em alone。 Recalling
with pleasure the land； the air； and the cottage； she figured that
whether he showed up or not the week would be good。
This time her parents raised no objection。 As a precaution； she made a
reservation at an inn thirty miles from the house。 It was the nearest
one； but would assure her a place to stay if Mitch either didn't want
her or wasn't there。
She didn't have a key； because she hadn't called the rental agent。 What
would she have said？ Is Mitch going up this weekend？ No； I don't know
his last name； but we spent the week together there last time。
Embarrassing！
She made the sharp turn off the highway onto the rutted road that lead
up the hill to the house。 The ruts were harder now； more jolting in the
cold of a raw November than they had been in September。 In that instant
her thoughts jolted； too； up and down； in and out。 She shouldn't have
e she had to e。 What did she hope to acplish…why did she have to
hope to acplish anything？ What if Mitch wasn't there…what if he was？
She had deliberately waited until Saturday morning to leave the city。 If
Mitch had driven up on Friday night； like last time； she would reach the
cottage just when he was waking up。
Her heartbeat quickened when she rounded the final curve and saw his
sporty blue Honda parked in front of the house。 It stood out clearly in
the dusky Nove