She Knew

For a long moment neither of them moved. The broken pieces of the mug lay on the step between them, and tea ran slowly over the wood and dripped into the canal. Behind her tree, Ana held her breath. She could see both their faces in the yellow light from the boat: the girl’s, white and still, and the man’s, which looked as if someone had just hit it.

長い間、二人は動かなかった。二人の間の段には、割れたマグカップの破片が散らばっていた。こぼれたお茶は木の上をゆっくり流れ、運河へと落ちた。木の陰で、アナは息を止めた。ボートの黄色い明かりの中に、二人の顔が見えた。白く動かない少女の顔と、殴られたばかりのような男の顔だった。

“The photo,” Jess said. Her voice was very calm, much too calm. “On your table. The man with the baby. Who is it?”

「あの写真」と、ジェスが言った。声はとても落ち着いていたが、あまりに静かすぎた。「テーブルの上の写真よ。赤ちゃんを抱いた男の人。誰なの」

Michael opened his mouth. Ana saw him think about lying. She saw him think about it for one second, and then she saw him decide not to. He stepped down onto the path, over the broken mug, and stood in front of his daughter. He was much taller than her, but he looked smaller.

マイケルは口を開けた。アナには、彼が嘘をつこうか迷うのが見えた。ほんの一瞬考えてから、やめるのが分かった。彼は段を降りて小道に立ち、娘の前に立った。彼はずっと背が高かったが、小さく見えた。