He must have wondered about that quiet； because he asked； 〃Is your father dead？〃 〃Oh； no。 But it"s been years since I lived at home。〃 〃Do you live in the same place you did with your husband？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃Does it bother you？〃 〃Sometimes。〃 An understatement。 〃Do you have children？〃 〃No。〃 Regretfully。 〃You"re lucky。〃 Frowning； she lowered the gas under the perking coffee。 〃Why do you say that？ I"ve often thought it would have been easier to have part of him left。〃 〃It isn"t；〃 Mitch said tightly。 〃Take my word for it。〃 Anne heard vehemence enough to suggest personal experience。 She wanted to ask more； but it seemed against the rules。 When he didn"t offer more himself； she figured he agreed。 Anonymity was best。 Definitely。 He finished his pie and coffee； tossed a playful； 〃Getting better！〃 over his shoulder in passing； and left her to add coffee to her own cuppa Joe。 Soon after； he left the cottage。 Noise from the kitchen late that afternoon announced his return。 Anne put the finishing touches on the piece she had translated； stacked her papers neatly； then paused。 She sniffed the air。 There was a new； vile smell。 〃You went fishing！〃 she moaned from the kitchen door； staring in horror at the mess on the counter。 She crinkled her nose in disgust。 〃Now； now；〃 he chided； 〃it may smell bad at first； but once this bass is fried； the end result will be worth it。 You"ll join me for dinner； won"t you？〃 The invitation sounded sincere。 He looked sincere issuing it。 This was her last night at the cottage。 She"d had a week"s worth of time； space； and her solitude。 Oil sizzled in the skillet。 The sound oddly inviting。 〃If you have enough；〃 she said graciously and was rewarded with a smile。 〃Oh； I have enough。 More than enough； and whatever we don"t eat tonight goes to waste。 This is great bass。 Trust me。 I"m a champion fisherman。〃 〃And an immodest one；〃 she added； smiling back。 She didn"t doubt his ability for a minute。 She half…suspected he would be good at whatever he 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 ear