Book1:TeDream-Maker (第12/166页)

orryIwasfiredonmyfirstdayofwork.”

    "Iknow．Iwenttothegasstationtyouyourlunch.Don’tworryaboutit．It’sOK．You’llfindsomethingelse.”

    Shesatdownonthebendtheychattedtogether．Therewasaninnateserenityintheirretionshipthatenvelopedthemintheirowworld，obliviousoftheirsurroundings．Thebusytraffic，thefroligchildrerollingcrowdjustdidforthem．Theoodup，handedhimhislunch-bagandsaid，

    "Gottogonow．Goonhomewhenyouaretiredandtakearest．You’vebeenthroughalotwiththepolicetoday.”

    "Thankyou,Marianna”Dimitrismiled,tookthepaperbagandwalkedaway．

    Mariaslowlytowardsherrestaurant，thinking，"Dimitriisastrangemanwithauniquepersonality．Helivespletelyinafancifulworldofhisown，iasachild．totallyinpatiblewiththerealworld，uosurviveitspetitionsanditswiles．Hisfrank，trustingandnaiveeyesareasharptrasttohisweather-beatehatisso,whyforcehimtoadapttoaworldwhereheistotallyoutofpce?Whyhimgohisoay?Lethimstayatmypdtakecareofthehouseandgarden．Idon’tknowwhatdrawsmetohim，butIlikehim.Icareforhiswelfareandhaveaake．Theremustbesomethingpre-destinedinourretionship．Butsowhat？Whyshouldn’tIlikehimandcareforhim?Whymusttherebeareason?"Butthehoughtsturhelettershereceivedthatm．Itwasfromherhusbandandtheir8-year-oldson，tellihattheyhadfinallygottentheirimmigrationpapersandwouldsoonbejoiningher．Herhusbaheraphotographofhimselfandtheirson，andtheboyproudlywrotetoherinEnglish．Whentheyarrive，shewouldiablyhavetoleaveDimitriandprovideahomeforherhusbandandson．Butthatwouldnotbeforsometimeyet．"I’llcrossthatbridgewhenIetoit,”shedecided．

    JustthehoughtswereinterruptedbyawhiteRollsRoycescreegtoahaltbesideher．Avoicecameairily，

    "Hi，Marianna！Doyoustillrememberme?"

    1

    "Ohyes,Mrs．Kaffee!Howareyou?"Mariannasaidpolitely．WhenMariannafirstcametoAmerica，shehadbeenars．Kaffee’shousehold，butuandherfussyandpickyways，shequitaoworkattherestaurant．

    "Whathaveyoubeendoingallthistime，Marianna?"

    "Oh，I’vebeenwasacookatanItaliaaurant．"

    "Mr．Kaffeeisalwaysravingaboutyourcookioldmeseveraltimestoaskyoutoeback，butIknewyouwouldn’t．HereallymissesyourhomemadeItalianfood．Thisweekendwearehavingapartyforsomeoldfriends．Wouldyouliketocateradinnerforus?I’msuretheywouldallloveit．"

    "Withpleasure．Mr．Kaffeehastastedallthegourmetfoodinthearea，aillremembersmyhomecooking!I’msofttered．Iwouldbegdtoe．I’llbeoveronSaturdaym．

    "That’sitthen．SeeyouonSaturday．"

    Mariannasawtwobeautifulyouhebackofthecar．Theysmiledatherandshesmiledback．Suddenly，thecarjerkedforedawayzigzagingly，obliviousoftrafficrules．

    TheKaffeehouseholdwassomethingofamystery．NooneknewforcertaiherMr．andMrs．Kaffeewereactuallymanandwife．Theylivedtogetherandeveryonecalledher"Mrs．Kaffee".Mr．Kaffeewasinhissixtiesandlovedthefmboyant，oldworldlifestyle,surroundinghimselfwithluxuryaifulwomen．Healwaysworeexpewo–thousand-dolrsuits，silkshirtsanddiamondcufflinks．ThefactthatMrs．Kaffeetookallthiscarelesslyiride，ledmanytobelievethatshewasonlyoneofhisnumerousmistresses，elevatedtothepositionof"Mrs．Kaffee"forhersocialskillsateaiandformakinghislifefortable．TheKaff