life fell apart。 When they looked at her； Anne knew what they saw。 She saw it in the mirror each morning； the pallor in an oval face framed by pitch…black hair。 Still； she said； 〃I really have no choice； have I； Mother？ I"ve been more fortunate than others； always having someone to be with。 When it wasn"t you and Dad； it was Peggy； then my roommates at college； then Jeff。〃 Her voice caught on his name。 She had long…since cried herself out； but that little break in her breath remained。 Marjorie Faulke grasped at straws。 〃Call Peggy。 She won"t be starting classes for another few weeks。 She"ll make the trip with you。〃 But Anne shook her head。 〃No； Mom。 Peggy"s terrific。 For a sister； I couldn"t ask for finer。 But she has her own life； her own friends。 It"s not her job to baby…sit me。 And I"d really prefer to be alone。〃 Her voice hardened。 〃I"d better get used to it； don"t you think？〃 Oh； yes； there was anger。 Its only cure was through the courts； but it would be months more before things were resolved there。 A silence had hung over the intimate round table； its elegant place settings and fine food for otten。 This had bee a pattern； this family gathering turned wake； but it had to be broken。 Anne had to start to live again。 The trip to Vermont was a first step。 As the full blaze in the fireplace settled to a more sedate crackle； the patter of raindrops broke through Anne"s reverie。 Stretching her legs； she stood； smoothed out her jeans； and padded barefoot to the front window。 The darkness was dense。 Staring out through rain…spattered panes； she was grateful that she had shut the car windows and locked the door。 The idea of going outside to do it now didn"t appeal to her。 As she stood； hands by her sides； eyes straight ahead； she could see nothing but the black of night and her own grim reflection。 She didn"t need friends to tell her that she looked gaunt and spectral。 Her cheeks were pale； hollowed by a weight loss that had cut into gentle curves all over her body。 Her mouth was more often drawn thin and straight now； rather than curved in a smile。 Dark eyes that had once danced with happiness； now spoke of loneliness； and her hair didn"t swing。 It fit her mood； which was restrained。 Even now she had it tied back with a thin strip of black velvet whose ends were lost in the ribbing of her black turtleneck sweater。 This； too…this ghostly appearance…would have to change if she planned to start a new life。 She had been paralyzed for weeks after the previous January"s debacle。 The thought of a future without Jeff was still alien。 They had been married for seven years； though it had seemed forever。 Anne was a sophomore in college； a language major； when she had met him during a summer of study in France。 He was one of the few Americans she had seen during her three month stay with a family in a small village west of Limoges。 His means of transportation had been a bicycle； his means of munication a brilliant smile； until he discovered she spoke English。 From then on they were inseparable。 He revised his touring plans to acmodate her； and when they returned to the States at the end of August； friendship became courtship。 He was also from New York； his family home an hour"s drive from her own。 By January she had transferred to his midwestern university； they were married the following summer。 Only two years apart in age； they grew up together； passing through the college years of flux and idealism with hours of carefree camaraderie and first love。 Both had e from hard…working； upwardly mobile families that helped them financially until they were on their own feet。 But money hadn"t mattered； even when Jeff became a successful investment consultant。 What mattered had always been Jeff and Anne； Anne and Jeff。 Then； abruptly； it was Anne； alone。 When the stupor finally began to wear off； she took stock of her assets。 She had a home…a spacious； well…furnished； stylishly decorated condo。 She had money enough to live in it fortably； with leftover to invest。 She had friends。 She had family。 She had her own car； one not as sporty as Jeff"s Audi； but small； reliable； and gas efficient。 And she had her work。 Fluent in French and Spanish； Anne worked as a freelance interpreter through most of her marriage。 At first they had needed the money； later not so； but she enjoyed her work； and with nothing to keep her at home； it filled the hours when Jeff was at the office。 When they planned a trip； she took on less work。 When Jeff had a business trip； she took on more and was busy until he returned。 More than once during those long； morbid months； she had wondered what would have been if she had been with him on that last； fateful trip。 They might have been together still。 But they weren"t。 She was alone。 Gradually she took on more work； branching off into textbook translation for local universities。 As opposed to interpreting； where she had to be personally on the spot at a given time on a given day； there was more flexibility in translation。 Once the material had been picked up； she could tackle the job on her own schedule； in the fort and privacy of her apartment。 The work was plentiful。 She could pick and choose。 Between her availability； her petence； and her promptness； she was in demand。 On occasion； she met overeager professors； even some young and attractive ones who were aware of her situation。 She remained courteous and professionally efficient； but she refused to date them。 It disturbed her； even angered her； that men thought she would want to date so soon。 Memories of Jeff were too near； too vivid； too dear。 Those memories would eventually settle in； she knew； and she might date then。 For now； though； she"d had enough of love and pain。 This trip was good in that sense； too。 It gave her excuses to avoid dating。 Between getting ready to leave with a million errands to do； being physically out of state for the week； and eventually returning to a huge pile of work； she was safe。 She didn"t have to worry about men in the backwoods of Vermont。 She was hoping she wouldn"t see anyone in the week she was here。 Pretty reclusi