第21部分(第3/7 頁)

e；　but　no　words　came　out。

His　eyes　held　defeat　when　he　looked　at　her　a　final　time。　〃I'll　be　here；

Chloe。　When　you're　free；　let　me　know。〃

On　the　Saturday　after　Thanksgiving；　Chloe　boarded　a　plane。　It　taxied　and

took　off；　then　climbed　into　the　sky　and　headed　north。　New　Orleans　fell

behind。　New　York　was　ahead。　She　was　going　back　to　Ross。

She　tried　to　sleep；　but　was　too　excited。　She　ate　dinner；　she　read　a

magazine；　she　looked　out　the　window　and　smiled。　Where　a　haunted　woman

had　been　just　a　few　days　before；　was　one　with　a　newborn　peace。

She　had　e　a　very　long　way　in　a　very　short　time；　but　it　hadn't　been

easy。　There　were　dozens　of　doubts　and　second　thoughts　dogging　her

through　Mobile；　and　added　days　spent　wavering　there；　then　fear　and

unsureness　when　she　arrived　at　her　parents'　home　in　New　Orleans　on

Thanksgiving　morning。

Now；　as　the　plane　began　its　descent；　she　shook　her　head　in　amazement。　So

many　years　lost　over　a　misunderstanding。　But　it　was　cleared　up　now。　It

was　better。　She　would　call　Ross　the　minute　she　landed。　He　would　be

totally　surprised。

But　she　was　the　one　in　for　the　surprise。　Ross　was　at　the　airport　to　meet

her；　standing　tall　and　dark　and　vibrant。　In　a　moment　of　ddji　vu；　their

eyes　met　over　the　crowd。　Chloe　stopped　in　awe；　knowing　that　her　next

steps　would　be　as　momentous　as　the　ones　she　had　taken　eleven　years　ago。

But　she　was　a　woman　now　and　finally　free　to　love。　Breathing　deeply；　she

ran　forward；　Ross　met　her　halfway　and　crushed　her　in　his　arms；　holding

her　tightly　enough；　long　enough　to　say　what　he　felt　without　words。

Chloe　owed　him　the　words；　though。　When　she　drew　back　to　look　up　at　him；