tly； it was Anne； alone。
When the stupor finally began to wear off； she took stock of her assets。
She had a home…a spacious； well…furnished； stylishly decorated condo。
She had money enough to live in it fortably； with leftover to invest。
She had friends。 She had family。 She had her own car； one not as sporty
as Jeff's Audi； but small； reliable； and gas efficient。 And she had her
work。
Fluent in French and Spanish； Anne worked as a freelance interpreter
through most of her marriage。 At first they had needed the money； later
not so； but she enjoyed her work； and with nothing to keep her at home；
it filled the hours when Jeff was at the office。 When they planned a
trip； she took on less work。 When Jeff had a business trip； she took on
more and was busy until he returned。
More than once during those long； morbid months； she had wondered what
would have been if she had been with him on that last； fateful trip。
They might have been together still。
But they weren't。 She was alone。
Gradually she took on more work； branching off into textbook translation
for local universities。 As opposed to interpreting； where she had to be
personally on the spot at a given time on a given day； there was more
flexibility in translation。 Once the material had been picked up； she
could tackle the job on her own schedule； in the fort and privacy of
her