第3部分(第2/7 页)

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toward　the　microphone　a　final　time。　〃It's　been　my　honor。　If　my　effort

here　has　helped　to　preserve　the　natural　bounty　of　your　state；　then　we've

all　benefited。　Thank　you。〃

It　was　the　perfect　time　to　make　a　gracious；　if　not　sweeping　exit。　With

Ross　still　standing　aside　in　deference　to　the　crowd　applauding　its

appreciation　of　her；　she　should　have　quit　while　she　was　ahead。　Her

mistake　was　in　looking　back　at　him。

His　smile　was　devastating。　Chloe　felt　her　chest　tighten；　as　she　was

caught　in　the　throes　of　memory　again。　She　was　suddenly　immobilized；

suspended　in　a　matrix　of　desire　and　guilt　that　canceled　out　the　years

that　had　e　between；　until　there　was　only　yesterday；　Ross；　Crystal；

and　the　toss　of　a　coin。

When　a　last…minute　surge　brought　members　of　the　audience　to　the　stage；　a

shaken　Chloe　returned　to　the　present。　She　had　to　concentrate　again；

listening　to　questions；　offering　answers。　She　stood　at　one　side　of　the

stage　with　her　followers；　Ross　stood　at　the　other　side　with　his。　She

gained　strength　with　each　new　question；　so　that　when　the　last　of　the

locals　left；　she　felt　more　herself…felt　more　herself；　that　is；　until　she

realized　that　she　and　Ross　were　alone。

He　showed　no　sign　of　sharing　either　her　awkwardness　or　her　apprehension。

Rather；　he　smiled　at　her；　looking　older　and　wiser　perhaps；　but　no　less

alive。　The　air　between　them　hummed；　just　as　it　had　eleven　years　before。

Looking　at　him；　Chloe　grappled　with　a　world　of　inner　demons；　but　the

past　was　better　left　alone。　She　was　determined　to　make　this　reunion　as

brief　as　possible。

〃How　are　you；　Chloe？〃　he　asked；　crossing　the　stage　to　where　she　stood。