hotel as it settled into another storm。 The fact of their disconnect came to
Wendy with unexpected force as it sometimes did； like a blow under the heart。
〃I want 。。。 to tell you everything；〃 Danny said。 〃I wish I had before。〃 He
picked up the cup and held it； as if forted by the warmth。
〃Why didn't you； son？〃 Jack brushed Danny's sweaty； tumbled hair back gently
from his brow。
〃Because Uncle Al got you the job。 And I couldn't figure out how it was good
for you here and bad for you here at the same time。 It was 。。。〃 He looked at
them for help。 He did not have the necessary word。
〃A dilemma？〃 Wendy asked gently。 〃When neither choice seems any good？〃
〃Yes； that。〃 He nodded； relieved。
Wendy said： 〃The day that you trimmed the hedges； Danny and I had a talk in
the truck。 The day the first real snow came。 Remember？〃
Jack nodded。 The day he had trimmed the hedges was very clear in his mind。
Wendy sighed。 〃I guess we didn't talk enough。 Did we； doc？〃
Danny； the picture of woe； shook his head。
〃Exactly what did you talk about？〃 Jack asked。 〃I'm not sure how much I like
my wife and son — 〃
〃 — discussing how much they love you？〃
〃Whatever it was； I don't understand it。 I feel like I came into a movie just
after the intermission。〃
〃We were discussing you；〃 Wendy said quietly。 〃And maybe we didn't say it all
in words； but we both knew。 Me because I'm your wife and Danny because he 。。。
just understands things。〃
Jack was silent。
〃Danny said it just right。 The place seemed good for you。 You were away from
all the pressures that made you so unhappy at Stovington。 You were your own
boss； working with