alone；　she　would　have　turned　and　run。　But　when　she

looked　at　the　child；　she　was　lost。　The　six…year…old　wore　pink　bib…topped

shorts；　a　white　jersey；　and　clean　white　sneakers。　Her　limbs　were　tanned；

long　legs　dangling　around　Mitch's　thighs。　Golden　cascades　of　curly　hair

fell　half％way　down　her　back；　held　off　from　her　face　by　gaily　painted

barrettes　above　either　ear。　But　the　barrettes　were　small　and　couldn't

quite　hold　all　her　hair。　Short　wisps　escaped　into　tendrils　that　framed

her　face。　And　that　face？　If　Anne　hadn't　been　in　love　with　the　rest；　that

face　would　have　done　it。　It　was　softly　rounded　and　rosy　checked；　with　a

swarm　of　bright　freckles　over　the　bridge　of　a　button　nose；　and　eyes　that

were　chocolate…colored　and　soulful…and　staring　at　her。

〃Oh；　my；〃　Mitch　said。　〃I've　almost　forgotten　introductions　in　my　rush　to

get　going。　Anne；　this　is　my　daughter；　Rachel　Anderson。　Rachel；　this　is

Anne　Boulton。〃

With　more　poise　than　Anne　could　seem　to　muster；　the　child　extended　a

small　hand。　〃Hello；　Anne。　I'm　pleased　to　meet　you。　Daddy's　told　me　all

about　you。〃

Anne　held　her　hand；　loving　its　fragility　and　its　warmth。　〃Only　the　good

things；　I　hope？〃

Rachel's　eyes　rounded　quickly。　〃Oh；　my　daddy　would　never　say　anything

bad　about　you。　He…〃

〃That's　enough；　pumpkin；〃　Mitch　cut　her　off　with　a　squeeze。　〃You　can't

give　away　all　our　secrets；　now；　can　you？〃

The　child　broke　into　a　wide　grin；　displaying　a　mouthful　of　small　white

teeth　with　a　wide　gap　smack　in　the　middle　of　the　top。

Anne　was　enchanted。　〃That's　quite　some　hole　you've　got　there。　Did　the

good　fairy　bring　you　something　nice　for　those　teeth？〃

Again　t