第20部分(第7/7 頁)

By　the　time　they　returned　from　the　theater　in　the　early

hours　of　Sunday　morning　it　was　near　to　bursting。

She　took　his　lead　and　put　it　on　ice。　In　the　living　room　for　a　nightcap；

their　conversation　was　as　soft　and　pleasing　as　the　entire　four…day

stretch　had　been。　She　felt　happy。　Then　she　went　upstairs；　alone；　to　the

bedroom　that　had　been　lonely　all　week；　and　the　ice　melted。　She　dozed　and

woke；　shifting　in　bed　with　little　hope　of　relief　from　frustration。　She

tried　to　think　of　other　things；　but　Ross　kept　her　restless　and　aching。

It　was　dawn　when　she　finally　crept　from　bed　and　went　to　the　window。

The　city　was　rising。　The　deep　purples　and　blues　of　night　were　beginning

to　fade　to　lighter　hues。　The　tallest　of　the　skyscrapers　to　the　east　wore

the　first　pink　traces　of　the　sun　on　its　uppermost　windows。　It　was　lovely

and　peaceful。　Only　the　dull　ache　inside　her　marred　it。

〃I　couldn't　sleep；〃　came　a　voice　at　the　door。　She　turned　to　find　Ross

standing　there。　Standing　tall；　his　features　hidden　in　the　shadows；　he

wore　a　robe　that　wrapped　at　the　waist　and　hung　to　his　knees。　The　unruly

rumpling　of　his　hair　gave　truth　to　his　words。　〃How　'bout　you？〃

Her　throat　was　tight。　〃The　same。〃

She　watched　him　slowly　approach。　Each　step　brought　him　closer　to　the

window；　until　his　features　were　clear　in　it。　Though　his　eyes　reflected

her　own　torment；　he　touched　her　cheek　with　a　tenderness　that　made　her

want　to　we