d　cautiously。

〃Yes。〃　There　was　no　point　belaboring　the　matter。　With　a　defeated　sigh；

she　pushed　away　from　the　wall　and　returned　to　the　car　with　Mitch。

Within　the　hour　they　left　the　traffic　of　the　city　behind　and　sped

northward。　〃When　did　you　get　the　new　car？〃　Anne　asked；　groping　for

conversation　with　Mitch　as　Rachel　knelt　on　the　backseat；　studying　the

receding　skyline。

〃About　a　week　ago。　This　is　her　maiden　voyage。　The　Honda　was　a　bit　small

for　three。〃　The　eyebrow　that　arched　her　way　was　subtle；　but　Anne　had　to

marvel　at　his　presumption。　If　the　three　included　her；　he　had　paid　a

whole　lot　for　a　single　trip。

Rachel　poked　her　golden　head　between　the　bucket　seats　and　rubbed　her

cheek　against　the　soft　velour。　〃I　like　this　car。　Daddy　says　the　color

matches　my　eyes。〃

〃It　does；　at　that；〃　Anne　said　with　a　warm　smile。　How　not　to　smile　at　a

child　who　exuded　sweetness　like　this　one？　She　prayed　there　would　be

pouts；　crankiness；　and　temper　tantrums　as　the　week　progressed。

Otherwise；　she　could　be　in　big　trouble。

There　weren't　any　pouts；　crankiness；　or　temper　tantrums；　and　Anne　grew

more　and　more　attached　to　the　child。　Even　knowing　that　Mitch　contrived

it　didn't　detract　from　the　pleasure　Anne　took　in　simple　custodial　things

like　bathing　her；　bing　those　long　blond　curls；　helping　retie　the

shoelaces　that　came　undone　after　Rachel　laboriously　tied　them　herself。

There　were　substantive　things　to　cherish；　like　cookie　baking；　hikes　in

the　woods；　and　reading　stories　before　the　fire　at　night。

And　if　Anne　was　in　love；　she　felt　it　ing　right　back　from　Rachel。　Such

innocent；　heartfelt；　freely　given　affection　was　the　most