"How so?"
"Well, apparently-this is very embarrassing-I had forgotten that I'm his mother."
"That's all right," the doctor interjected. "Don't worry about that."
"Did you remember who Peter's father is?"
"Yes, after I was prompted, I'm ashamed to say. Stone, I'm so sorry; I wanted a chance to explain to you about Vance and me. I wrote to you in St. Mark's, but I suppose you must have already left there by the time the letter arrived. Can I explain?"
"Yes, go ahead," Stone said, sitting on the side of the bed.
She took his hand in both of hers. "Stone, I think I knew that you were going to ask me to marry you when I arrived in St. Mark's. Am I right, or am I being presumptuous?"
"You're right; I was going to ask you. I had a ring, even."
"I think I felt… a little panic about that, as if I weren't really ready to be your wife. I think that may be why I missed the first flight. The snowstorm was something of a relief, I'm afraid."
"You were a free woman," Stone said. "You didn't have to marry me."
"Then Vance arrived in town, and although we'd known each other before, something was different this time."
Stone recalled that Arrington had been with Vance, at a dinner party, when they had first been introduced.
"We spent all our time together, working on the interview, which turned into a very long conversation about everything in the world, and before I knew it, we were in love. I can't explain it; it just happened."
"It's like that, sometimes," Stone said.
"Do you hate me for it?"
"I could never hate you."
"Oh, I'm so relieved," she said, squeezing his hand. "I don't think I could be happy without you in my life-as a friend, I mean." She blushed a little.
"I feel the same way," Stone said. "And it's because I'm your friend that I have to tell you some things, now." Stone took a deep breath, looked directly into her large eyes, and told her.
Chapter 9
Arrington stared at Stone as he spoke, her eyes wide and unblinking. Gradually, tears rimmed her eyes, then spilled down her cheeks. She seemed unable to speak.
Stone stopped talking for a moment. "Do you remember any of this?" he asked.
She shook her head, spilling more tears.
"What's the last thing you remember before Saturday?" Dr. Judson asked.
She closed her eyes tightly. "Someone cutting the grass," she said.
"And what day was that?"
/> "I'm not sure. I had a brief conversation with… Geraldo, his name is. I asked him not to cut the grass quite so closely. We agreed on two inches; I remember that."
"Do you remember what plans you and Vance had for Saturday night?" Judson asked.
She shook her head. "I'd have to look at the book."
"What book is that?"
"The book that Vance and I keep our schedules together in. I have my own book, too, for things I don't do with him, and he has his own book that Betty keeps."