s？〃 the lawyer prodded。
〃Of course！〃 Her voice rose。 As if the memories weren't painful enough；
the humiliation of airing them before this hostile group was traumatic。
〃They couldn't find a cause。 They insisted that another time the baby
would be fine。〃
〃And you kept trying？〃
〃How could I； Mr。 Parks？ My husband died。〃
Her words brought silence to the room。 Anne sat stiff； clenched her jaw；
and looked nowhere but at the lawyer； who quickly redirected the
discussion。
〃Do you date； Mrs。 Boulton？〃 When she frowned； he rephrased the
question。 〃Have you begun to date since your husband's death？〃
The sudden hammering in her chest threatened to rob her of breath。 She
refused； absolutely refused to look at Mitch。 〃No；〃 she whispered。
〃I'm sorry； I couldn't hear that； Mrs。 Boulton。〃
She raised her voice。 〃No。〃 It was a technicality； she knew； but she
didn't care。
〃That's hard to believe； if you'll excuse me for saying so。 You're an
attractive young woman。 Aren't you planning to date？〃
〃Not now；〃 she said with a bitter laugh。 After what Mitch had done； she
was a wasteland inside。
〃Wouldn't you like to marry again？〃
〃No。〃
Disappointed at not ferreting out information that would help his
client； Parks made a final stab。 〃You mean； there have been no men in
your life…〃
〃The woman answered you once； Mr。 Parks；〃