第2部分(第3/7 頁)

u　cheat。”

“I　do　cheat；　I’ll　be　the　first　to　admit　it。”　Jane　Carlson　had　wheat　blond　hair　cut　in　a　sensible　bob　and　was　tall；　with　an　athletic　frame。　She　was　wearing　the　same　style　sweater　as　her　husband。　“I’m　glad　you’re　on　the　straight　and　narrow。”　She　winked　at　Blair。

But　Blair　was　still　stuck　on　the　part　of　Chappy’s　sentence　that　implied　she　wouldn’t　be　in　Costa　Rica　with　them。　She’d　bought　five　new　Eres　bikinis　for　the　occasion。　They　made　the　most　of　the　five　pounds　she’d　gained　from　the　gross　food　she’d　been　forced　to　eat　on　Yale’s　meal　plan。　“Without　me？”　Blair　blurted　stupidly。

“I　mean；　I’d　bring　you　along；　but　we’ve　got　a　saying　in　the　Carlson　family…”　Chappy　began；　his　blue　eyes　shining；　as　if　he　were　about　to　deliver　a　stump　speech。　“I　believe；　when　it　es　to　vacations；　in　the　‘no　ring；　no　bring’　rule。”

“It’s　the　Carlson　curse。”　Jason　sighed；　elbowing　Blair　in　the　ribs　sympathetically。　She　stepped　away。　While　it　was　true　Blair　had　never　officially　been　invited　to　Costa　Rica；　she’d　been　invited　for　Christmas；　for　God’s　sake。　Wasn’t　that　even　more　exclusive　than　a　beach　holiday？　And　why　not　invite　her？　After　all；　she’d　brought　Nate　on　her　family　vacations　for　years　and　it　wasn’t　like　she’d　been　married　to　him。

Except　in　her　dreams。

“Blair；　we　love　you　and　we　want　you　in　our　family　for　years　to　e；　but　I　need　to　be　a　stickler　on　this；”　Chappy　explained　sympathetically；　as　if　she　were　one　of　his　constituents；　arguing　over　some　impossibly　arcane　rule。　“I’ve　raised　four　boys；　and　while　they’ve　behaved　around　you；　honestly；　these　gentlemen　cause　more　theatrics　when　it　es　to　ladies　than　the　Yale　School　of　Drama；”　he　finished；　shaking　his　head。

“Maybe　you　could　get　together　with　your　girlfriends　and　have　a　girls’　adventure