第29部分 (第7/8页)

fter。”　She　hesitated；　then　said；　“Patsy's　been　over　several　times　this　week。

She's　…　she's　going　through　a　very　rough　time。”

“How　e？”

Mom　let　out　a　deep　breath　and　said；　“I　think　you're　mature　enough　to　keep　this　inside　these

four　walls；　and　I'm　only　telling　you　because　…

because　I　think　it's　relevant。”

I　held　my　breath　and　waited。

“Patsy　and　Rick　have　been　having　ferocious　fights　lately。”

“Mr。　and　Mrs。　Loski？　What　about？”

Mom　sighed。　“About　everything；　it　seems。”

“I　don't　understand。”

Very　quietly　my　mother　said；　“For　the　first　time　in　her　life；　Patsy　is　seeing　her　husband　for

what　he　is。　It's　twenty　years　and　two　children　late；　but

that's　what　she's　doing。”　She　gave　me　a　sad　smile。　“Patsy　seems　to　be　going　through　the

same　thing　you　are。”

The　phone　rang　and　Mom　said；　“Let　me　get　that；　okay？　Your　dad　said　he'd　call　if　he　was

working　overtime；　and　that's　probably　him。”

While　she　was　gone；　I　remembered　what　Chet　had　said　about　someone　he　knew　who　had

never　learned　to　look　beneath　the　surface。　Had　he

been　talking　about　his　own　daughter？　And　how　could　this　happen　to　her　after　twenty　years　of

marriage？

When　my　mother　came　back；　I　absently　asked；　“Is　Dad　working　late？”

“That　wasn't　Dad；　sweetheart。　It　was　Bryce。”

I　sat　straight　up。　“Now　he's　calling？　I　have　lived　across　the　street　from　him　for　six　years　and

he's　nev