ence Carpenter leaned sideways to explain in a low voice； 〃They want
to know the extent of your loss in terms of future parenthood。 If you
and Jeff wanted a child and he's no longer here to sire it； the loss is
greater。 Do you understand？〃
She nodded。 Yes。 She could understand that。
She took a breath。 〃We wanted to have a child； but it just never 。。。
happened。〃
〃You mean； you never conceived？〃
〃I did conceive。 TWICE。 I miscarried both times。〃 In the silence that
followed； her father…in…law took her hand。
〃Did you see doctors？〃 the lawyer prodded。
〃Of course！〃 Her voice rose。 As if the memories weren't painful enough；
the humiliation of airing them before this hostile group was traumatic。
〃They couldn't find a cause。 They insisted that another time the baby
would be fine。〃
〃And you kept trying？〃
〃How could I； Mr。 Parks？ My husband died。〃
Her words brought silence to the room。 Anne sat stiff； clenched her jaw；
and looked nowhere but at the lawyer； who quickly redirected the
discussion。
〃Do you date； Mrs。 Boulton？〃 When she frowned； he rephrased the
question。 〃Have you begun to date since your husband's death？〃
The sudden hammering in her chest threatened to rob her of breath。 She
refused； absolutely refused to look at Mitch。 〃No；〃 she whispered。
〃I'm sorry； I couldn't hear that； Mrs。 Boulton。〃
She raised her voice。 〃No。〃 It was a technicality； she knew； but she
didn't care。
〃That's hard to believe； if you'll excuse me for saying so。 You're an
attractive young woman。 Aren't you planning to date？〃
〃Not now；〃 she said with a bitter laugh。 After what Mitch had done； she