ish。 〃Oh； I wouldn't mind it； no offense to present
pany； of course。〃
〃Have you started to date yet； Anne？〃
She took a breath the wrong way and coughed。 〃Not。。 。 really。〃 She and
Mitch had never actually 〃dated。〃
Theodore Boulton was sober。 〃We think you should； Anne。 You're young and
beautiful。 I know how much you and Jeff loved each other； but he's gone。
Dot and I have accepted that； too。 He was our son。 Not a day goes by
when we don't think about him。 But it's been over a year now； and life
has to go on。 You're only twenty…eight。 You should be enjoying yourself
and your friends； finding someone else to love； having babies。〃 His
cheeks reddened。 〃e the day you do have a baby； I'll think of it as
my own grandchild。〃
Anne's eyes filled with tears。 Reaching out； she hugged him soundly。
〃Thank you。〃 He had lifted a burden from her shoulders。 She felt better
knowing that when she told them about Mitch； they would support her。 She
prayed that that day would e soon； particularly once this one was
over。 The midmorning traffic was heavy。 Sitting in it on Manhattan's
residential side streets； Anne looked around for a distraction from the
uping interview。 Her eyes fell on the first of the flowers that had
appeared in window boxes； then； when the car reached the wider avenues；
on trees that were beginning to bud。 They were tall； thin； and pale；
pared to her memory of the trees in Vermont。
Those Vermont trees； being farther north and later to blossom； would be
barely swelling with buds now； but those buds held promise of a rich and
fruitful spring。
Soon； Mitch had said。 Soon they would talk again。 Soon