ht
afterward。〃
〃Oh； Ross；〃 Chloe whispered； feeling a great longing inside。 〃I wish it
hadn't。 It's too late to go back。〃
〃I don't want to go back。 I want to go ahead。 That's why I'm here。〃
Anguished； she looked down。 〃It's no good。 I can't。〃
〃Can't or won't？ We've been through this before。 Well；〃 he drew in a
breath； 〃believe this。 I may have been immature eleven years ago；
running away from something that frightened me； but I won't make the
same mistake twice。 It was fate that brought us together up at Rye
Beach； and I'll be damned if I'm going to let you get away。 I've made it
my business to find out every possible thing I could about you during
the past two weeks。 And I know what happened to Crystal。〃
His words hung in the air。 Her eyes begged him to say no more。 She
bolstered the plea with her low whisper。 〃Then you can understand why I
can't bear to think back on that time。〃
〃It was an accident； Chloe！ It wasn't your fault！〃
〃But she died。〃
〃And you lived； is that it？ You can't forgive yourself for that？〃
She jumped to her feet。 With her heart pounding a thunderous beat； she
stared at him for an agonized moment before forcing her feet to move。
Her steps were slow at first； then gained speed as the force of habit
took over and she jogged toward safer ground。
With pitiful ease； Ross caught up。 He caught her elbow； using her own
momentum to bring her around。 When she faced him at a full stop； he held
her by both arms。
〃I'm trying to be honest；〃 he said。
〃But it hurts。 Can't you see that？ It hurts！〃 She was consumed by it； a
hurt that was alive and festering。 He had to see it