第21部分(第4/7 頁)

her　throat　was　constricted　by　the　same　emotion　that　brought　tears　to　her

eyes。　A　mouthed　〃I　love　you〃　was　the　best　she　could　do。　It　was　enough。

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