afterward。〃 He pushed a hand through his hair。 〃You were bound to learn
the truth sooner or later。 I wanted to tell you myself I just 。。。
couldn't。〃
Slowly he turned to face her。 His eyes held unfathomable pain。 〃When we
made love； Anne； it was magnificent。 We might fight about little things；
but when we came together that day； it was heaven。 I kept thinking that
if you knew how much I loved you； you'd forgive me。 If I could have
prevented that accident；〃 he said on a note of defeat； 〃I would have；
believe me； I would have。〃
〃I never blamed you for that crash！〃
〃The guilt has been unbearable；〃 he said as though he hadn't heard her。
〃It's irrational and unjustified； but it's real。 You have no idea。
Between the plane and the car。。 。〃 He shook his head。
Anne was missing something。 Quietly； she said； 〃What car？〃
He turned away； took a shuddering breath； straightened in resignation。
〃My wife was killed in an automobile accident three weeks before that
plane crash。 It was late at night。 The roads were icy。 Our car was hit
head on by a man who'd had too much to drink。〃 He looked back over his
shoulder。 〃I was at the wheel。〃
Anne stared dumbly at him； and suddenly she was the one overwhelmed with
grief She hadn't asked how Mitch's wife had died； because that was
against the rules。 But she should have known that the death of a young