"rose , what was nathan doing here ?" i stared at the brandy in the glass and waited for the answer ." i must know ."
rose positioned her glass with care on the table and got to her feet . slowly and deliberately , she walked around to where i sat , bent down , and wrapped her arms around me . it was a gesture we both suffered and endured . rose needed to make it because it was in her nature . i had to accept it because i craved the comfort of contact , even from her . she gave a jagged sigh ." poor minty , what you must think ."
"yes ," i echoed bitterly ." what you must think ."
her cheek was against mine ." nathan was here for a reason , had he told you what happened ...?"
it was pitiful to utter lies with nathan dead in the next room , but a yes slipped through my lips . i did not know what she was talking abotu but hated to admit it .
"then you will know that vistemax ..." rose's face was close to mine , her arms a circle in which i was trapped .
"yes...."
my mendacity had a false , brassy note but it clung to it . a tap dripped and the fridge emitted a muted electrical choke . we both knew that i was not tlling the truth , and rose was debating how to handle my ignorance of something that was , clearly , important .
rose released me ." that 's why ."
wasn't death supposed to be a cleansing agent ? a blow so huge and pulverizing that all th petty emotions and subter-fuges and secrets were smashed ?
"oh , for goodness ' sake ." i braced myself ." i don't know . rose . tell me .
but the phone rang and rose answered it . she said , "yes ,his wife here
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