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 caught her。 〃No！〃 His voice softened。 〃Don"t go。〃 When she looked back； his eyes were gentler。 〃e in。 Please。〃 She had no choice when he drew her in。 Not that she wanted one。 Struck by his height and good looks； she was very glad she"d e； and suddenly shy。 For a minute； he seemed unsure。 He studied her eyes； searching。 Then he let out a sigh and drew her close for a hug。 She returned it as though it was the most natural thing in the world。 His lips moved against her hair。 〃It"s good to see you； Anne。〃 She smiled against his chest。 〃Same here； Mitch。〃 He drew back and framed her face。 Tipping it； he kissed her softly。 His mouth played； lightly； sensually。 His tongue made the moment even sweeter。 When he drew back this time； his eyes smoldered。 His voice was thick。 〃How about making coffee while I get cleaned up？ You look a damned sight better than I do right now。〃 〃You don"t look so bad。〃 〃Get the coffee？ Please？ I"ll get your bags later。〃 Putting her from him； he strode off。 Anne tossed her coat on a chair。 She made coffee strong； and eggs scrambled moist。 When the food was hot on the table； she went to the window。 The backyard looked bare。 A dull apple or two clinging stubbornly to lonely branches。 The firs stood out； towering over trees that were deleafed。 They swayed gallantly in gusts of wind that sent shivers through the tall grass below。 But the chill was out there； and Anne was in here。 She was warm and content。 〃You"re looking well；〃 Mitch said from the door。 〃A little pale； but better than last time。〃 He was groomed meticulously now and looking devastatingly fresh in an opermecked wool shirt and clean denims。 〃There wasn"t much in the fridge；〃 she said。 〃I hope the eggs are enough。〃 He took a chair and helped himself from the platter。 〃I thought we"d go marketing today。 Unless；〃 he shot her a look over the rim of his coffee cup； 〃you brought groceries。〃 〃Not this time。 I wasn"t sure I"d be staying here。 I made reservations at an inn in Woodstock just in case。〃