〃No。〃 There was no hesitancy in his response。 〃I saw a woman two weeks
ago who interested me。 I would be here regardless。 It's just。。 。〃
As Chloe waited for his voice to pick up again； their paths crisscrossed
her earlier footprints。 Ross easily measured his pace to hers。 〃It's
just what？〃 she prodded。
He stopped walking。 She went a step farther； then turned to face him。 He
frowned； seeming deliberative。 〃It's just that after what happened
eleven years ago； I feel even more justified。。 。〃
Her voice rose； as it often did when she was distressed。 〃Are you saying
you feel guilty so long after the fact？ Is that why you've e？ To ease
some long…harbored guilt？ Where were you then？〃 she cried。 〃Where were
you when I…〃
She cut herself off。 For the very first time she wondered what might
have happened had Ross been with her at the time of Crystal's death。 It
had been late Saturday night； two days after Thanksgiving； when she and
Crystal argued； Crystal raced off in her car； the accident happened。 By
that time Ross was on his way back to Africa。 What if he had been with
her through the ordeal？ Would things have been different？
But he hadn't been with her。 There was no changing that fact。 She had
survived。 She had survived。 Not Crystal； though。
When she closed her eyes for a moment in search of posure； Ross took
her arm and said a quick