Поющие в терновнике

           You’reabitofagirlandIwenttoofast.Let’sforgetit."

           "Yes,let’s,"shesaid.

           "Didn’thekissyou?"Lukeaskedcuriously.

           "Who?"

           Wastherefearinhervoice?Butwhyshouldtherebefearinhervoice?"Yousaidyou’dbeeninloveonce,soIthoughtyouknewtheropes.I’msorry,Meghann.Ishouldhaverealizedthatstuckallthewayouthereinafamilylikeyours,whatyoumeantwasyouhadaschoolgirlcrushonsomeblokewhonevernoticedyou."

           Yes,yes,yes!Lethimthinkthat!"You’requiteright,Luke;itwasjustaschoolgirlcrush."

           Outsidethehousehedrewhertohimagainandgaveheragentle,lingeringkisswithoutanyopen-mouthtonguebusiness.Shedidn’trespondexactly,butclearlyshelikedit;hewentofftohisguesthousemoresatisfiedthathehadn’truinedhischances.

           Meggiedraggedherselftobedandlaylookingupatthesoftroundhalothelampcastontheceiling.Well,onethinghadbeenestablished:therewasnothinginLuke’skissestoremindherofRalph’s.Andonceortwicetowardtheendshehadfeltaflickerofdismayedexcitement,whenhehaddughisfingersintohersideandwhenhehadkissedherneck.NouseequatingLukewithRalph,andshewasn’tsureanymorethatshewantedtotry.BetterforgetRalph;hecouldn’tbeherhusband.Lukecould.

           ThesecondtimeLukekissedherMeggiebehavedquitedifferently.