-31-
Tuesday
The shutters rose in Danny's face, and Cathy
knew he was trying to keep her from seeing the disappointment and
fear. She started to say something reassuring and stopped. He'd
surely see through her effort and probably resent it.
So, instead of useless platitudes, she
offered distraction and, she hoped, something more: friendship and
a commitment of sorts. He might not understand it and wouldn't
trust it if he did, but she was content that some sense of the
offer be felt.
As they sat near the rock in the advancing
morning, she talked about herself: her childhood, her family, her
brothers, summer vacations, school, anything she could recall that
might make an interesting story. And Danny listened, quiet and
solemn for the most part, with occasional amusement. Once
