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His face lightened。 His eyes glowed。 〃Let's go home；〃 he said； and； arm
in arm； they did just that。
A short time later； they were in Ross's living room； sitting on the
sofa； facing one another。 He held her hand tightly； while she tried to
put into words everything she had learned in New Orleans。
〃It was a tragic edy of errors；〃 she began。 〃I had blamed myself for
going with you and upsetting Crystal； even for tossing that coin； and I
felt so guilty when she died that I withdrew into myself。 When my
parents couldn't get through to me； they sent me to stay with friends in
Newport in the hope that the change of scenery would do me good。 I
thought that they just didn't want me around to remind them of what had
happened； so I stayed away。 One misunderstanding after another。〃
〃But it's over？〃 he asked； so obviously needing reassurance that she
lifted a hand to his cheek and kissed him。
〃Yes；〃 she breathed。 〃It's over。 I was really worried about my mother
for a while there。 When she learned what I'd thought all these years；
she was beside herself with grief。 We spent that whole first night
talking； just the two of us。〃 She grew pensive。 〃I'd never had her all
to myself before。 There were always the three of us。 But Mom was great；
even as upset as she was。 She explained so many things to me。 It
helped。〃
She looked again at Ross。 His eyes were warm with understanding； urging
her on。
〃She talked about having twins； about watching them grow； about knowing
their similarities and their differences。 She pointed out that if the
tables had been turned； and Crystal had had the affair； I'd have reacted
differently。 In other words；〃 she sighed； sad but hopeful； 〃Crystal's
reaction was part of her personality； just as the guilt I've lived with
all these years is part of mine。〃
〃Is？〃 Ross asked softly。
〃Was；〃 she corrected herself； looking directly at him。 He couldn't miss
the pleading in her gaze。 〃I'd like to put it behind me now。 Will you
help？〃
Her pulse tripped for a minute until Ross's wide smile sent it racing
on。 〃That's why I'm here。〃
She frowned。 〃Why are you here？ I mean； how did you know to be at the
airport？〃
〃Your parents。〃
〃You talked with them？〃
〃Yesterday。〃 He looked pleased with himself。 〃You were overdue in Little
pton。 Lee called me； we plotted your course； and put two and two
together。 When I realized you'd gone home I knew why。 It was all I could
do not to join you there。 But it was something you had to do； wasn't
it？〃
She nodded。 〃I told them about you。〃
〃Lucky you did。 It made the explanations simpler。〃 He paused； vaguely
playful； vaguely curious。 〃What； uh； exactly； did you tell them？〃
〃That you loved me； that I loved you； that you'd asked me to marry you。
But I also told them that I had to work things out there with them； to
finally accept Crystal's death； if I ever hoped to be as much of a woman
as you deserve。〃
At the last； all playfulness drained from Ross's face； leaving a
vulnerability that was the flip side of his usual strength。 His hand
trembled slightly when it cupped her face。 〃Have I told you how much I
love you？〃 he whispered； kissing her eyes； nose； and mouth in turn。
〃You'll have forever to tell me；〃 she whispered back。
〃Then you'll marry me？〃
〃Uh…huh。〃
〃Ahhhhh。〃 With the long sigh； he hugged her again。 His breath was warm
against her ear。
〃Tired？〃
His neck smelled of him。 She shook her head against it。 〃Nope。〃
〃You're sure？〃 He tightened an arm around her waist。 〃It was a long
flight。〃
〃I'm not tired。〃 She grinned。 〃I don't think I'll sleep for hours。〃
Ross rose from the sofa and held out a hand。 Chloe put hers in it and
let him draw her up and into his arms。
〃I love you； Ross。 You know that； don't you？〃
〃I have for a long time。 I'm only glad you can finally say it。 You're
free； aren't you； princess？〃 She sighed； then smiled and said with a
touch； just a touch of New Orleans； 〃I do believe I am。〃
He laughed out loud and rolled his eyes。 Keeping an arm around her to
hold her close； he walked her to the stairs and up。
Lilac Awakening
In memory of my father； who gave me an eye for detail。
Nightfall was nature's last resort in a bid to blot out her own
splendor。 For much of the afternoon across the upper Vermont
countryside； ominous dark clouds had hung over the forested peaks；
swarming； breaking； and regrouping in a macabre arabesque。 Rather than
stifling beauty； they enhanced it with a muted gray softness； sifted
over the deep greens of the hillside。 The power of the land was an
