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REKINDLED　＇065…066…4。9＇

By：　BARBARA　DELINSKY

SYNOPSIS：

We　are　calling　this　two…book　volume　Rekindled　because　each　story　tells
of　a　relationship　that　is；　indeed；　reborn。　In　the　case　of　Flip　Side　of
Yesterday；　the　story　opens　with　Chloe　and　Ross　meeting　again　for　the
first　time；　eleven　years　after　a　brief　affair。　In　the　case　of　Lilac
Awakening；　the　relationship　between　strangers；　Anne　and　Mitch；　is
renewed　each　month　with　repeated　visits　to　a　secluded　Vermont　cabin。

Harper　collins　10　East　53rd　Street；　New　York；　N。Y　10022…5299

This　is　a　work　of　fiction。　The　characters；　incidents；　and　dialogues　are
products　of　the　author's　imagination　and　are　not　to　be　construed　as
real。　Any　resemblance　to　actual　events　or　persons；　living　or　dead；　is
entirely　coincidental。

ISBN　0…7394…00681

Cover　photo：　0　1998　by　James　Randkiey

A　previous　edition　of　Flip　Side　of　Yesterday　was　published　in　1983　by
Silhouette　Books；　a　division　of　Simon　&　Schuster。　A　previous　edition　of
Lilac　Awaken　was　published　in　1982　by　Dell　Publishing　（Co。；　Inc

Printed　in　the　United　States　of　America

Letter　from　BARBARA　DELINSKY

Dear　Reader；　This　volume　contains　two　of　my　early　books。　Lilac　Awakening
was　originally　published　in　1982；　Flip　Side　of　Yesterday　in　1983。　Both
have　been　out　of　print　for　years。　This　is　their　very　first　reissue。

These　books　were　initially　written　as　romances；　with　the　primary　focus
on　the　love　story。　That　hasn't　changed　in　this　volume。　The　plots　are
exactly　as　they　were　in　the　original　versions。　I　have；　however；　slightly
edited　these　books　to　reflect　the　growth　in　my　writing　style　that　has
occurred　since　their　first　publication。

We　are　calling　this　two…book　volume　Rekindled　because　each　story　tells
of　a　relationship　that　is；　indeed；　reborn。　In　the　case　of　Flip　Side　of
Yesterday；　the　story　opens　with　Chloe　and　Ross　meeting　again　for　the
first　time；　eleven　years　after　a　brief　affair。　In　the　case　of　Lilac
Awakening；　the　relationship　between　strangers；　Anne　and　Mitch；　is
renewed　each　month　with　repeated　visits　to　a　secluded　Vermont　cabin。
Since　neither　book　is　as　long　as　my　current　books　are；　my　publisher
agreed　to　put　the　two　together　and　thereby　enhance　both　your　reading　and
your　fiscal　pleasure。

I　do　love　these　books　and　sincerely　hope　you　will；　too！

My　best　always；　Barbara　Delinsky

CONTENTS

Flip　Side　of　Yesterday　1

Lilac　Awakening　105

Flip　Side　of　Yesterday

The　evening　breeze　was　gentle；　softly　whispering　as　the　long…legged
vision　in　white　whisked　across　the　dusky　lawn；　her　dark　hair　streaming
behind　her；　and　ran　lithely　up　the　broad　stone　steps。

〃Chloe！　There　you　are。　I　was　beginning　to　worry。〃　A　man　stepped　from
beneath　the　deep　brick　overhang　and　fell　into　easy　step　beside　her　as
they　passed　through　a　large　oak　door　into　the　high　school　and　headed
down　a　long　corridor。

〃I'm　sorry；　Howard；〃　she　said；　meaning　it。　Howard　Wolschinski　was　the
state　senator　who　had　first　sought　her　services。　After　three　meetings；
she　had　e　to　like　him。　〃I'd　hoped　to　be　on　the　road　by　four；　but；　I
swear；　there　was　a　conspiracy　against　me。　First　the　phone；　then　my　car。〃

〃Anything　major　with　either？〃　he　asked。

〃No　on　both　counts。　But　I　didn't　clear　Little　pton　until　five；　and　by
that　time　the　rush…hour　traffic　was　horrid。　I　drove　as　fast　as　I　could。
I　hope　I　haven't　messed　things　up。〃

〃You　haven't。　The　meeting　was　called　for　seven　thirty。　You're　only　five
minutes　late。　It's　given　the　crowd　a　chance　to　settle　down。〃　He　guided
her　around　a　corner　with　a　light　hand　at　her　elbow　and　began　the　climb
as　soon　as　they　reached　a　staircase。

