第18部分(第2/7 頁)

　the　best；　the

finest。　He　deserved　a　wife　and　children　and　all　those　things　she　might

have　wanted　herself；　had　life　been　different。　Causing　him　pain　increased

her　own　pain　ten…fold。　Because；　when　all　was　said　and　done；　she　loved

him；　too。

That　was　the　deepest　layer　unearthed　in　her　soul…search。　She　did　love

Ross；　but　it　had　no　future。　There　would　always　be　yesterday　and　the

ghosts　she　lived　with。　Ross　had　stolen　her　heart；　but　only　a　part。　The

rest　had　either　died　with　Crystal；　or　died　a　little　more　each　time　she

saw　the　grief　on　her　parents'　faces。　Ross　deserved　a　wholehearted　woman。

She　wanted　that　for　him。

After　developing　a　throbbing　migraine；　Chloe　was　in　bed　by　eight；　and

there　was　pain　beyond　her　head。　Ross's　scent　clung　to　her　sheets；　the

remembered　feel　of　his　body　scared　her　skin。　She　burned　inside；　with　no

outlet。

In　time　she　fell　asleep。　After　two　nights　without；　it　was　deep　and

mercifully　uninterrupted。　She　woke　up　only　when　Lee　hollered　from　the

foot　of　the　stairs；　〃Chloe？　Rise　and　shine！〃

She　yawned；　stretched；　remembered　and　felt　pain；　then　relief。　Lee　often

woke　her　with　a　yell。　This　wouldn't　be　the　last　time。　Life　would　go　on

without　Ross。　Yes；　it　would。　Climbing　from　bed；　she　showered；　dressed；

neatened　the　room　and　joined　Lee　for　breakfast。　〃Good　weekend；　kid？〃　he

asked　around　a　mouthful　of　toast。　〃Not　bad。〃

〃So　what　happened？〃

〃Nothing。〃

〃He　didn't　sleep　at　my　place　Saturday　night；　Chloe。〃

She　helped　herself　to　coffee。　〃How　do　you　know　he　stayed　over　Saturday

night？　How　do　you　know　he　didn't　go　back　to　New　York？〃

〃His　car　was　here　Sunday　morning。〃

Sh