《rekindled(英文版)》第73章

Then　she　was　thrown　a　setback。　Her　doorbell　rang　one　evening　when　she
wasn"t　expecting　anyone。　Leaving　the　chain　latch　in　place；　she　opened
the　door　the　several　inches　allowed　and　peered　out　to　find　Mitch　there。
She　closed　the　door　with　a　slam。　The　bell　rang　again　and　again。　She　went
to　the　most　remote　corner　of　the　apartment；　crossed　her　arms　on　her
chest；　and　vowed　to　let　it　ring。
She　wasn"t　prepared　for　the　loud　pounding　that　followed。　He　was　making　a
godawful　racket。
Fearing　that　he　would　have　her　neighbors　out　in　no　time；　she　returned　to
the　door。　〃Go　away！〃　she　yelled；　hoping　that　her　voice　would　carry
through　his　ruckus。
It　did。　His　returning　call　was　muffled；　but　she　heard　every　word。　〃Not
until　I"ve　spoken　with　you；　Anne。〃
〃Go　away！　I　don"t　want　to　talk！〃
〃You"ll　have　to。〃
Irate；　she　reopened　the　door　those　few　allotted　inches。　〃I　don"t　have　to
do　anything。　Now；　please　leave；　or　I"ll　call　the　police。〃　It　took　very
ounce　of　restraint　for　her　to　remain　calm　when　she　would　have　liked
nothing　more　than　to　run　him　through　with　a　carving　knife。
He　looked　agitated。　〃I"m　trying　to　be　patient；　Anne；　but　you　refuse　to
take　my　calls。　We　have　to　talk。　There　are　things　I　have　to　explain。〃
She　seethed。　〃Sorry；　bud；　but　you　had　your　chance；　and　you　passed　it　up。
You　had　all　those　days　and　nights　to　tell　me　who　you　were　and　what　your
business　was；　but　you　didn"t。　You　were　so　cagey。　I"ll　see　you　soon；
Annie；　soon。〃　She　contorted　her　voice　to　mock　him。　〃But　you　didn"t
bother　to　tell　me　when；　did　you；　Mitch？　Well；　I　don"t　want　to　talk　now。〃
She　leaned　against　the　door　to　shut　it；　only　to　find　he　had　a　foot　in
the　way。
〃Move！〃　she　ordered　hoarsely。　She　was　wearing　down　in　more　ways　than
one。
He　swore。　〃Hell；　Anne；　but　you　can　be　stubborn。　If　we　were　back　in
Vermont；　I"d　know　just　what　to　do。〃
〃We"re　not　in　Vermont！〃　she　screamed；　uncaring　that　others　might　hear。
〃I"ll　never　be　there　again。　Now；　leave！〃　Every　muscle　in　her　body
quivered。
〃Fine；〃　he　gave　in。　〃I"ll　leave；　but　I"ll　be　back。　If　not　here；　I"ll
catch　you　somewhere　else。　On　the　street；　in　a　restaurant；　even　at　your
parents"　house；　if　need　be。　I　can　be　devious。　You　can"t　stay　holed　up　in
this　place　forever。　And　I　won"t　give　up！〃
When　his　foot　slid　back　into　the　hallway；　Anne　slammed　the　door　shut
then；　she　turned　and　ran；　trembling；　toward　the　bedroom；　where　she
huddled　against　the　headboard　like　a　hunted　animal。　He　could　be　devious；
that　was　putting　it　mildly！　She　would　see　him　again；　and　the　thought
filled　her　with　dread。
Determined　not　to　be　made　a　prisoner　in　her　own　home；　Anne　booked　even
more　jobs。　She　was　all　over　town；　with　varied　and　interesting　people；
but　the　diversion　she　wanted　came　only　in　bits　and　snatches。　Ever　on
guard　against　running　into　Mitch；　she　found　herself　looking　over　her
shoulder　wherever　she　went；　half　expecting　to　find　him　ready　to　pounce。
It　was　nerve…racking；　to　say　the　least。　After　more　than　a　week　of
running　from　place　to　place　and　feeling　haunted；　she　grew　discouraged。
