第21部分(第6/7 頁)

ow　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