第87节
【】harder.rachelpulledher thuaway. katheriraoventhad beensosll,sheakesureitwasreal. dypressedhthepen,ainyreil. katherioheruth,and bead.shetoknoheyhadalongo go. repoopainlinebasic,butitepbeyondthe randooventbegunearlierthating,farathing theyhadseeninteeks. jackthehospitalbynoon,stakingoutabedsidespot.bytwo heregrettedkingsonyhelhadasteadystreaf visitors,butheaginedher openinghereyes,heedtobethefirstthingshesaedto betheonlythingshesaedhertoknohathehadbeenthere rethananyoneelse. itight suggestshestilllovedhisaedpicturesstashedina draaihatshehad.he uoodnooshohatthingshad ged. sohesatbesideherandtalkede.hekept traovents,lookingforthelittlerethatsuggestedshe ingfurtheroutofthea.shentiodosllthings hfingersandtoes,oasionallytganankle,elbow,orknee, butthereanythihatevening.hehe nightuheroaion, sherepeatedthean.theledintosilence. theyallsounds,buthisheartsoared.hecalledthegirls,who erdinnerhkatherine.hecalledkatherine, el.hekissedraheekandtoldher thatshehatsherong,thatsheulddoit,and heed. theexpegandhisadrenalihathe didntthinkheoonlightingin rachelsstudioandiousfeookits toll. heeto turachelagain. thereoanthisti.norotion.jackwouldhave beendisuragedifthenursehadntbeeoevokethethunail respoillthere,thatreil. ”goho,”sheurged.”heresanyge.onceshe ore.youshouldberestedforthat.” jackeve,butheliked thee. hefellielevenaraightuntilhopeshookhis shoulder.hiseyelidshaneffort,heraisedone. ”akingthebus,”shewhispered. hecaathen,startledtoseethatit,andlate. ”no,illgetready,”hesaid,pushinghielfup,buthisheadwas nearlyasheavyashiseyes. ”sleeplonger,”santhasaidfrohedoor.”icalledthe hospital. shesdoiuff,butsheisntaisedtheyd calladethe stakeofputtinghisheaddoierthegirls left.heonds. hesleptforahreehours.whenhehe hospital.rachelhadnteanyfurther,butshehadntregressed. theywerepleased. jacktriedtobepleased,too,buthekeptthinkingaboutthe possibilitythatsheuckatthatpointfortherestofher life.heaoldkatherine.heakecareofher. heuchas duncaredforfaith,but,lord,hedidhat. he,ineveryseheword. sippinghotffee,hestoodinhisboxersatthes overlookingtheforest.itherbeautifulday.thefoghad buedoff,leavihbeheredahogany brokenbypatchesofdeepsreen.higherup,heboughs hung,theneedlesergreey.peaceful. hetuedaround.sahthehouse.pretty.peaceful.thefloors aroonplaid.theh benflocushions.theplahat flahebeng hallyleggyplants. prettypeacefulbutthehousewasfunandfulloflife, verychtheirreverentrachelhehadtsolongago.ifthe custorybrushtouseonasubjectberfivefilbertbristle, sheberfivebristleroundjusttoseesheuld do.insocasessheendeduphthefilbertafterall,inothers sheendedupethingherachel hefeltinthishouse.itarried. .hesearchedthedresser andthenighttable,sear.hesearched thekitcabisthathedidntregularlyuse.hesearchedthe stepantry.hestoodinthelivingroohishandsonhiships andit. ifshehadkeptit. sheghtnothave. hetothestudioandstood,again,hhishandsonhiships.he hadbeen shehadhiddenpicturesofababythathaddied.shehadhidden charalsketches.granted,hopekhislatter. onahun. everythinghereigeland thereitodecherubhwings, keepingrystalcutboxfilledhtris,atiny aynothavereseledguinevere,aband brush,astteringofschies,andapileofas. ifrachelhadethingcherished,sheuldnthavechosena betterguardianthanhope. hepickeduptheaueditover,andslippedtalllatches hiddeheedoffabael,pulledouta velvetbag,aieditssinhishand.therehepearl earringsrachelhadtheiroherthenight beforebyherfather,onthslater.therewasa nationalhonorsocietykey.thereinnieuseonthe fadthering. itthebigflashyring.hesuspectedthaty depositboxalongerouslavishpiecesofjewelrygivenherby victoriaovertheyears.theringinhishandpleandgold.it he ...