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With more poise than Anne could seem to muster； the child extended a
small hand。 〃Hello； Anne。 I'm pleased to meet you。 Daddy's told me all
about you。〃
Anne held her hand； loving its fragility and its warmth。 〃Only the good
things； I hope？〃
Rachel's eyes rounded quickly。 〃Oh； my daddy would never say anything
bad about you。 He…〃
〃That's enough； pumpkin；〃 Mitch cut her off with a squeeze。 〃You can't
give away all our secrets； now； can you？〃
The child broke into a wide grin； displaying a mouthful of small white
teeth with a wide gap smack in the middle of the top。
Anne was enchanted。 〃That's quite some hole you've got there。 Did the
good fairy bring you something nice for those teeth？〃
Again the grin； along with owl eyes。 〃I got a whole dollar for each of
them。 Daddy says he only got a quarter when he was a little boy； but
that the good fairy was afraid I might swallow a coin； so she gave me
paper。 I'm really glad；〃 she bubbled and lowered her voice in
confidence； 〃'cause you can't buy much for a quarter。〃
Anne laughed。 〃You're a perceptive little girl。〃
Mitch appeared to agree。 Pride was written all over his face； and he had
a right to that pride where the child was concerned。 Not where his own
behavior was concerned； though。 For starters； he should be ashamed of
himself for using her as a shield。
〃Uh； perhaps you ladies are ready to go。 The sooner we leave the city；
the sooner we'll reach the cabin。〃
The cabin？ Her heart stopped。 She couldn't go to the cabin。
But Rachel's eyes were glued to hers and Mitch's held clear warning。
〃Rachel；〃 she began softly； checking back over her shoulder； 〃do you
think you might wait here while your father helps me out with one last
thing upstairs？ Maurice； the doorman； will keep you pany。〃
The child looked to her father for permission。 He kissed her and set her
back in the car。 〃We'll be down in a jiffy。〃 He spoke gently； repeating
the same for the doorman。 Taking Anne's elbow； he escorted her inside。
As soon as they rounded the corner and were out of the child's sight；
Anne turned on him。 〃You arranged this with my parents； didn't you？〃
He grinned。 〃They're wonderful people。 When I explained the situation；
they were more than glad to help out。〃
〃Well； that's just fine； but I'm not going！ For all your smugness and
your crafty little plans； I'm not going！〃
His grin died。 〃I told Rachel that you'd be spending the week with us。〃
〃You had no right to do that。〃
〃But it's done。 She's counting on your being there。 Would you disappoint
her？〃
Anne was exasperated。 〃How can you use her like this？ You know I can't
hurt her。〃
〃I was counting on that。〃
〃So you're going to go out there〃…she pointed a shaky finger toward the
street…〃and tell her I can't go。〃
〃But you can。 Your bags are packed and loaded。 Your work has been
cleared for the next two weeks。 There's nothing left to hold you here。〃
Anne felt trapped。 With a tired sigh； she slumped back against the wall。
〃Why don't you leave me alone？ Can't you see that I don't want to be
with you？〃
He was sober then。 〃That's because you won't listen to reason。 I've
tried to explain； and more than once； but you wouldn't answer my calls
or let me in when I banged on your door。 You wouldn't give me the
courtesy of hearing me out。 So now I'm asking you； for Rachel's sake； to
e with us。 Just this once。 At the end of the week； if you still feel
this way； I will leave you alone。〃
Anne wondered if it was the only way out。 She couldn't bear the thought
of hurting a child who had already been so badly hurt in life。 And the
little girl would be a chaperon of sorts。 What harm could there be？
〃Is that a promise？〃 she asked cautiously。
〃Yes。〃 There was no point belaboring the matter。 With a defeated sigh；
she pushed away from the wall and returned to the car with Mitch。
Within the hour they left the traffic of the city behind and sped
northward。 〃When did you get the new car？〃 Anne asked； groping for
conversation with Mitch as Rachel knelt on the backseat； studying the
receding skyline。
〃About a week ago。 This is her maiden voyage。 The Honda was a bit small
for three。〃 The eyebrow that arched her way was subtle； but Anne had to
marvel at his presumption。 If the three included her； he had paid a
whole lot for a single trip。
Rachel poked her golden head between the bucket seats and rubbed her
cheek against the soft velour。 〃I like this car。 Daddy says the color
matches my eyes。〃
〃It does； at that；〃 Anne said with a warm smile。 How not to smile at a
child who exuded sweetness like this one？ She prayed there would be
pouts； crankiness； and temper tantrums as the week progressed。
Otherwise； she could be in big trouble。
There weren't any pouts； crankiness； or temper tantrums； and Anne grew
more and more attached to the child。 Even knowing that Mitch contrived
it didn't detract from the pleasure Anne took in simple custodial things
like bathing her； bing those long blond curls； helping retie the
shoelaces that came undone after Rachel laboriously tied them herself。
There were substantive things to cherish； like cookie baking； hikes in
the woods； and reading stories before the fire at night。
And if Anne was in love； she felt it ing right back from Rachel。 Such
innocent； heartfelt； freely given affection was the most precious thing
in the world。
Staying indifferent to Mitch was a problem； but she did her best and； to
his credit； he didn't push。 She slept upstairs； he slept downstairs；
with Rachel in a sleeping bag on the floor of his room。 By Wednesday
morning； though； Anne felt she was walking a tight…rope of conflicting
emotions； with Mitch watching from morning to night to see which way she
would go。
Memory nagged。 She remembered beautiful times here with Mitch； innocent
times of fulfillment and love。 She might put them aside in New York； but
they were more real here and harder to flee。
Still she tried。 〃I'm going for a walk；〃 she announced after a
postbreakfast bit of brooding。
〃That's a good idea；〃 Mitch said without mockery； but then； his
gentleness was part of the torture。 〃Take your time。 I think I can