At　the　first　landing；　Chloe　asked；　〃How's　the　turnout？〃

He　grinned　sheepishly。　〃I　only　wish　we　did　half　as　well　at　political
rallies。　This　is　a　wele　change　from　apathy。　The　auditorium　is　packed。
There　must　be　several　hundred　people　in　there。〃

Chloe　was　surprised　and　decidedly　pleased。　〃Several　hundred？　Not　bad　for
a　county　meeting　in　New　Hampshire。〃　She　smiled；　lowering　her　voice
dramatically。　〃But　which　side　are　they　on？　Are　they　for　us　or　agin'　us？〃

Her　humor　drifted　unanswered　into　the　stale　schoolhouse　air　as　Howard
ushered　her　into　the　meeting　hall；　led　her　onto　the　stage；　and　ges　tured
her　into　a　seat。　He　took　one　by　her　side。　As　though　on　cue；　the　crowd
silenced　and　the　moderator　began。

〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　made　flat　by　its　broad　New
England　slant；　〃on　behalf　of　my　friends　and；　uh〃…he　cast　an　enpassing
glance　backward；　then　turned　a　cough　into　a　snicker；　bringing　chuckit's
from　the　audience@'adversaries　here　on　the　stage　with　me；　I　would　like
to　thank　you　for　ing　tonight。　It's　a　rare　pleasure　to　see　so　many　of
you　gathered　at　once。　We　realized　that　the　issue　of　the　Rye　Beach　Resort
and　Condominium　plex　would　stir　a　few　of　you　to　action；　but　we　had　no
idea　how　many。　I　don't　believe　we've　had　a　response　like　this　since　that
talk　of　a　state　prison　here　a　while　back。〃

Chloe　was　wondering　who　the　man　was　when　Howard　whispered；　〃He's　Felix
Hart…town　manager；　missioner　of　public　safety；　President　of　the
United　States　in　his　dreams。〃

She　smiled　at　the　quip。　Nodding　her　thanks　for　the　information；　she
refocused　on　the　speaker。

and　they　listened　to　us　then；　just　as　they　listened　to　us　when　they
mentioned　a　hazardous　waste　disposal　center　six　miles　from　us。　And
before　that；　there　was　the　matter　of　a　state　sales　tax　。。　。〃

The　monologue　went　on；　freeing　Chloe　for　several　seconds　more。　Bending
forward；　she　drew　a　notebook　from　her　bag　and　prepared　to　make　notes　on
the　opposition's　points。　That　opposition　sat　to　her　left；　occupying　two
chairs　on　the　far　side　of　the　one　vacated　by　the　moderator。　Her
peripheral　vision　took　in　two　men；　one　significantly　taller　and　darker
than　the　other。　They　would　be　the　state　representative　in　favor　of　the
plex　and　the　owner　of　the　development　pany。　Chloe　knew　neither　of
their　names；　a　situation　that　was　about　to　be　remedied。

〃As　for　the　others　here　tonight；〃　the　moderator　said；　〃let　me　begin　with
Howard　Wolschinski。　You　all　know　Howard；　our　distinguished　state
senator。〃　He　gestured　from　Howard　to　Chloe。　〃Chloe　Macdaniel；　geological
consultant　and　one　of　the　founding　partners　of　Earth　Science　Education；
Inc。；　out　of　Little　pton；　Rhode　Island。〃　His　hand　went　toward　the
other　side　of　the　stage。　〃Bradbury　Huff；　your　state　representative〃…she
jotted　the　name　in　her　notebook@'and　finally；　the　president　of　the
Hansen　Corporation；　Ross　Stephenson　。。　。Chloe　stopped　writing
mid…stroke。　Ross　Stephenson？　Ross　Stephenson？　She　would　never　forget
that　name。　Heart　pounding；　she　glanced　at　the　fourth　member　of　the
panel。　He　was　the　taller；　darker　one。　Was　it　the　same　Ross　Stephenson？
This　man　was　nattily　dressed　and　impeccably　groomed。　The　Ross　she　had
known　had　been　bearded　and　wore　faded　jeans；　high　boots；　and　a　peasant
shirt　of　Indian　cotton。　Eleven　years　had　passed。　He　might　have　changed。
How　could　she　know？

His　eyes。　They　were　the　same　memorable　amber。　Eleven　years　ago　they　had
cut　through　all　pretense　and　snagged　her　in　the　space　of　a　breath。　They
were　just　as　striking　now…and　they　were　looking　at　her。　He　knew。

As　all　else　faded；　she　felt　shock；　remembrance；　pain。　Then　she　tore　her
eyes　from　his　and　lowered　them　to　her　paper。　Ross　Stephenson。
Unbelievable。

〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Howard　whispered；　seeming　to　sense　her　distress。

