第19部分(第6/7 頁)

e　that　afternoon；　a　more　subdued　one。　She　recognized　his

voice　immediately；　had　been　half　expecting　to　hear　it。　Its　sound　sent　a

ripple　through　her；　but　it　died　quickly。　She　was　exhausted。

〃How　are　you？〃　he　asked。

〃I'm　fine。〃

〃It's　good　to　hear　your　voice。　I　miss　you。〃

〃You've　been　gone　barely　twenty…four　hours。〃

〃You've　been　counting；　have　you？〃

She　hadn't。　Well；　maybe　she　had。　But　she　wasn't　about　to　admit　it。　〃I'm

counting　now。　I　have　five　different　reports　to　go　through　this

afternoon；　not　to　mention　phone　calls；　proposals；　and　what…have…you。　It

seems　I　have　a　rush　job　in　New　York。　Some　snotty　executive　thinks　his

work　is　the　only　thing　that　counts。〃

〃I　can　see　you　got　up　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　bed。　Bad　morning？〃

〃Busy。〃

〃Anything　interesting？〃

〃Uh…huh。〃

He　sighed。　〃Ah。　We're　pulling　teeth　again。〃

〃No。　There's　just　nothing　I　feel　like　discussing。〃　With　you；　she　might

have　added。　He　had　intruded　on　her　life　far　too　much。

〃You　sound　down。〃　He　sounded　concerned。　〃Is　something　wrong？〃

〃I'll　be　fine。〃　But　she　wondered。　Much　as　she　fought　it；　the　sound　of

Ross's　voice　affected　her。

〃What　is　it；　Chloe？　Please　tell　me。　Something's　bothering　you。　I　can

hear　it　in　your　voice。　Your　spirit's　gone。〃　He　paused。　When　she　said

nothing；　he　said；　〃I'm　driving　up。〃

〃No！　I'm　okay。　Really。　I'm　tired。　That's　all。〃

：〃You　have　no　idea　what　I　feel　when　I　hear　that　pain　in　your　voice。〃

〃Then　why　did　you　do　it？〃　she　blurted　out。

The　silence　was　long　and　heavy。　Then　he　sighed。　〃You've；　ah；　figured　out

my　messages？〃

〃You　could　say　that。　What　I'd　like　to　know　is　why　you　had　to　go