The　worst　of　it　was　that　that　she　didn"t　see　him；　and　that　deep　inside；
in　a　place　she　didn"t　want　to　know　about；　she　was　disappointed　because
of　that。　The　pain　went　on。
Relief　came　from　her　parents　in　the　form　of　an　invitation　to　spend　time
with　them　at　the　shore。　Yes；　they　tended　to　smother　her；　but　she　could
use　a　little　smothering　now。　She　wanted　to　be　pampered　and　loved。　She
wanted　to　be　protected　from　Mitch。　The　change　of　scenery　would　be　good。
She　planned　to　make　the　most　of　it。
The　first　of　May　found　her　dressed　in　a　bright　yellow　sundress；　waiting
beside　her　bags　at　the　front　entrance　of　her　apartment　building。　She
checked　the　street；　then　her　watch。　Her　parents　had　promised　to　be　there
at　one。　It　was　one…fifteen　now。　They　weren"t　usually　late。
With　a　brief　word　to　the　doorman；　she　returned　to　her　apartment；　dialed
her　parents"　home　phone；　waited　through　ring　after　ring。　Assuming　they
were　on　their　way；　she　went　back　downstairs。　What　she　found　there
stopped　her　cold。
With　the　doorman"s　ready　assistance；　her　bags　were　being　loaded　into　the
trunk　of　a　shiny　brown　Audi　that　she　didn"t　recognize。　But　she　did
recognize　the　man　who　stepped　from　its　far　side。　He　was　sun…bronzed　and
gorgeous　in　a　pullover　and　white　ducks；　looking　as　handsome　and
masculine　as　could　be；　and　very；　very　smug。　Before　she　could　find　her
tongue；　he　opened　the　rear　door　of　the　car　and　leaned　in。　When　he
straightened；　he　was　carrying　the　most　beautiful　child　Anne　had　ever
seen。
Her　breath　faltered。　How　could　he？　He　wasn"t　playing　fair；　wasn"t
playing　fair　at　all…and　he　knew　it；　if　the　mischief　in　his　grin　meant
anything。
〃Hi；　Annie！〃　He　greeted　her　as　though　nothing　was　wrong。　〃Hope　we　didn"t
keep　you　waiting　too　long。　Traffic　was　a　bitch。　I　think　we　have　all　your
bags。　Is　there　anything　else　inside？〃
Anne　may　have　been　thick　in　the　past；　but　she　wasn"t　thick　now。　He　had
known　she　would　be　waiting。　He　had　known　what　time　to　e。　He　would
never　have　brought　the　child；　if　he　hadn"t　been　sure　of　the　oute。
That　meant　her　parents　were　in　cahoots　with　him。
Had　it　been　Mitch；　alone；　she　would　have　turned　and　run。　But　when　she
looked　at　the　child；　she　was　lost。　The　six…year…old　wore　pink　bib…topped
shorts；　a　white　jersey；　and　clean　white　sneakers。　Her　limbs　were　tanned；
long　legs　dangling　around　Mitch"s　thighs。　Golden　cascades　of　curly　hair
fell　half％way　down　her　back；　held　off　from　her　face　by　gaily　painted
barrettes　above　either　ear。　But　the　barrettes　were　small　and　couldn"t
quite　hold　all　her　hair。　Short　wisps　escaped　into　tendrils　that　framed
her　face。　And　that　face？　If　Anne　hadn"t　been　in　love　with　the　rest；　that
face　would　have　done　it。　It　was　softly　rounded　and　rosy　checked；　with　a
swarm　of　bright　freckles　over　the　bridge　of　a　button　nose；　and　eyes　that
were　chocolate…colored　and　soulful…and　staring　at　her。
〃Oh；　my；〃　Mitch　said。　〃I"ve　almost　forgotten　introductions　in　my　rush　to
get　going。　Anne；　this　is　my　daughter；　Rachel　Anderson。　Rachel；　this　is
Anne　Boulton。〃
With　more　poise　than　Anne　could　seem　to　muster；　the　child　extended　a
small　hand。　〃Hello；　Anne。　I