an　others；　always　having　someone　to　be　with。　When　it

wasn't　you　and　Dad；　it　was　Peggy；　then　my　roommates　at　college；　then

Jeff。〃　Her　voice　caught　on　his　name。　She　had　long…since　cried　herself

out；　but　that　little　break　in　her　breath　remained。

Marjorie　Faulke　grasped　at　straws。　〃Call　Peggy。　She　won't　be　starting

classes　for　another　few　weeks。　She'll　make　the　trip　with　you。〃

But　Anne　shook　her　head。　〃No；　Mom。　Peggy's　terrific。　For　a　sister；　I

couldn't　ask　for　finer。　But　she　has　her　own　life；　her　own　friends。　It's

not　her　job　to　baby…sit　me。　And　I'd　really　prefer　to　be　alone。〃　Her

voice　hardened。　〃I'd　better　get　used　to　it；　don't　you　think？〃　Oh；　yes；

there　was　anger。　Its　only　cure　was　through　the　courts；　but　it　would　be

months　more　before　things　were　resolved　there。

A　silence　had　hung　over　the　intimate　round　table；　its　elegant　place

settings　and　fine　food　for　otten。　This　had　bee　a　pattern；　this　family

gathering　turned　wake；　but　it　had　to　be　broken。　Anne　had　to　start　to

live　again。　The　trip　to　Vermont　was　a　first　step。

As　the　full　blaze　in　the　fireplace　settled　to　a　more　sedate　crackle；　the

patter　of　raindrops　broke　through　Anne's　reverie。　Stretching　her　legs；

she　stood；　smoothed　out　her　jeans；　and　padded　barefoot　to　the　front

window。　The　darkness　was　dense。　Staring　out　through　rain…spattered

panes；　she　was　grateful　that　she　had　shut　the　car　windows　and　locked　the

door。　The　idea　of　going　outside　to　do　it　now　didn't　appeal　to　her。　As

she　stood；　hands　by　her　sides；　eyes　straight　ahead；　she　could　see

nothing　but　the　black　of　night　and　her　own　grim　reflection。

She　didn't　need　friends　to　tell　her　that　she　looked　g