awesome one； embodied in the proud posture of the pines on the hill； the
free flow of the river winding through the valley； the gaiety of the
orange Indian paintbrush swaying with meadow grass in the breeze。
Darkness was only a thin veil over this primal beauty。 Seeing through
it； Anne Boulton felt blessed； and doubly grateful that she had left the
city。
The summer had been an oppressive one in New York。 Heat and humidity had
rivaled each other； stubbornly clinging to highs that beaded foreheads
and furniture with sweat； and made everyone and everything sticky。 As
the sky scrapered congestion closed in on her； so had wellintending
friends and family； coaxing her out to lunch； when she wanted a tall
cola and a salad at home； dragging her to the theater； when she craved a
quiet evening alone； spiriting her away for a weekend of busy
panionship； when she fancied a good book and healing solitude。 In the
end she wanted Jeff； but Jeff was gone。
Now； cocooned by darkness； she curled in a large upholstered chair。 The
wood fire in the hearth offered the only light； its orange and gold
flames flickering hypnotically before her dark eyes。 This was her first
evening here。 If the isolation； the peace were a harbinger； she had made
the right decision in renting the house for the week。 Time was precious；
but it abounded here。 She planned to read； to take walks； even to work。
Mostly； though； she planned to think。
Late September in Vermont was the perfect time for soul…searching。 With
promises of misty mornings and golden afternoons； newly ripening apples
and sountain air； it was a
perfect antidote for her malaise。 The small house on its high perch was
everything the rental agent had promised。 No matter that her small car
had nearly e apart jolting over bumps and ruts in the steadily
climbing dirt road； the house was charming。 It sat peacefully in the
arms of giant maples and towering firs； its brown weathered shingles and
silver slate roof blending with the earthen road and the gray of the
sky。 Low shrubbery； aged a fall green； bordered the house。 Taller lilac
bushes； their fragrant blossoms long gone but imagined； straddled the
ebony front door。
Inside； the cottage was as pact as its surroundings were generous；
with an open…hearthed living room at the front； a kitchen； bedroom； and
bath at the rear。 A narrow stairway on the far side led to a dormered
attic。 Decorated functionally and fortably； the whole was a far cry
from her elegant New York apartment； but the difference pleased her。
This was a neutral spot； a place of few luxuries and no memories； a
place where she could face life for the pleasure of the day。
And this had been a tiring one。 Its morning had been filled with
last minute errands…to the bank for money； to the library and the
bookstore for the week's entertainment； to the university for a delivery
and a pickup； to the market for food。 Its afternoon had been one of
steady driving； then storing groceries and unpacking bags。
The fireplace had beckoned。 Anne was bone…weary； had been lacking in
stamina for weeks。 As the wing…backed chair held her slim form； the
dancing flames lulled her into recollection of a dinner with her parents
the weekend before。
〃I don't understand；〃 her mother had tried to reason with her； 〃why you
have to take off all by yourself。 We've tried so hard to do what's best。
Have we failed？〃
Arodous to ease her mother's worry； Anne had forced a smile。 〃No； you
didn't fail。 I just want to get out of the city for a while。 You know；
get a little of that fresh…air…and…color…on…my…cheeks type of thing？〃
〃Well； you could certainly use that；〃 came her father's deep voice。 Tall
and distinguished…looking； Anthony Faulke's sturdy frame belied his
near sixty years。 Anne took the darkness of her hair and eyes from him；
though her willowed shapeliness was her mother's。 〃But we'd have liked
to have you join us on the shore in several weeks。 Won't you reconsider
and wait until then？〃
Anne shook her head。 Not a hair moved。 It was in a somber knot at the
nape of her neck。 〃Now's the time。 I've already made the arrangements
and paid for the place。〃
Her mother tried again。 〃But you've never enjoyed traveling alone。
Wouldn't it be better to have someone with you？ If I didn't have the
charity luncheon on Wednesday； I'd go with you myself。 You need pany；
Anne。〃
Anne hated worrying her parents。 They had suffered nearly as much as she
had； having to stand by and watch helplessly as their elder daughter's
life fell apart。 When they looked at her； Anne knew what they saw。 She
saw it in the mirror each morning； the pal