Part 133 (2/2)

try to believe it.

”You have wonderful parents,” she told Michael as he walked her to her

car.

”Yeah. I've almost broken them in.” He put his hand on the door handle.

There was no way he was going to let her walk out of his life so quickly

again. He remembered how she had looked on the beach that day-had it

been five years before? She'd looked sad-sad and beautiful. Something

about her had struck a chord in him then. She struck the same one now.

”Are you staying in town long?”

She gazed down the street. Such a pretty neighborhood. She could hear

children playing a few doors down, and the low hum of another

mower tr.i.m.m.i.n.g grben suburban gra.s.s. She wondered, wistfully, what it

might be like to live in such a place. ”I leave tomorrow.”

He wanted to swear. ”Quick trip.”

”I have cla.s.ses Monday.” She looked up, feeling as awkward as he. He was

more attractive than she remembered-the chipped tooth, the slightly

crooked nose. ”I wish I had more time.”

”What are you doing now?”

”I- I was going to go for a drive. Up in the hills.”

He understood, and wasn't sure he cared for the idea. ”Want some

company?”

She started to rerise, politely, as she'd been taught. ”Yes, very

much,” she heard herself say.

”Give me a minute.” He was off, before she could change her mind. The

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