Page 40 (2/2)

"You shouldn’t have your doors open like that"

"I’ve kept ht for years," Ann inforet rid of that ridiculous garlic--the heat and sarlic was unbearable! What is going on here? Grandpapa has lost his mind If this continues I fear hefine," Tara said

"Oh, yes Our house is riddled with garlic, and our grandfather is doing fine," Ann said She yawned again, sluainst the door "I am so tired! I sleep and sleep, and still" She stared at the two of them "Well, this has been fun, but I , weren’t you, Brent?"

"He’s staying for breakfast," Tara said

"Right, breakfast," Ann muttered "Fine, do whatever the hell you like I have to be at work this , there’s so much that I have to do"

"What do you have to do that’s so i to remember "Oh, yes, it’s the A to buy it, and if so, what kind of a bid we’re going to put in And I haven’t read the daht"

"Do you have it here? I can read it for you"

"I--you’re not an editor or a critic, Tara You’re an artist"

"I can still read!"

"Maybeno, no, I have to go to work"

"Call in late," Brent suggested

Ann’s lashes flicked low over her eyes "I shouldn’t I really shouldn’t Not after "

"After?"

"I took a long lunch yesterday," she murmured

"Still, you should call in late," Brent told her

"No, no, it wouldn’t be good," Ann murmured

Tara was surprised when Brent walked across the roo her eyes Ann didn’t pull away from his touch She listened as he said, "They value you very lance through the book, and she can tell you whether it is good or not If you can get soreed "Yes, I will sleep, if I can," she said She yawned again, and walked by Brent, then ca at her "I ahtly on the shoulder with affection "Good night"

With the two of them still in the room, she crawled back into bed, pulled the covers to her shoulder, and closed her eyes It seemed that she was instantly asleep

Brent walked over to the bed and looked down at Ann He touched her hair, s it from her face, and seeh, barely perceptible, see thearlic bulbs Ann had discarded

With all arranged, he cae, both defiant and co

"Let’s leave her to sleep now"

Tara stared at Brent as he opened Ann’s door, indicating that they should leave Tara preceded him into the hallway He closed the door quietly behind him

"What the hell was that all about?" Tara asked hi him "I don’t believe that she paid such serious attention to you"

"You don’t believe anything yet, no ht in the face," he said softly

"Signs!" she ht her by the shoulder, pulling her back She wished that she didn’t feel his slightest touch so acutely She stared at his fingers upon her silk clad shoulders then to his eyes, but if he noted any kind of a withdraithin her, he gave no sign

"The tierous for you not to believe," he told her "You with your logic--and your fear that anything you can’t taste, feel, or touch is mad and insane, fantastical And, of course, if you were to accept the fact that there were things beyond your real in to s What do you think that drea?"

She arched a brow as i--about Ann? Ann was fine, just cooling off out on the balcony"

"Cooling off? Her skin was like ice"

"When you’re very hot," Tara said with aggravation, "it feels good to get cold!"