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For the first time she saw Sarveux without the armor of his pride She had never considered him vulnerable before and Could not relate the broken, i on the bed to the vain man she had lived with for ten years The waxen face tempered with pain was not the face she knew It was like looking at a stranger

Hesitantly, she moved in and kissed hiray hair from his forehead, unsure of what to say

"Your birthday," he said, breaking her silence "I missed your birthday"

She looked confused "My birthday is still months away, dearest"

"I ift-" She turned to the doctor "He's notany sense"

Ericsson shook his head "The lingering effects of the anesthetic"

"Thank God it was I as hurt and not you," Sarveux rambled feebly "My fault"

"No, no, nothing was your fault," Danielle said quietly

"The road was icy, snow covered the windshield, I couldn't see Took the curve too fast and stepped on the brakes A mistake Lost control"

Then she understood "Many years ago he was in an auto accident," Danielle explained to Ericsson "His mother was killed

"Not unusual A drugged mind often takes one back in time

"Charles," she said "You "

"No, don't go" Sarveux's eyes looked past her shoulder to Ericsson "I must talk to Danielle alone"

Ericsson thought a ed "If you insist" He looked at Danielle "Please, madame, no more than two minutes"

When the roo, but then his body tautened in a spashtened