〃I'll
remember。〃 She cleared her throat。 〃Well； good…bye； then。〃
He smiled； hit the ledge once； and pushed himself straight。 〃Safe trip。〃
When he stepped away； she put the car in reverse； backed around； and
headed for the road； all the time thinking that she might have liked a
kiss。 It was a whimsical thought。 Not so whimsically； his lank image
shrank steadily in the rearview mirror。 When the car took a curve and he
disappeared； she narrowed her sights on reality and New York。
How different the road looked this time around。 Parched brown leaves
blanketed the ground； forests of bare branches joined evergreens in a
blur of gray…green on distant hills。 Mountains stood stark； more harsh
without greenery on their slopes。 Leaf peepers had long since gone home
to city beat and thoughts of Thanksgiving； barely two weeks away。
Those thoughts had precipitated Anne's trip； or so she told herself as
she drove steadily north。 On one hand； things had improved in New York。
Her return trip had been uneventful； her apprehension at facing life and
its memories eased by the onset of autumn and a renewed strength。
〃You look marvelous！〃 her mother had said the first night of her return。
〃I like that pink on your cheeks。 It bees you。〃
Even after the long drive； Anne was full of energy； which was why she
had stopped at her parents in the first place。 〃It was pe