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did。 He had an air of petence that went well beyond an arrogant jaw。
Indeed； the fish was delicious。 As was the fresh…squeezed orange juice
she found at breakfast the next morning。 He was； it seemed； a handy man
to have around。
This was Anne's last morning in Vermont。 To her surprise； when she
headed for the woods； Mitch fell into step beside her； and it was as
peaceful a hike as any she'd had。 There was silence； the soft sounds of
nature； and Mitch's occasional ments。 He was knowledgeable in the
ways of the forest and had a wealth of information to share。 He talked
about species of trees and flowers； habits of woodland creatures； the
history of the area itself； and did it all in an easygoing；
unpretentious manner。 He read Anne well； and knew when to speak and when
to be still。 She was almost sorry when they arrived back at the cabin；
since her next chore was to pack。
Too soon that was done。 With her luggage stowed in the trunk； she put
her key in the ignition…and for a brief minute hoped her engine would
fail。 It was a possibility； wasn't it？ She hadn't started the car once
all week。
But it coughed to life at the first turn； and hummed smoothly as it
warmed。 Which left only one thing left to do。
She was about to climb from the car when that one thing rounded the
house。 〃You weren't going to leave without saying good…bye； were you？〃
he asked； bending to talk through the open window of the car。
〃I was just going to e and find you。〃
〃Do you have all your stuff。？〃
〃Uh…huh。 I left the rest of the apple pie for you。〃
His eyes sparkled warmly。 〃Thanks。 You do make a good one； even though
your coffee is still too weak。〃
〃Then you'll be glad to be rid of me。〃 She smiled wryly。 〃When do you
leave？〃
〃Later today。〃
〃Oh。〃 What else to say？ His fingers curved over the window ledge。 They
were strong fingers； nice ones。
〃Will you be back up here at all？〃 he asked quietly。
She shrugged。 〃I don't know。 I haven't thought too far ahead。 It's been
a good week； though。 I'm sorry to be leaving。〃
〃It wasn't all that bad； was it？〃 He seemed suddenly hesitant。 〃Look；〃
he began tentatively； 〃I'll be ing up the week before Thanksgiving。
Kind of to give myself a boost before the holidays。 Keep it in mind。〃 He
stopped short of an open invitation； but the implication was there。
It struck her that she would probably want a boost herself。 〃I'll
remember。〃 She cleared her throat。 〃Well； good…bye； then。〃
He smiled； hit the ledge once； and pushed himself straight。 〃Safe trip。〃
When he stepped away； she put the car in reverse； backed around； and
headed for the road； all the time thinking that she might have liked a
kiss。 It was a whimsical thought。 Not so whimsically； his lank image
shrank steadily in the rearview mirror。 When the car took a curve and he
disappeared； she narrowed her sights on reality and New York。
How different the road looked this time around。 Parched brown leaves
blanketed the ground； forests of bare branches joined evergreens in a
blur of gray…green on distant hills。 Mountains stood stark； more harsh
without greenery on their slopes。 Leaf peepers had long since gone home
to city beat and thoughts of Thanksgiving； barely two weeks away。
Those thoughts had precipitated Anne's trip； or so she told herself as
she drove steadily north。 On one hand； things had improved in New York。
Her return trip had been uneventful； her apprehension at facing life and
its memories eased by the onset of autumn and a renewed strength。
〃You look marvelous！〃 her mother had said the first night of her return。
〃I like that pink on your cheeks。 It bees you。〃
Even after the long drive； Anne was full of energy； which was why she
had stopped at her parents in the first place。 〃It was perfect；〃 she
said。 〃Just what I needed。〃
〃Sit down and tell me all about it；〃 the older woman ordered； and Anne
had。 Almost。 She didn't mention Mitch。 He played no role in her real
life。 She didn't even know his last name。
At first she gave little thought to the idea of returning to Vermont in
November。 The new semester had begun； and she was up to her ears in
translation work。 Friends still hovered； but she had more patience for
it now。 In turn； they sensed her calmer state and began to ease up。
She still refused to date。 But she was excited enough about one
professor's project to agree to sign on as a part…time assistant。
Assured of steady work to off…balance incidental work； she faced the
fall and winter seasons with confidence。
But Jeff was gone； and the holidays approached。 These would be her first
without him。
When she first heard low whispers in the back of her mind； she ignored
them。 After Halloween； though； they became a murmur。 Go to Vermont go to
Vermont go to Vermont； they said。
But how could she？
That first time had been an accident。 Sharing the cottage with Mitch had
been a makeshift solution to an unexpected problem。 If she went this
time； there would be nothing unexpected about it。
But Mitch was right。 The closer Thanksgiving came； the more she dreaded
it。 She could use a boost； indeed； before facing them alone。 Recalling
with pleasure the land； the air； and the cottage； she figured that
whether he showed up or not the week would be good。
This time her parents raised no objection。 As a precaution； she made a
reservation at an inn thirty miles from the house。 It was the nearest
one； but would assure her a place to stay if Mitch either didn't want
her or wasn't there。
She didn't have a key； because she hadn't called the rental agent。 What
would she have said？ Is Mitch going up this weekend？ No； I don't know
his last name； but we spent the week together there last time。
Embarrassing！
She made the sharp turn off the highway onto the rutted road that lead
up the hill to the house。 The ruts were harder now； more jolting in the
cold of a raw November than they had been in September。 In that instant
her thoughts jolted； too； up and down； in and out。 She shouldn't have
e she had to e。 What did she hope to acplish…why did she have to
hope to acplish anything？ What if Mitch wasn't there…what if he was？
She had deliberately waited until Saturday morning to leave the city。 If
Mitch had driven up on Friday night； like last time； she would reach the
cottage just when he was waking up。
Her heartbeat quickened when she rounded the final curve and saw his
sporty blue Honda parked in front of the house。 It stood out clearly in
the dusky November day； a bright and promising robin's egg in a dried
twig nest。 Her pulse pounded as she pulled in behind it； slid out of her
car； and； pulling her navy pea coat closed； approached the door。
All was winter silent； such that the heels of her leather boots sounded
abnormally loud on the flagstone walk。 The grass bordering the walk was
aged and dying； the lilac forlornly naked。 But Anne felt alive as she
knocked on the door。
When there was no answer； she imagined him in the kitchen； and knocked
harder。
Still； silence。
But his car was there。 She wondered if he had broken habit and gone for
an earlier hike。 She tried the doorknob； but it didn't budge。 Finally；
she banged on the door with a full fist。
It opened then； and she knew he'd been asleep。 He was bleary…eyed；
unshaven； mussed of hair； and rumpled…looking in an old shirt； tails
hanging low over wrinkled jeans。 He was as tall and lean as she
remembered； though not quite as enthusiastic as she had hoped。
She swallowed doitch。〃
〃Where in the hell have you been？〃 he bellowed。 〃I was thinking of
sending the troops out。〃
If not for his gruffness； Anne might have hugged him。 Only then did she
realize how much she had wanted to see him。 〃I'm sorry。 I didn't leave
the city until this morning。〃
〃Why not？ You knew I'd be arriving yesterday。〃
〃No； I didn't。〃
Though his eyes were a deep； deep green； he continued to scowl。 〃I'm
beginning to wonder if you're more trouble than you're worth！〃
〃Thanks a lot；〃 she said； offended； and suddenly she remembered every
little annoying thing about him。 〃I could say the same about you。 I
think I'll leave。〃 Spinning on a heel； she took a single step before he
caugh