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