She　contemplated　lying。　The　society　belle　of　New　Orleans　would　have　done
that。　But　today's　Chloe　was　too　honest。　She　whispered　back；　〃I　knew
him…Ross…a　long　time　ago。　I　never　expected　to　see　him　here。〃　Or　again；
for　that　matter；　she　added　silently；　struggling　to　keep　her　thoughts
from　racing　back　in　time。

〃He　shakes　you　up？〃

She　smiled　ruefully。　〃He　shakes　me　up。〃

〃Will　you　be　able　to　go　on　and　speak？〃

She　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I'll　be　fine　once　we　get　going。〃　Unfortunately；
Felix　Hart　continued　to　talk；　gesticulating　more　emphatically　than　ever。
〃He's　been　sidetracked　on　the　background　of　your　pal。　Listen。〃

Chloe　had　no　choice。

〃As　many　of　you　know；〃　Felix　drawled　with　an　air　of　self…importance；
〃Mr。　Stephenson　has　been　behind　the　building　of　two　successful　mall
plexes　here　in　the　Granite　State。　His　pany　has　left　its　mark　from
coast　to　coast　in　factories；　libraries；　educational　facilities；　and
office　buildings。　The　reputation　of　the　Hansen　Corporation　precedes　him
here。　It　is　with　great　honor　that　I　present　to　you；　for　an　explanation
of　his　plans　and　hopes　for　the　Rye　Beach　plex；　Mr。　Ross　Stephenson。〃

Chloe's　heart　was　hammering　again。　When　it　was　momentarily　drowned　out
by　the　applause　of　the　crowd；　she　dared　another　glance　at　Ross。　Again；
he　was　looking　at　her。　She　held　her　breath；　barraged　by　memories　that
gathered　and　surged。　A　slow　pallor　spread　beneath　her　ivory　skin。　She
was　thinking　that　she　had　to　get　out　of　there　fast；　when　he　finally
faced　forward；　pushed　himself　from　his　chair；　and　approached　the　dais。

〃Whew；〃　came　a　whisper　by　her　ear。　〃That　was　some　greeting。〃

Chloe　felt　the　color　rush　back　to　her　face。　She　realized　her
misunderstanding　when　Howard　went　on。　〃Felix　introduced　him　like　he　was
a　visiting　dignitary　instead　of　the　man　whose　blueprints　we　plan　to　tear
apart。〃

〃Please　keep　reminding　me；〃　Chloe　murmured；　to　which　the　senator
chuckled。　Then　they　both　settled　back　to　listen　to　Ross　Stephenson's
presentation。

For　Chloe；　listening　was　an　awesome　challenge。　The　sight　of　him　standing
straight　and　tall　before　the　microphone　was　a　distraction　in　and　of　it
self。　She　couldn't　help　but　admire　the　breadth　of　his　shoulders　and　the
slow　tapering　of　his　frame　toward　narrow　hips　and　long；　lean　legs。　To
her　chagrin；　she　couldn't　help　but　remember　the　skin　beneath；　firm　and
drawn　taut　over　the　muscles　of　shoulder；　chest；　and　arms；　its　dark
matting　of　hair　a　cushion　for　her　head；　a　playground　for　her　fingers。

She　forced　those　fingers　to　work　now；　making　notes　of　words　that　she
barely　heard；　that　her　mind　could　barely　assimilate。　Still　she　made
herself　concentrate；　jotting　down　thoughts　with　increasing　rapidity　in
an　attempt　to　keep　her　mind　on　the　present　and　off　the　past。

But　was　it　the　past　that　brought　her　head　up　again　and　her　gaze　back　to
Ross？　Was　she　intrigued　for　old　times'　sake　alone？　His　dark　hair　was
thick　but　well…trimmed　and　bed　into　as　much　submission　as　she　guessed
it　would　go。　Eleven　years　ago　it　had　been　longer　and　even　thicker。　With
the　beard；　he　was　like　a　bear…large；　overpowering；　dominant；　but　cuddly。
Now　there　was　a　refinement　to　him；　a　control　in　his　stance；　a
purposefulness。　Addressing　his　audience；　he　conveyed　petence　and
intelligence。

And　that　audience　was　enrapt；　some　nodding；　others　shaking　their　heads；
all　measuring　his　words　with　the　keen　interest　that　had　brought　them　out
on　this　mild　September　night。

His　voice　was　deep　and　resonant　as　it　flowed　through　the　mike　and　filled
the　room。　〃The　benefit　to　your　munity　would　be　multifold。　We're
proposing　to　use　a　parcel　of　land　that　is　presently　underused。　The
resort　will　attract　guests　who　will　patronize　local　businesses。　Food
outlets；　entertainment　houses；　restaurants；　real　estate
establishments…all　stand　to　gain　from　the　Rye　Beach　plex。　The
condominium　plex　will　bring　untold　tax　revenue　both　to　state　and
local　purses。　Given　the　easy　access　to　this　area　by　the　federal　highway
system；　the　condominium　units　will　be　in　high　demand　year　round。〃

