669小说网

第2部分（第4页）

〃Hed　better　be。　Im　next。　Take　notes　for　me；　will　you？　I　have　a

tendency　to　forget　what　I　say　from　one　minute　to　the　next。〃

〃Baloney。〃

〃Hmmm；　I　could　use　some　of　that；　too。　Supper　was　very　early。　Its　nearly

ten。〃

At　least　hed　had　supper。　She　hadnt　eaten　a　thing。　〃How　much　longer　do

you　think　this　will　last？〃　She　still　had　to　make　the　return　trip　to

Little　pton　that　night。

Howard　checked　his　watch。　〃I　have　no　idea。　But　I　have　to　be　out　of　here

by　ten…thirty　to　make　it　to　Manchester　for　the　eleven　oclock　news。

Theyre　doing　a　live　interview。　I　hope　good　old　Brad　speeds　it　up。〃

He　got　his　wish　within　minutes。　As　Chloe　sat　back；　the　long…winded　state

representative　transferred　the　podium　to　〃my　illustrious　colleague　in

the　New　Hampshire　state　government；〃　and　Howard　took　the　reins。

Chloe　did　take　notes。　It　was　the　one　way　she　could　keep　her　thoughts　in

the　present　and　her　eyes　away　from　Ross。　Once　upon　a　time；　he　had　played

a　cataclysmic　role　in　her　life。　So　much　had　happened　since　that　night。

When　Howard　finished　delivering　a　poignant　plea　for　the　preservation　of

the　coast；　the　croents　that　had

less　to　do　with　scientific　matters；　than　practical　ones。　They　wanted　to

know　things　like　how　increased　tax　revenues　would　be　used　to　benefit

local　residents；　and　who　would　pay　for　the　added　police　and　fire

coverage　that　would　be　necessary；　given　the　proportions　of　the　Rye　Beach

proposal。

It　was　closer　to　ten…forty　before　Howard　was　allowed　to　leave　the

microphone。　To　Chloe；　with　a　frantic　look　at　the　time；　he　said；　〃Thanks

again；　Chloe。　Think　you　can　cover　for　me　here　a　few　minutes　longer？〃

〃Sure　thing；　if　I　can　ansy　field　is　geology；　not

politics。〃

〃Dont　underestimate　yourself。　Why　not　change　your　mind　and　spend　the

night？　There　are　a　number　of　nice　inns　close　by。　Itll　be　a　long　drive

back　to　Rhode　Island　alone。〃

She　was　touched　by　his　worry；　but　confident。　〃Ill　be　fine。　Driving

relaxes　me。　I　have　plenty　of　unwinding　to　do。〃　A　movement　in　the　corner

of　her　eye　reminded　her　of　the　source　of　her　tension。　She　ignored　the

tall　figure　who　approached　for　all　she　was　worth。　〃Go　on　now；　Senator。

Youll　be　late。〃