Поющие в терновнике

           Mumwasgoingtoloveagain;oh,maybenotthewayshehadlovedFrank,butatleastshewouldfeelsomething.

           "I’mgoingtocallhimDane."

           "Whataqueername!Why?IsitanO’Neillfamilyname?IthoughtyouwerefinishedwiththeO’Neills?"

           "It’sgotnothingtodowithLuke.Thisishisname,nooneelse’s.Ihatefamilynames;it’slikewishingapieceofsomeonedifferentontoanewperson.IcalledJustineJustinesimplybecauseIlikedthename,andI’mcallingDaneDaneforthesamereason."

           "Well,itdoeshaveaniceringtoit,"Feeadmitted.

           Meggiewinced;herbreastsweretoofull."Bettergivehimtome,Mum.Oh,Ihopehe’shungry!AndIhopeoldBluerememberstobringthatbreastpump.Otherwiseyou’regoingtohavetodriveintoGillyforit."

           Hewashungry;hetuggedathersohardhisgummylittlemouthhurt.Lookingdownonhim,theclosedeyeswiththeirdark,gold-tippedlashes,thefeatherybrows,thetinyworkingcheeks,Meggielovedhimsomuchthelovehurthermorethanhissuckingevercould.

           Heisenough;hehastobeenough,I’llnotgetanymore.ButbyGod,RalphdeBricassart,bythatGodyoulovemorethanme,you’llneverknowwhatIstolefromyou—andfromHim.I’mnevergoingtotellyouaboutDane.Oh,mybaby!Shiftingonthepillowstosettlehimmorecomfortablyintothecrookofherarm,toseemoreeasilythatperfectlittleface.Mybaby!You’remine,andI’mnevergoingtogiveyouuptoanyoneelse.Leastofalltoyourfather,whoisapriestandcan’tacknowledgeyou.