第10部分(第5/7 頁)

　a　statement　of

fact；　devoid　of　arrogance。　〃But　that's　not　enough。〃

She　followed　his　thoughts。　〃I　can't　help　you；　Ross。〃

〃Can't？　〃

〃Won't。　If　you're　looking　for　a　wife　and　a　family；　a　home　in　the

country；　maybe　a　few　dogs　and　horses；　even　sheep；　you'll　have　to　look

elsewhere。　I　can't　be　anything　but　this。〃

His　gaze　sharpened。　〃Did　I　mention　those　things？　Or　are　they　what　you

wanted　once？　Haven't　you　ever　wished　for　a　husband　who　loves　you；

children；　pets；　friends；　property？　What　do　you　want　from　life？〃

〃What　I　have　right　now。　I　don't　want　to　look　back；　and　I　won't　look

ahead。　I　like　this　life。　I'm　content。〃

〃Are　you？〃　he　challenged。　〃Don't　you　ever　stop　to　wonder　what　it　might

have　been　like…〃

〃No；〃　Chloe　said　with　force　and　pushed　herself　out　of　the　chair。　〃I

didn't　ask　you　to　e　here；　Ross。　I　didn't　ask　you　to　stay。　As　of　right

now〃…she　pointed　at　the　floor　for　emphasis…〃I　don't　care　what　you　do；

but　don't　expect　to　change　the　way　I　see　the　world　and　my　life。　I've

done　just　fine　on　my　own　for　the　past　eleven　years。　I　plan　to　do　it　a

while　longer。〃　Her　hand　was　shaking。　She　jammed　it　into　the　back　pocket

of　her　jeans。　〃I'm　going　to　bed。　Let　yourself　out。〃　With　a　whirl　that

sent　her　hair　flaring　out　behind；　she　strode　from　the　room；　ran　up　the

stairs　to　her　room；　and　firmly　closed　the　door。

Trembling　uncontrollably；　she　collapsed　onto　the　bed　and　stared　at　the

ceiling。　Her　ragged　breathing　was　the　only　sound　that　broke　the　night's

quiet…that；　and　the　opening　and　closing　of　the　front　door　when　Ross　left

the　house。

For　what　seemed　like　hours　she　agonized；　locked　in　silent　battle　with　a