hearing in early April。 Anne cringed at the thought。
She was tired of reliving the accident； tired of the horror； the
helplessness； the anger。 She would love Jeff until the day she died； but
she needed to live until then。
And there was Mitch。 Something had begun to change…in her life； in her
outlook； in her attitude toward him。 He was being real。 When she was
low； she thought of him and felt better。 The prospect of seeing him for
the New Year's holiday became part of her daily routine。
It worried her a little。 She wondered if she was building him up to be
something he wasn't。 She remembered him as being smart； solid； and
strong； as offering protection and fort； stimulation and challenge。
At times he seemed larger than life； too large for a plane crash to
kill。 She half…suspected he would look at the burning debris and walk
away unscathed。
It occurred to her that after building him up； she might be in for a
letdown when she saw him again。 She figured she had until New Year's to
get a grip on herself。
As it happened； she was wrong。
Alexander Robie； the professor for whom she did the ongoing grant work；
organized a dinner for the seven people involved with the project。 There
were two secretaries； three research assistants； Alex and a colleague of
his； and Anne。 Thumbing his nose at the usual budget restraints； Alex
rese