　in
his　arousal。

When　his　patience　was　exhausted；　he　made　a　gutteral　sound。　〃That's　it；
honey。　That's　it。〃　With　bullet　speed；　he　flipped　over　her　and　removed
every　stitch　of　her　clothes。

They　lay　naked　then　on　the　cool　sheets；　facing　one　another。　Their
breathing　was　heavy　with　need　and　want；　but　he　held　her　off　for　those
last　few　infinitely　trying　seconds。　His　eyes　ran　the　length　of　her　once
more　before　searching　her　soul。

〃Are　you　sure？〃　he　asked　softly。

〃I　love　you；〃　she　replied。

〃But　it's　different　for　a　woman；　isn't　it？〃

〃Not　when　she's　in　love。〃

〃Then　you'll　be　mine？〃

She　grinned。　〃If　you　keep　me　waiting　much　longer；　I　may　attack　you。〃

The　waiting　ended。　He　possessed　her　as　the　pale　purple　of　early　evening
bathed　them　in　its　glow；　and　it　was　good　from　the　very　first。　Good　。。。
better　。。。　all…consuming　。。。　exhausting　。。。　absolutely；　positively
mind…blowing。

Arms　and　legs　entwined；　they　slept；　the　deep　and　satisfied　sleep　of　two
who　were　spent　and　content。　Long　forgotten　was　the　maple　syrup　on　the
stove；　cooling　to　a　thick　amber　perfection；　and　the　French　toast　that
was　to　have　showcased　it。　They　were　oblivious　when　dusk　faded　to　a　dark
and　moonlit　night。

When　Anne　awoke　some　time　later；　the　only　things　she　cared　about　were
the　warm　chest　pillowing　her　head　and　the　lean　hip　under　her　palm。　Her
first　movement　brought　a　tightening　of　the　arm　across　her　back　and　the
reverent　caress　of　a　hand。　Smiling；　she　kissed　the　matted　hair　on　his
chest；　then　tipped　her　head　to　see　him。　His　chin　was　strong　but　relaxed；
the　angled　jaw　likewise。　His　hair　fell　in　waves　over　his　forehead；
lending　a　boyish　charm。　But　his　eyes…his　eyes　held　hers；　speaking　of
love。

〃How　are　you？〃　he　asked　gently。

She　traced　the　line　of　his　jaw。　〃I've　never　been　better。〃

〃I　love　you。　You　know　that　now；　don't　you？〃

She　nodded。　He　could　never　have　made　love　to　her　the　way　he　had　if　it
hadn't　e　from　the　heart。　But　he　repeated　the　words　as　the　night
passed；　reassuring　her　again　and　again；　and　Anne　had　never　known　such　a
night。　She　would　collapse；　breathless；　weary　of　limb　and　shuddering　in
the　aftermath　of　passion；　only　to　discover　before　long　that　Mitch　had　a
new　way　to　say　it。

The　sun　was　high　in　the　late…morning　sky　when　they　finally　awoke。　They
lay　in　bed；　face　to　face；　studying；　marveling；　smiling。

〃How　am　I　going　to　drive　back　to　New　York　today？〃　she　finally　asked。
Forget　her　heart。　Her　body　was　done　in。

〃You're　not。　When　I　go　to　make　my　phone　call　later　today；　I'll　make　any
you　need　to　make。　I'm　sure　the　O'Gradys　won't　mind。〃

〃The　O'Gradys？〃

〃Our　neighbors；　about　two　miles　to　the　east。　I　found　them　by　accident
once；　but　they're　used　to　me　now。　I　always　call　Rachel　from　there。〃

Anne　smiled。　〃Rachel。　You're　daughter。　That's　so　special；　Mitch。　I'm
glad　you　keep　in　touch　with　her　while　you're　away。　I　feel　guilty　that
you　left　her　at　all　to　meet　me；　especially　when　she　was　sick。〃

〃She　was　better　by　the　time　I　left。　But　don't　worry　your　pretty　head
about　that。　What　you　need　to　worry　about　is　whether　I'll　let　you　out　of
this　bed　before　Monday。〃

She　feigned　shock。　〃You　wouldn't　keep　me　here　that　long。〃

〃No？〃

She　took　another　tack。　〃You　couldn't。〃

〃No？〃　His　eyes　held　a　naughty　gleam。　Then　he　slid　over　her　and　proved
her　wrong。

Saturday　night　they　had　cause　to　celebrate；　toasting　each　other　by　first
and　last　names；　making　merry　despite　the　fact　that　they　had　both　decided
to　leave　the　next　day。　Mitch　had　a　Monday　morning　board　meeting；　Anne
needed　to　deliver　a　promised　piece　of　work。　The　real　world　waited。

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　mea