；　no。　But　it's　been　years　since　I　lived　at　home。〃

〃Do　you　live　in　the　same　place　you　did　with　your　husband？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Does　it　bother　you？〃

〃Sometimes。〃　An　understatement。

〃Do　you　have　children？〃

〃No。〃　Regretfully。

〃You're　lucky。〃

Frowning；　she　lowered　the　gas　under　the　perking　coffee。　〃Why　do　you　say

that？　I've　often　thought　it　would　have　been　easier　to　have　part　of　him

left。〃

〃It　isn't；〃　Mitch　said　tightly。　〃Take　my　word　for　it。〃

Anne　heard　vehemence　enough　to　suggest　personal　experience。　She　wanted

to　ask　more；　but　it　seemed　against　the　rules。　When　he　didn't　offer　more

himself；　she　figured　he　agreed。　Anonymity　was　best。　Definitely。

He　finished　his　pie　and　coffee；　tossed　a　playful；　〃Getting　better！〃　over

his　shoulder　in　passing；　and　left　her　to　add　coffee　to　her　own　cuppa

Joe。　Soon　after；　he　left　the　cottage。

Noise　from　the　kitchen　late　that　afternoon　announced　his　return。　Anne

put　the　finishing　touches　on　the　piece　she　had　translated；　stacked　her

papers　neatly；　then　paused。　She　sniffed　the　air。　There　was　a　new；　vile

smell。

〃You　went　fishing！〃　she　moaned　from　the　kitchen　door；　staring　in　horror

at　the　mess　on　the　counter。　She　crinkled　her　nose　in　disgust。

〃Now；　now；〃　he　chided；　〃it　may　smell　bad　at　first；　but　once　this　bass　is

fried；　the　end　result　will　be　worth　it。　You'll　join　me　for　dinner；　won't

you？〃

The　invitation　sounded　sincere。　He　looked　sincere　issuing　it。　This　was

her　last　night　at　the　cottage。　She'd　had　a　week's　worth　of　time；　space；

and　her　solitude。

Oil　sizzled　in　the　skillet。　The　sound　oddly　inviting。

〃If　you　have　enough；〃　she　said　graciously