第22部分(第4/7 頁)

　lying　on　the　sidewalk　in　front　of　the　stoop　where　the　four　boys　were

sitting。　？Is　it　Valentine？s　Day？？　he　asked　distractedly。

？Yeah；？　Anthony　responded。　？Why？？

？Huh；？　Nate　replied。　He　stood　up　and　brushed　the　snow　off　the　back　of　his　black　Hugo　Boss　coat。

For　what　seemed　like　forever　he？d　always　sent　a　special　girl　roses　on　Valentine？s　Day。　？I　gotta　go

do　something。　Catch　you　guys　in　gym；　okay？？

His　friends　watched　him　trudge　purposefully　through　the　slush　toward　Madison　Avenue　until　he

was　out　of　sight。　Something　was　happening　to　their　old　friend　Nate　Archibald；　and　it　wasn？t　just

that　he？d　turned　down　a　joint　for　the　first　time　since　he　was　ten　years　old

Could　it　be；　was　it　possible；　that　he？d　fallen　in　love？

v…day　turned　d…day　forb

Blair　kept　her　hand　clapped　over　her　mouth　and　her　mind　clear　of　any　thoughts　of　Owen　the

whole　way　home　to　keep　from　being　sick　all　over　the　back　seat　of　the　taxi。　But　when　she　stepped

off　the　wood…paneled　elevator　and　into　the　penthouse；　her　nostrils　were　bombarded　with　the　putrid

scent　of　roses；　causing　her　stomach　to　churn　ominously　once　more。　The　entire　front　hall　was

packed　with　them。　Yellow　roses；　white　roses；　pink　ones　and　red。　She　dropped　her　bag　on　the　floor

and　read　the　notes　on　the　bouquets。

A？You？re　my　honey…pie。　Love；　S；said　the　note　on　the　yellow　roses。

Audrey；　my　favorite　little　aristocrat；　will　you　please　be　my　Valentine？　Love；　Cary；said　the　note

on　the　red　roses。

My　darling　Mrs。　Rose；　May　our　tiny　daughter　be　as　lovely　and　as　wonderful　as　you　are　and　as

hopelessly　happy　as　I　am　every　day　I　spend　with　you。　？Your　loving　husband；　Mr。　Rose；said　the

note　on　the　pink…and…whit