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It did that； and quite well。 By the time the sun's golden rays breached
the windowsill and glistened on their sweat； they were totally spent。
Rasping breaths broke the air； but otherething
was wrong。 Chloe felt it the instant her pulse began to slow。 There was
no talk。 No closeness。 The satisfaction that usually kept them warm and
entwined faded fast。
Ross rose from the bed； retrieved his robe； and left the room。 Alone
again； Chloe curled into a tight ball with the covers pulled to her
ears。
Apparently； it was time to put up or shut up。 Ross couldn't live with
half…measures…but then； had she really thought he would？ Her body might
love him to bits； but if she couldn't love the rest with her head and
her heart； there was no hope。
She heard the front door slam shortly after he left her room。 She didn't
know where he went； and he was back in time to take her to the train
station； but even the short ride there was awkward。 It wasn't until she
was about to board the train that he said more than a full sentence； and
then his voice was quiet。
〃I'd like to follow through with the liaison between Hansen and ESE； but
I think Lee should handle the account。 You're right。 It'll be too
difficult any other way； at least for now。〃
Chloe wanted to argue； but no words came out。
His eyes held defeat when he looked at her a final time。 〃I'll be here；
Chloe。 When you're free； let me know。〃
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving； Chloe boarded a plane。 It taxied and
took off； then climbed into the sky and headed north。 New Orleans fell
behind。 New York was ahead。 She was going back to Ross。
She tried to sleep； but was too excited。 She ate dinner； she read a
magazine； she looked out the window and smiled。 Where a haunted woman
had been just a few days before； was one with a newborn peace。
She had e a very long way in a very short time； but it hadn't been
easy。 There were dozens of doubts and second thoughts dogging her
through Mobile； and added days spent wavering there； then fear and
unsureness when she arrived at her parents' home in New Orleans on
Thanksgiving morning。
Now； as the plane began its descent； she shook her head in amazement。 So
many years lost over a misunderstanding。 But it was cleared up now。 It
was better。 She would call Ross the minute she landed。 He would be
totally surprised。
But she was the one in for the surprise。 Ross was at the airport to meet
her； standing tall and dark and vibrant。 In a moment of ddji vu； their
eyes met over the crowd。 Chloe stopped in awe； knowing that her next
steps would be as momentous as the ones she had taken eleven years ago。
But she was a woman now and finally free to love。 Breathing deeply； she
ran forward； Ross met her halfway and crushed her in his arms； holding
her tightly enough； long enough to say what he felt without words。
Chloe owed him the words； though。 When she drew back to look up at him；
her throat was constricted by the same emotion that brought tears to her
eyes。 A mouthed 〃I love you〃 was the best she could do。 It was enough。
His face lightened。 His eyes glowed。 〃Let's go home；〃 he said； and； arm
in arm； they did just that。
A short time later； they were in Ross's living room； sitting on the
sofa； facing one another。 He held her hand tightly； while she tried to
put into words everything she had learned in New Orleans。
〃It was a tragic edy of errors；〃 she began。 〃I had blamed myself for
going with you and upsetting Crystal； even for tossing that coin； and I
felt so guilty when she died that I withdrew into myself。 When my
parents couldn't get through to me； they sent me to stay with friends in
Newport in the hope that the change of scenery would do me good。 I
thought that they just didn't want me around to remind them of what had
happened； so I stayed away。 One misunderstanding after another。〃
〃But it's over？〃 he asked； so obviously needing reassurance that she
lifted a hand to his cheek and kissed him。
〃Yes；〃 she breathed。 〃It's over。 I was really worried about my mother
for a while there。 When she learned what I'd thought all these years；
she was beside herself with grief。 We spent that whole first night
talking； just the two of us。〃 She grew pensive。 〃I'd never had her all
to myself before。 There were always the three of us。 But Mom was great；
even as upset as she was。 She explained so many things to me。 It
helped。〃
She looked again at Ross。 His eyes were warm with understanding； urging
her on。
〃She talked about having twins； about watching them grow； about knowing
their similarities and their differences。 She pointed out that if the
tables had been turned； and Crystal had had the affair； I'd have reacted
differently。 In other words；〃 she sighed； sad but hopeful； 〃Crystal's
reaction was part of her personality； just as the guilt I've lived with
all these years is part of mine。〃
〃Is？〃 Ross asked softly。
〃Was；〃 she corrected herself； looking directly at him。 He couldn't miss
the pleading in her gaze。 〃I'd like to put it behind me now。 Will you
help？〃
Her pulse tripped for a minute until Ross's wide smile sent it racing
on。 〃That's why I'm here。〃
She frowned。 〃Why are you here？ I mean； how did you know to be at the
airport？〃
〃Your parents。〃
〃You talked with them？〃
〃Yesterday。〃 He looked pleased with himself。 〃You were overdue in Little
pton。 Lee called me； we plotted your course； and put two and two
together。 When I realized you'd gone home I knew why。 It was all I could
do not to join you there。 But it was something you had to do； wasn't
it？〃
She nodded。 〃I told them about you。〃
〃Lucky you did。 It made the explanations simpler。〃 He paused； vaguely
playful； vaguely curious。 〃What； uh； exactly； did you tell them？〃
〃That you loved me； that I loved you； that you'd asked me to marry you。
But I also told them that I had to work things out there with them； to
finally accept Crystal's death； if I ever hoped to be as much of a woman
as you deserve。〃
At the last； all playfulness drained from Ross's face； leaving a
vulnerability that was the flip side of his usual strength。 His hand
trembled slightly when it cupped her face。 〃Have I