maple syrup。 No matter that he had done this before； his enthusiasm and genuine enjoyment of the process were in no way watered down。 As for Anne； she was enchanted watching the thin； colorless liquid bubble and thicken to a dense golden brown。 On impulse； she slid an arm around his waist； happier in that moment than in any in recent memory。 Regardless of what the future held； she would cherish this memory。 He grinned down at her。 〃What？〃 She sighed her pleasure。 〃It"s been a tin week。 This is a great finish to it。〃 She was leaving in the morning。 As it was； she had stayed a day longer than she"d planned； but he had asked her to。 〃I"d rather a more personal finish；〃 he said now。 〃Better still； I"d rather no finish at all。〃 She basked in the tenderness of his expression； loving him and aching to say it。 But she wasn"t setting herself up for rejection again。 And anyway； just then the sap gurgled wildly。 〃It shouldn"t be long；〃 he said； lifting a large wooden spoon to stir the solution and test for its thickness。 〃Should we have pancakes or French toast for dinner？〃 〃For dinner？〃 〃I don"t know about you； but I don"t have the willpower to wait until breakfast for this。〃 Anne drew a finger across the back of the cooling wooden spoon and licked the sweet syrup from its tip。 〃Mmmmmm。 You may be right。〃 She paused。 〃French toast。〃 〃French toast； it is。〃 Following her example； he tasted the syrup； then ran his finger over the spoon and held it to her mouth。 The syrup was as rich and sweet as the moment itself。 Anne thought she could go no higher。 Suddenly； a faraway gleam entered his eyes。 His voice was filled with gentleness。 〃Rachel enjoyed this taste…testing stage the most last year； too。〃 Anne froze。 Rachel？ His 〃obligation〃？ She frowned； then stood straighter； then backed away from the arm on her shoulders。 Rachel？ With that faraway gleam； and such gentleness？ Oh； yes； he loved Rachel。 Anne didn"t doubt it for a minute。 He was frowning。 〃What is it？〃 〃How could you？〃 〃How could I what？〃 His innocence riled her。 〃How could you do that to me？ How could you mention her name at a time like this？〃 She felt eviscerated； as though he had bee part of her and was being cut free。 〃Her name？〃 Then he realized what he had done； and his frown gentled。 〃I mentioned Rachel； didn"t I？〃 The softness in his voice at the mention of her name ravaged Anne。 〃How could you？〃 she repeated。 Tears welled。 When he reached out； she flinched and took a step back。 〃Annie； listen…〃 She took another step； then another。 〃I don"t want to hear about your love life。〃 〃You"re wrong…〃 〃Yes； I"m wrong。 I"m wrong to want to stay up here with you； when I should be back in New York trying to build a new life。 I"m wrong to think that you really wanted me here； when in one careless minute you go wimpy over another woman。 How could you； Mitch？ Can"t you see that I love you？〃 Whirling around； she ran from the kitchen； taking the steps with reckless speed； stopping only when the door to her bedroom was slammed and flush to her back。 Trembling hands covered her eyes and grew wet with tears。 The pounding of her heart drowned out the sound of footsteps on the stairs。 He rapped on the door。 〃Open up； Anne。〃 〃No。〃 She was mortified by what she had said； and heartsick that it had e to this。 〃There are things I have to tell you； Anne。 Open the door。〃 Weeping； she only shook her head。 〃Anne 。。 。〃 〃Go away！〃 she pleaded。 She couldn"t face him。 Nothing he said mattered。 〃I love you； Annie。〃 His voice filtered soft and sensuous through the ancient wood of the door； and suddenly it did matter； very much。 If this was a cruel hoax； she would never forgive him。 Turning； she laid her wet cheek against the door。 Afraid to listen； afraid not to； she waited。 〃Did you hear me； Annie？〃 Again the velvet sound； too dear to be dismissed； too real to be denied。 〃I love you。〃 Her pulse raced。 She wanted to believe that he did； wanted to believe it more than anything in the world。 But there was a crucial question still to be answered。 Slowly she turned the knob and drew open the door。 Fearful； she raised her eyes to his。 And she saw love； surely she did； unless she wanted it so bad that she was imagining it。 〃Do you love Rachel； too？〃 she asked in a faltering whisper。 When he reached for her arms； she didn"t resist。 Neither did she melt toward him； but held her line； waiting； waiting for his answer。 His smile was sad but tender。 〃Yes； I love Rachel。〃 His hands tightened when she would have pulled free。 〃But I love her in a very different way from how I love you； Annie。 Rachel is my daughter。〃 Anne was shocked。 His daughter？ She had been jealous of his daughter？ 〃Why didn"t you tell me？〃 she cried； wanting to hit him but slipping her arms around his neck instead。 He held her tightly。 〃I"ve wanted to so many times。 But it never seemed appropriate。 At the beginning； there was a part of me that wanted…God forgive me…that wanted to forget her existence while I was up here。 Fatherhood has its merits； but it"s been my greatest challenge since Bey"s death。〃 He had a daughter。 Anne could only begin to imagine that； much less the challenge of going it alone。 〃Maybe I could have helped。〃 〃You"ve had enough to face without having to cope with a child。〃 〃How old is she？〃 〃She turned six last week。 And she came down with the chicken pox the day after her birthday。 It"s the first time she"s been sick…really sick since her mother died。〃 Anne understood。 〃That"s why you were late arriving last weekend？〃 He nodded against her head。 〃My parents have been wonderful； taking her for weeks at a stretch。 They"re often more cheerful than me。〃 He looked down at her。 〃But I couldn"t leave them with a sick child who only wanted her mother to hold her。〃 His voice broke at the last。 〃Why didn"t you bring her up here with you？〃 Anne scolded。 He studied her closely。 〃I wasn"t sure how you felt about kids。 We"ve never talked about that； you and me。 I only know you have none of your own。〃 〃Not through choice； Mitch； not through