trembled slightly when it cupped her face。 〃Have I told you how much I love you？〃 he whispered； kissing her eyes； nose； and mouth in turn。 〃You"ll have forever to tell me；〃 she whispered back。 〃Then you"ll marry me？〃 〃Uh…huh。〃 〃Ahhhhh。〃 With the long sigh； he hugged her again。 His breath was warm against her ear。 〃Tired？〃 His neck smelled of him。 She shook her head against it。 〃Nope。〃 〃You"re sure？〃 He tightened an arm around her waist。 〃It was a long flight。〃 〃I"m not tired。〃 She grinned。 〃I don"t think I"ll sleep for hours。〃 Ross rose from the sofa and held out a hand。 Chloe put hers in it and let him draw her up and into his arms。 〃I love you； Ross。 You know that； don"t you？〃 〃I have for a long time。 I"m only glad you can finally say it。 You"re free； aren"t you； princess？〃 She sighed； then smiled and said with a touch； just a touch of New Orleans； 〃I do believe I am。〃 He laughed out loud and rolled his eyes。 Keeping an arm around her to hold her close； he walked her to the stairs and up。 Lilac Awakening In memory of my father； who gave me an eye for detail。 Nightfall was nature"s last resort in a bid to blot out her own splendor。 For much of the afternoon across the upper Vermont countryside； ominous dark clouds had hung over the forested peaks； swarming； breaking； and regrouping in a macabre arabesque。 Rather than stifling beauty； they enhanced it with a muted gray softness； sifted over the deep greens of the hillside。 The power of the land was an awesome one； embodied in the proud posture of the pines on the hill； the free flow of the river winding through the valley； the gaiety of the orange Indian paintbrush swaying with meadow grass in the breeze。 Darkness was only a thin veil over this primal beauty。 Seeing through it； Anne Boulton felt blessed； and doubly grateful that she had left the city。 The summer had been an oppressive one in New York。 Heat and humidity had rivaled each other； stubbornly clinging to highs that beaded foreheads and furniture with sweat； and made everyone and everything sticky。 As the sky scrapered congestion closed in on her； so had wellintending friends and family； coaxing her out to lunch； when she wanted a tall cola and a salad at home； dragging her to the theater； when she craved a quiet evening alone； spiriting her away for a weekend of busy panionship； when she fancied a good book and healing solitude。 In the end she wanted Jeff； but Jeff was gone。 Now； cocooned by darkness； she curled in a large upholstered chair。 The wood fire in the hearth offered the only light； its orange and gold flames flickering hypnotically before her dark eyes。 This was her first evening here。 If the isolation； the peace were a harbinger； she had made the right decision in renting the house for the week。 Time was precious； but it abounded here。 She planned to read； to take walks； even to work。 Mostly； though； she planned to think。 Late September in Vermont was the perfect time for soul…searching。 With promises of misty mornings and golden afternoons； newly ripening apples and sountain air； it was a perfect antidote for her malaise。 The small house on its high perch was everything the rental agent had promised。 No matter that her small car had nearly e apart jolting over bumps and ruts in the steadily climbing dirt road； the house was charming。 It sat peacefully in the arms of giant maples and towering firs； its brown weathered shingles and silver slate roof blending with the earthen road and the gray of the sky。 Low shrubbery； aged a fall green； bordered the house。 Taller lilac bushes； their fragrant blossoms long gone but imagined； straddled the ebony front door。 Inside； the cottage was as pact as its surroundings were generous； with an open…hearthed living room at the front； a kitchen； bedroom； and bath at the rear。 A narrow stairway on the far side led to a dormered attic。 Decorated functionally and fortably； the whole was a far cry from her elegant New York apartment； but the difference pleased her。 This was a neutral spot； a place of few luxuries and no memories； a place where she could face life for the pleasure of the day。 And this had been a tiring one。 Its morning had been filled with last minute errands…to the bank for money； to the library and the bookstore for the week"s entertainment； to the university for a delivery and a pickup； to the market for food。 Its afternoon had been one of steady driving； then storing groceries and unpacking bags。 The fireplace had beckoned。 Anne was bone…weary； had been lacking in stamina for weeks。 As the wing…backed chair held her slim form； the dancing flames lulled her into recollection of a dinner with her parents the weekend before。 〃I don"t understand；〃 her mother had tried to reason with her； 〃why you have to take off all by yourself。 We"ve tried so hard to do what"s best。 Have we failed？〃 Arodous to ease her mother"s worry； Anne had forced a smile。 〃No； you didn"t fail。 I just want to get out of the city for a while。 You know； get a little of that fresh…air…and…color…on…my…cheeks type of thing？〃 〃Well； you could certainly use that；〃 came her father"s deep voice。 Tall and distinguished…looking； Anthony Faulke"s sturdy frame belied his near sixty years。 Anne took the darkness of her hair and eyes from him； though her willowed shapeliness was her mother"s。 〃But we"d have liked to have you join us on the shore in several weeks。 Won"t you reconsider and wait until then？〃 Anne shook her head。 Not a hair moved。 It was in a somber knot at the nape of her neck。 〃Now"s the time。 I"ve already made the arrangements and paid for the place。〃 Her mother tried again。 〃But you"ve never enjoyed traveling alone。 Wouldn"t it be better to have someone with you？ If I didn"t have the charity luncheon on Wednesday； I"d go with you myself。 You need pany； Anne。〃 Anne hated worrying her parents。 They had suffered nearly as much as she had； having to stand by and watch helplessly as their elder daughter"s life fell apart。 When they looked at her； Anne knew what they saw。 She saw it in the mirror each morning； the pallor in an oval face f