Chloe　found　herself　listening　closely；　wondering　how　this　could　be　the
same　man　who　had　once　chosen　to　live　on　a　munal　farm　in　Kentucky。
That　free…spirited　Ross　was　a　far　cry　from　this　entrepreneurial　one。
Trying　to　reconcile　the　two　was　impossible。

Howard　leaned　close。　〃He's　a　powerful　speaker。　What　do　you　think？

Will　he　have　them　sold　before　we　even　present　our　side？〃

She　answered　without　taking　her　eyes　from　Ross。　〃Lord；　I　hope　not。　I
often　work　with　groups　of　shoreline　residents。　They　feel　strongly　about
the　land；　which　is　their　finest　resource。　I'll　be　appealing　for　the
preservation　of　that　resource。〃

〃You're　a　powerful　speaker　yourself；　Chloe。　I　heard　you　address　that
group　on　Martha's　Vineyard　on　the　subject　of　natural　erosion　patterns。
You　had　them　eating　out　of　the　palm　of　your　hand。〃

Chloe　gave　a　crooked　smile。　〃Many　of　the　issues　are　the　same　here。

Let's　hope　they　buy　it；　too。〃

Ross　finished　his　formal　presentation　and　opened　the　floor　for
questions。　A　podium　and　microphone　had　been　set　up　in　the　center　aisle
of　the　auditorium。　One　by　one；　those　residents　e
forward。　Most　asked　about　specifics；　all　of　which　Chloe　noted　on　her
pad：　the　price　range　of　the　condominiums　and　the　subsequent　tax　revenue；
the　time　projection　for　the　erection　of　the　units；　the　capacity　of　the
resort　plex；　and　a　listing　of　its　self…contained　facilities。　At
length；　Felix　Hart　stood　and　joined　Ross　at　center　stage。

〃I'm　afraid　we　have　to　move　on　now；〃　he　apologized；　eyeing　the　large
clock　on　the　front　face　of　the　balcony。　〃There's　still　another　side　to
consider。　Thank　you；　Mr。　Stephenson。　You've　been　very　direct　and　a　great
help。　Perhaps　we'll　have　time　for　more　questions　later。〃

Chloe　watched　with　growing　excitement　as　Ross　returned　to　his　seat　and
that　excitement；　for　the　moment；　had　nothing　to　do　with　him。　She　liked
talking　to　groups　like　this；　and　did　it　often。　Though　she　loved　the
scientific　end　of　her　job…the　sample…taking　and　analysis；　the　puter
work；　the　intricate　calculations　of　ground　position；　weather…related
ponents；　time　predictions…she　found　the　presentation　of　her　findings
to　be　heady。

Felix　Hart　made　the　introduction。　〃I　have　the　delightful　task　now　of
giving　you　Ms。　Chloe　Macdaniel。　Ms。　Macdaniel　has　been　retained　by　the
county　to　study　our　coast　with　an　eye　toward　the　environmental　impact　of
the　Rye　Beach　Resort　and　Condominium　plex　as　proposed　by　the　Hansen
Corporation。　She　has　already　spent　a　good　deal　of　time　on　the　project。
Ms。　Macdaniel？〃

After　lifting　a　neat　folder　from　the　floor　beneath　her　chair；　Chloe　rose
to　her　full　five…foot…eight…inch　height　and　approached　the　podium。　Her
appearance　was　understated；　she　worked　at　that。　Still；　the　curiosity　of
the　crowd　yielded　to　a　murmur　of　appreciation　when　she　stepped　forward。
Tall　and　willowy；　dark　haired　and　light　plected；　she　was　the　image　of
grace。　Her　dress　was　of　a　soft　and　simple　white　eyelet　fabric；　lined
through　the　bodice　and　skirt；　the　sleeves　hanging　free　and　loose　to　her
elbows。　A　wide　sash　of　contrasting　aqua　enhanced　both　the　slimness　of
her　waist　and　the　porcelain　of　her　skin。

Her　voice　was　steady　and　well…modulated。　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Hart；　for　your
kind　introduction。　Let　me　say　how　pleased　I　was　to　have　been　approached
by　your　representatives　last　spring。　Not　only　do　I　have　a　professional
interest　in　your　coastline；　but　I　have　an　emotional　involvement　with　the
entire　New　England　coast；　since　it's　my　home　of　choice。　In　keeping　with
this；　let　me　begin　by　saying　that　I　am　not　opposed　to　the　Rye　Beach
Resort　and　Condominium　plex　per　se。　What　Mr。　Stephenson　has　outlined
for　you　sound