第15部分(第1/7 頁)

appealing　than　he　had　been　in　her　memory　all　those　years。　He　was　a　man

for　today；　to　be　sipped　and　savored　like　the　wine　he　poured　into　her　now

empty　glass。

When　he　spoke；　she　was　grateful　for　the　wine's　mellowing　shield。　〃When

was　the　last　time　you　were　home？〃

〃Home？〃

〃New　Orleans。　Do　you　go　back　there　often？〃

〃No。〃　New　Orleans　was　the　past。　She　wanted　the　present。　〃What　does　that

have　to　do　with　anything？〃

〃Love。　You　asked　me　about　it。　I'm　asking　you　the　same。　You　loved　your

family　once。　Do　you　still？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃But　you　never　see　them。　Don't　you　miss　them？〃

Even　in　spite　of　the　wine；　she　grew　defensive。　〃I　do。〃

〃How　often　do　you　call　home？〃　he　asked　gently。

〃Every　so　often。〃

〃And　the　last　time　you　flew　down？〃

She　hedged。　〃It　was　a　while　ago。〃

When　he　leaned　forward　to　pursue　his　point；　she　sensed　that　he　really

and　truly　cared。　〃Why；　Chloe？　What　does　love　mean　to　you　that　you　can

ignore　those　same　people　who　worry　themselves　sick　about　you？　That　can't

be　what　love　is　about。〃

〃We're　talking　about　different　kinds　of　love。　One　kind　you're　born　into；

the　other　you　choose。〃

〃The　end　result　is　the　same。　Once　a　man　and　a　woman　make　that　mitment

and　marry；　they　face　the　same　kinds　of　trials　that　your　family　faced。

You've　run　away…〃

〃Don't。〃　She　clamped　a　hand　on　his　arm。　〃Please　don't；　Ross。　I　don't

want　to　talk　about　this。〃

His　voice　gentled。　〃You　have　to　talk　about　it　sometime。　There　are　so

many　things　you've　refused　to　face；　about　yourself；　about　your　family…〃

〃Not　tonight；〃　she　insisted　softly。　She　let　her　eyes　plead；　only　because

her　voice　kept　its