第37部分(第1/9 頁)

maple　syrup。

No　matter　that　he　had　done　this　before；　his　enthusiasm　and　genuine

enjoyment　of　the　process　were　in　no　way　watered　down。

As　for　Anne；　she　was　enchanted　watching　the　thin；　colorless　liquid

bubble　and　thicken　to　a　dense　golden　brown。　On　impulse；　she　slid　an　arm

around　his　waist；　happier　in　that　moment　than　in　any　in　recent　memory。

Regardless　of　what　the　future　held；　she　would　cherish　this　memory。

He　grinned　down　at　her。　〃What？〃

She　sighed　her　pleasure。　〃It's　been　a　tin　week。　This　is　a　great　finish

to　it。〃　She　was　leaving　in　the　morning。　As　it　was；　she　had　stayed　a　day

longer　than　she'd　planned；　but　he　had　asked　her　to。

〃I'd　rather　a　more　personal　finish；〃　he　said　now。　〃Better　still；　I'd

rather　no　finish　at　all。〃

She　basked　in　the　tenderness　of　his　expression；　loving　him　and　aching　to

say　it。　But　she　wasn't　setting　herself　up　for　rejection　again。　And

anyway；　just　then　the　sap　gurgled　wildly。

〃It　shouldn't　be　long；〃　he　said；　lifting　a　large　wooden　spoon　to　stir

the　solution　and　test　for　its　thickness。　〃Should　we　have　pancakes　or

French　toast　for　dinner？〃

〃For　dinner？〃

〃I　don't　know　about　you；　but　I　don't　have　the　willpower　to　wait　until

breakfast　for　this。〃

Anne　drew　a　finger　across　the　back　of　the　cooling　wooden　spoon　and

licked　the　sweet　syrup　from　its　tip。　〃Mmmmmm。　You　may　be　right。〃　She

paused。