as excited enough about one
professor's project to agree to sign on as a part…time assistant。
Assured of steady work to off…balance incidental work； she faced the
fall and winter seasons with confidence。
But Jeff was gone； and the holidays approached。 These would be her first
without him。
When she first heard low whispers in the back of her mind； she ignored
them。 After Halloween； though； they became a murmur。 Go to Vermont go to
Vermont go to Vermont； they said。
But how could she？
That first time had been an accident。 Sharing the cottage with Mitch had
been a makeshift solution to an unexpected problem。 If she went this
time； there would be nothing unexpected about it。
But Mitch was right。 The closer Thanksgiving came； the more she dreaded
it。 She could use a boost； indeed； before facing them 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
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