第87节

    【】harder.rachelpulledher

    thuaway.

    katheriraoventhad

    beensosll,sheakesureitwasreal.

    dypressedhthepen,ainyreil.

    katherioheruth,and

    bead.shetoknoheyhadalongo

    go.

    repoopainlinebasic,butitepbeyondthe

    randooventbegunearlierthating,farathing

    theyhadseeninteeks.

    jackthehospitalbynoon,stakingoutabedsidespot.bytwo

    heregrettedkingsonyhelhadasteadystreaf

    visitors,butheaginedher

    openinghereyes,heedtobethefirstthingshesaedto

    betheonlythingshesaedhertoknohathehadbeenthere

    rethananyoneelse.

    itight

    suggestshestilllovedhisaedpicturesstashedina

    draaihatshehad.he

    uoodnooshohatthingshad

    ged.

    sohesatbesideherandtalkede.hekept

    traovents,lookingforthelittlerethatsuggestedshe

    ingfurtheroutofthea.shentiodosllthings

    hfingersandtoes,oasionallytganankle,elbow,orknee,

    butthereanythihatevening.hehe

    nightuheroaion,

    sherepeatedthean.theledintosilence.

    theyallsounds,buthisheartsoared.hecalledthegirls,who

    erdinnerhkatherine.hecalledkatherine,

    el.hekissedraheekandtoldher

    thatshehatsherong,thatsheulddoit,and

    heed.

    theexpegandhisadrenalihathe

    didntthinkheoonlightingin

    rachelsstudioandiousfeookits

    toll.

    heeto

    turachelagain.

    thereoanthisti.norotion.jackwouldhave

    beendisuragedifthenursehadntbeeoevokethethunail

    respoillthere,thatreil.

    ”goho,”sheurged.”heresanyge.onceshe

    ore.youshouldberestedforthat.”

    jackeve,butheliked

    thee.

    hefellielevenaraightuntilhopeshookhis

    shoulder.hiseyelidshaneffort,heraisedone.

    ”akingthebus,”shewhispered.

    hecaathen,startledtoseethatit,andlate.

    ”no,illgetready,”hesaid,pushinghielfup,buthisheadwas

    nearlyasheavyashiseyes.

    ”sleeplonger,”santhasaidfrohedoor.”icalledthe

    hospital.

    shesdoiuff,butsheisntaisedtheyd

    calladethe

    stakeofputtinghisheaddoierthegirls

    left.heonds.

    hesleptforahreehours.whenhehe

    hospital.rachelhadnteanyfurther,butshehadntregressed.

    theywerepleased.

    jacktriedtobepleased,too,buthekeptthinkingaboutthe

    possibilitythatsheuckatthatpointfortherestofher

    life.heaoldkatherine.heakecareofher.

    heuchas

    duncaredforfaith,but,lord,hedidhat.

    he,ineveryseheword.

    sippinghotffee,hestoodinhisboxersatthes

    overlookingtheforest.itherbeautifulday.thefoghad

    buedoff,leavihbeheredahogany

    brokenbypatchesofdeepsreen.higherup,heboughs

    hung,theneedlesergreey.peaceful.

    hetuedaround.sahthehouse.pretty.peaceful.thefloors

    aroonplaid.theh

    benflocushions.theplahat

    flahebeng

    hallyleggyplants.

    prettypeacefulbutthehousewasfunandfulloflife,

    verychtheirreverentrachelhehadtsolongago.ifthe

    custorybrushtouseonasubjectberfivefilbertbristle,

    sheberfivebristleroundjusttoseesheuld

    do.insocasessheendeduphthefilbertafterall,inothers

    sheendedupethingherachel

    hefeltinthishouse.itarried.

    .hesearchedthedresser

    andthenighttable,sear.hesearched

    thekitcabisthathedidntregularlyuse.hesearchedthe

    stepantry.hestoodinthelivingroohishandsonhiships

    andit.

    ifshehadkeptit.

    sheghtnothave.

    hetothestudioandstood,again,hhishandsonhiships.he

    hadbeen

    shehadhiddenpicturesofababythathaddied.shehadhidden

    charalsketches.granted,hopekhislatter.

    onahun.

    everythinghereigeland

    thereitodecherubhwings,

    keepingrystalcutboxfilledhtris,atiny

    aynothavereseledguinevere,aband

    brush,astteringofschies,andapileofas.

    ifrachelhadethingcherished,sheuldnthavechosena

    betterguardianthanhope.

    hepickeduptheaueditover,andslippedtalllatches

    hiddeheedoffabael,pulledouta

    velvetbag,aieditssinhishand.therehepearl

    earringsrachelhadtheiroherthenight

    beforebyherfather,onthslater.therewasa

    nationalhonorsocietykey.thereinnieuseonthe

    fadthering.

    itthebigflashyring.hesuspectedthaty

    depositboxalongerouslavishpiecesofjewelrygivenherby

    victoriaovertheyears.theringinhishandpleandgold.it

    he

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