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It was a conference room； dominated by a long； rectangular table of a
rich wood； surrounded by large leather chairs。 On the opposite side was
the window； but the city seemed far away from this height。 The wall to
her left held oil paintings of past partners； the one to her right
offered blackboards and panels； a television set； and a bar。
Others were already in the room； a woman and several men talking
intently； but they quickly grew silent。 Anne felt every pair of their
eyes turn her way。
〃Coffee； Mrs。 Boulton？〃 her attorney asked； gesturing toward the
percolator at the side of the room。
〃Yes…ah…no；〃 she whispered。 Caffeine was the last thing her jangling
nerves needed。 But her mouth was very dry。 〃If I could have some water；
that would be fine。〃
Moments later； when she had her water and a seat on one side of the long
table； a man from the other group approached her。 〃We'll be ready to
start soon； Mrs。 Boulton。 My client should be here momentarily。〃
Terrence Carpenter； who sat on her left； leaned in when the man left。
〃That was Peter Simmons； counsel for SEAA。 He'll be deposing you。 He'll
introduce you to the others； but I believe the tall dark fellow is the
attorney for Jet…Star Aircraft； the manufacturer； and the man with him
must be its president。〃
Anne nodded and took a sip of water。 She wasn't sure she could do this。
It had been bad enough in the instant when they had looked at her。 She
had felt like the guilty party； rather than the one who had been
wronged。
A professional…looking woman entered the room； whispered something to
Peter Simmons； then left； closing the door behind her。
Simmons cleared his throat； 〃Ladies and gentlemen； let's begin。 My
client is delayed and will join us shortly。〃
The others took their seats。 Formal introductions were made； ending with
the stenographer； who would be making transcripts of the meeting。 She
was the one who put Anne under oath。
The next fifteen minutes passed harmlessly enough。 Peter Simmons posed
questions； Anne answered them。 It was much as she had been told to
expect； straightforward questions so innocuous that she was actually
feeling a sense of security。
Then the door opened quietly and Simmons' client slipped into the room。
The lawyer said； 〃For the record； this is the President of SEAA；
Mitchell D。 Anderson； Jr。〃
The only thing Anne could even begin to appreciate was that all eyes in
the room were momentarily somewhere else。 She felt her color drain and
her stomach twist； felt a shaking； then shock； pure shock。
It was Mitch。 Wearing an immaculately tailored blue suit。 Groomed
impeccably。 Tall； well…built； and handsome。 Hair neatly brushed； jaw
firm and confident； eyes looking everywhere but at her。
It was Mitch。 Head of the airline that she was suing。 What had he said；
that he had 〃other interests〃 beside real estate？ When she had prodded；
he evaded her。 Then he had known all along？ Had he planned the whole
thing？ How naive she had been！
She fought a rising nausea when he crossed the room and took a seat
beside his lawyer； who proceeded to introduce him to the others in the
room。 When her name was given； he nodded politely； for all indications a
total stranger meeting her for the first time。
The situation was so unreal； so horrific； that she actually distanced
herself and found the strength to go on。 Her voice was more unsteady；
and she didn't dare take a drink of water lest her trembling hand spill
it； but she managed。 She kept her eyes on the lawyer； pletely
blotting out the man to his right。
When did she meet Jeff？ How long had she known him before their
marriage？ How long had they been married？ Where did his family live？
Her family？ How many members in each？
The questions grew more personal。 What had Jeff done for a living？
How long had he done it？ Annual ine？ Rising or steady？ Did their
parents help them financially？ Did they travel？ How often and where to？
How much rent did she pay each month？
Had Anne been herself； she would have been annoyed with the questions。
When； after an hour of questions； they took a short break； her lawyer
explained； 〃He has to establish a lifestyle。 He needs to determine the
way you live in order to estimate the value of your loss。〃
〃I lost Jeff！ How do you put a dollar sign on that？〃
The lawyer shrugged； and when they returned to the table； Anne was on
the hot seat again。 Had she loved her husband？ Had they been faithful to
one another？ What had she done when he was away on business？
Did she have friends？ Did she have male friends？
Anne responded in a low voice； willing it to be steady； but she couldn't
hide the shake of the hand she used to wipe away tears。
Mitch whispered something to his lawyer； who shook his head and went on
with a vengeance。
Had Jeff been generous with her？ Did he buy her gifts？ Did he call her
when he traveled？ How often？ Did he ever invite her along on business
trips？ ；Anne had broken out in a cold sweat； but the questions went on。
〃Mrs。 Boulton； you were married for seven years。 Did you have any
children？〃
〃No；〃 she whispered。 〃Why not？〃
She was mortified。 〃We just…didn't have any。〃
〃Did you want a child？〃
〃Yes！ 〃
〃Did your husband want a child？〃
〃Yes。〃 She brushed at more tears。 〃Then why…〃 Mitch cut in。 〃That's
enough； Peter。 She's upset。 Is this necessary？〃
The lawyer called for a short recess and led Mitch from the room。
Anne bowed her head and put a hand to her forehead。 Inhaling deeply； she
tried to steady herself 〃Are you all right？〃 her father…in…law asked。
Her plea was a barely audible whisper。 〃I have to get out of here。 How
much longer can this go on？〃 She reached into her purse for a tissue to
wipe her eyes。
〃Not much longer。 Try to hold up； Anne。 Once this is over； you'll never
have to face it again。〃
In her heart Anne knew that the agony was just beginning； but she had no
time to dwell on it。 Mitch and his lawyer returned to their seats。
The lawyer said； 〃My client feels strongly that we have all the
information we need。 I have no further questions。〃
〃Excuse me；〃 broke in the man who had been introduced as counsel for the
manufacturing pany。 〃If you have nothing more to ask； I do。〃
His tone was ominous。 Clearly； he wasn't having his client go down
without a fight。
Simmons spared Mitch a glance before saying； 〃Certainly； Mr。 Parks； but
try to be brief Mrs。 Boulton is under a strain。〃 To Anne； he said； 〃Are
you up for a few more questions？〃
Anne dared a look at Mitch； but his expression was masked。 Angry at him；
angry at the world； she turned back to the lawyer and nodded。
Parks picked up where Simmons had left off。 〃On the matter of children；
we want to know why； after so many years of supposedly wanting them； you
never had them。〃
Anne stared at the man in astonishment。 She couldn't imagine any greater
invasion of her privacy than this。
Terrence Carpenter leaned sideways to explain in a low voice； 〃They want
to know the extent of your loss in terms of future parenthood。 If you
and Jeff wanted a child and he's no longer here to sire it； the loss is
greater。 Do you understand？〃
She nodded。 Yes。 She could understand that。
She took a breath。 〃We wanted to have a child； but it just never 。。。
happened。〃
〃You mean； you never conceived？〃
〃I did conceive。 TWICE。 I miscarried both times。〃 In the silence that
followed； her father…in…law took her hand。
〃Did you see doctors？〃 the lawyer prodded。
〃Of course！〃 Her voice rose。 As if the memories weren't painful enough；
the humiliation of airing them before this hostile group was traumatic。
〃They couldn't find a cause。 They insisted that another time the baby
would be fine。〃
〃And you kept trying？〃
〃How could I； Mr。 Parks？ My husband died。〃
Her words brought silence to the room。 Anne sat stiff； clenched her jaw；
and looked nowhere but at the lawyer； who quickly redirected the
discussion。
〃Do you date； Mrs。 Boulton？〃 When she frowned； he rephrased the
question。 〃Have you begun to date since your husband's death？〃
The sudden hammering in her chest threatened to rob her of breath。 She
refused； absolutely refused to look at Mitch