〃Too restful。 Tomorrow is my last morning here。 Will you go walking with me； or do I sneak out alone？〃 He looked back at the fire。 〃I"ll go with you。〃 She had expected an argument； something to the tune of You"re not well enough for a walk。 When he said nothing； she knew something was definitely wrong。 But he wasn"t the only one who had lost his taste for the fight。 She didn"t want anything to mar their last night。 So she let it go。 With the snowfall still fresh on the deserted mountain； the sight greeting them the following morning was one of blinding splendor。 The sky was a deep blue； the air cold and still。 Days of warm sun and freezing temperatures had created a crust of ice。 The crunch underfoot echoed as they made their way across the hillside。 Bits of the brook that weren"t frozen ran through crystalline palaces of branches and weeds。 The only other signs of life were those frozen in the snow； the tracks of the snowshoe rabbit or the packed path of the deer。 It was a scene of rare beauty； all the more beautiful for the week…long wait to see it。 But time was short。 Too soon； afternoon arrived and the moment of parting。 〃Are you sure you won"t stay the weekend？〃 Mitch asked。 〃You shouldn"t be driving so far yet。〃 Her car was packed。 They stood beside it。 His wistfulness added to Anne"s regret。 〃I wish I could。 But I promised my folks I"d attend a hospital benefit with them tomorrow night。 I can"t let them down。〃 He wrapped an arm around her。 〃Even if you"re letting me down？〃 His eyes dropped to her lips。 Seconds later he kissed them。 It was a gentle caress； sweet torture to Anne"s reawakening body。 She wound her arms around his neck and felt him tighten in response。 She was well now。 Her departure was imminent。 If ever there was a time for ardor； this was it。 The kiss deepened and the fire grew hotter。 With a wildness borne of desperation； he thrust his tongue deeper into her mouth； and Anne reeled at the sensation。 She would have happily returned to the house； to that same bedroom； that same large bed if he"d asked just then。 But he didn"t。 With a shaky breath； he drew back。 He took her hand； pressed something in it； and closed her fingers。 〃I want you to take this。 It"s a key to the place。 I have a few hectic weeks ahead； but I"ll be up again at the end of March。 If you want to e at any time； I want you to。〃 Anne was deeply touched； but that wasn"t the only reason her eyes filled with tears。 Frightened that she would make a fool of herself； she whispered a soft thanks against his cheek in a final hug； pulled away； and got into her car。 She headed down the sanded road without a look behind。 Parting was getting harder and harder。 March in Vermont was the time of unlocking； that period during which the frozen ground gradually yielded one frigid layer after another to the power of an ever…stronger sun； when the brooks and ponds； rivers and lakes lost their ice to the rush of the downstream current。 It was a time of the loud thrashing of formidably cold waters against their banks。 It was a time of mud。 Anne hadn"t expected that when she left New York。 Taking Mitch up on his offer and using his key； she arrived several days in advance of him。 The excitement was in being there； in these hills； in Mitch"s house。 Nothing could have kept her away longer。 〃You"re going again？〃 her mother had asked in surprise。 Anne was prepared for the question。 She had done her homework。 〃It"s maple…sugaring time。 I wouldn"t miss it for the world。〃 Her father had remarked； 〃I wouldn"t be surprised if you turned around and bought that place。 Pretty soon you"ll be spending more time there than you do here。〃 It was an exaggeration； of course。 Still； Ann blushed。 The cottage already had an owner； a hale and hearty one； who appeared to be in no way interested in selling。 Fortunately her parents had never learned of the stranded car or the pneumonia fiasco； and they still knew absolutely nothing about Mitch。 Anne was starting to feel guilty about that。 She had always been close to her parents。 They had been understanding and solicitous during her grief It occurred to her that they would want to know when she was happy。 For she was happy。 Knowing that Mitch would be with her in Vermont； she could face just about anything else that arose。 His giving her the key was a significant gesture。 Now she had a steady tie to the place。 Since returning this last time； she had changed。 For one thing； she had finally been able to pack up Jeff"s things。 For another； she was smiling more； laughing more； eating more。 For a third； she was going out more with old friends。 Strange。 For so much of the last year her apartment had been her private retreat； her sanctuary when she couldn"t face the world。 Lately； though； it was nearly as lonely as it had been in the dreadful days following the crash。 She missed Mitch。 The longing grew with each day that passed； until her only refuge was in work and the pany of others。 Even then； he was never far from her mind。 Now； with mud streaks covering the bottom half of her once…bright yellow car； she turned onto the familiar private road。 Twice her tires began to spin in the muck； twice she was able to back down and charge forward around the offending mud hole。 It was early Wednesday afternoon。 Mitch wasn"t due up until late Friday。 Everything seemed larger； emptier； and more silent without him； but she wasn"t lonely。 His mark was in every room of the house； surrounding her in a promising cloak。 In his absence； she applied herself to menial tasks like dusting； mopping； scrubbing sinks and the top of the stove。 Oh； she had brought several translations to do； but she didn"t touch either。 She wasn"t in the mood to concentrate。 During those two days； she did more baking than she had in the past two years。 She baked bread。 She baked muffins。 She baked cookies。 Something about the rural life was conducive to it。 Same with hiking。 Despite the mud； she did it daily。 Without a motor humming； she could better hear sounds of the world emerging from winter。 The first of the geese honked as they flew