elief。 Lee often
woke her with a yell。 This wouldn't be the last time。 Life would go on
without Ross。 Yes； it would。 Climbing from bed； she showered； dressed；
neatened the room and joined Lee for breakfast。 〃Good weekend； kid？〃 he
asked around a mouthful of toast。 〃Not bad。〃
〃So what happened？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃He didn't sleep at my place Saturday night； Chloe。〃
She helped herself to coffee。 〃How do you know he stayed over Saturday
night？ How do you know he didn't go back to New York？〃
〃His car was here Sunday morning。〃
She couldn't begrudge him the gentle teasing。 He was a dear friend。
〃You're getting snoopy in your old age。〃
〃I live right next door。 How could I miss it？〃
〃You could have looked the other way。〃
〃And pass up the pleasure of seeing you blush？ You don't do it very
often； you know。〃
With determined steadiness she sipped her coffee。 〃I'm not doing it now。
What you see is the freshness of morning…〃 ；；…made fresher by a
stimulating weekend。〃
〃Stimulating；〃 she said with a grunt。 〃That's one word for it。〃
〃He's a good man； Chloe。 I liked him。〃
〃He liked you； too。 The two of you aren't all that different。〃
〃Maybe because we care about you。〃
Chloe smiled。 〃You're sweet。〃 She changed the subject。 〃When do you
leave for Washington？〃
〃Hold on； pretty lady。 I'm still curious。 You and that guy had a