第16部分(第3/8 頁)

　of　his

father。”

I　shook　my　head。　“Why　are　you　over　here；　Mr。　Duncan？　If　you　don't　think　I　need　the　help　and

you're　not　feeling　bad　about　the　eggs；　then　why　would

you　do　this？”

“Honestly？”

I　just　looked　at　him；　straight　in　the　eye。

He　nodded；　then　said；　“Because　you　remind　me　of　my　wife。”

“Your　wife？”

“That's　right。”　He　gave　me　a　little　smile　and　said；　“Renée　would've　sat　up　in　that　tree　with　you。

She　would've　sat　there　all　night。”

And　with　those　two　sentences；　my　anger　vanished。　“Really？”

“Absolutely。”

“She's　…　she　died？”

He　nodded。　“And　I　miss　her　terribly。”　He　tossed　a　branch　into　the　heap　and　chuckled。

“There's　nothing　like　a　head…strong　woman　to　make　you

happy　to　be　alive。”

The　last　thing　in　the　world　I　expected　was　to　bee　friends　with　Bryce's　grandfather。　But　by

dinnertime　I　knew　so　much　about　him　and　his　wife

and　the　adventures　they'd　had　together　that　it　seemed　like　I'd　known　him　for　a　very　long　time。

Plus；　all　his　stories　made　the　work　seem　easy。　When　I

went　in　for　the　night；　the　bushes　were　all　pruned　back；　and　except　for　the　enormous　heap　in

the　center　of　the　yard；　things　were　already　looking　a

whole　lot　better。

The　next　day　he　was　back。　And　when　I　smiled　and　said；　“Hi；　Mr。　Duncan；”　he　smiled　back

and　said；　“Call　me　Chet；　won't　you？”　He　looked　at　the

hammer　in　my　hand　and　said；　“I　take