第9部分(第7/7 頁)

　of

your　time。〃

〃I'm　used　to　it。　Don't　forget；　when　I　was　a　kid　my　family　was　shuttled

around　by　the　Army。〃　At　Lee's　prodding；　Ross　elaborated　on　his

background。　Chloe　found　herself　wondering　if　he　had　ever　settled　down；

even　for　a　short　time；　or　if　he　ever　would。　She　found　herself　wondering

how　as　pelling　and　attractive　a　man　had　avoided　the　lure　of　a　wife；　a

home；　a　family。　When　she　was　caught　in　the　act　of　admiring　him；　Ross

smiled　in　what　she　swore　was　a　knowing　way。

And　so　went　the　evening。　Lee　talked　with　Ross；　and　Ross　talked　with　Lee。

Chloe　listened；　joining　in　from　time　to　time；　trying　to　fight　admiration

without　much　success。

Why　Ross？　she　asked　herself　at　one　point。　Why　not　Lee？　The　two　were　as

physically　alike　as　brothers。　But　then；　why　had　Ross　been　attracted　to

Chloe　rather　than　Crystal？　Or　had　he？　Had　Crystal　been　right？　Had　it

been　a　case　of　his　taking　what　was　offered　by　whichever　sister　came

forward？

That　question　nagged。　Had　her　being　with　Ross　been　pure　chance？　A　simple

turn　of　fate？　But　what　about　that　coin？　There　was　nothing　coincidental

about　Chloe　winning　the　toss。　And　Ross…had　he　been　looking　at　Chloe

rather　than　at　her　identical　twin　sister？　Had　it　all　been　by　design；　or

had　it　been　by　pure　chance？

She　was　distracted　as　the　evening　waned；　unaware　of　looks　of　concern

sent　her　way。　When　Lee　said；　〃I'm　takin'　off　now；　Chloe；〃　she　was

startled。　Her　head　came　up。　Unsure；