"What about Daddy?"

Anne Nelson shook her head. "No, I didn't tell your father or anyone else about it.

Nor did I tell anyone where I was going today."

The table was silent for a moment as they wondered what was coming next, but Anneremained quiet.

136

"Why did you come?" Allie finally asked.

Her mother raised an eyebrow. "I thought I

would be the one to ask that question."

Allie paled.

"I came because I had to," her mother said, "which I'm sure is the same reasonyou came. Am I right?" Allie nodded.

Anne turned to Noah. "These last couple of days must have been full of surprises."

"Yes," he answered simply, and she smiled at him.

"I know you don't think so, but I always liked you, Noah. I just didn't think you wereright for my daughter. Can you understand that?"

He shook his head as he answered, his tone serious. "No, not really. It wasn't fair tome, and it wasn't fair to Allie. Otherwise she wouldn't be here."

She watched him as he answered, but she said nothing. Allie, sensing an argument,cut in: ‐

"What do you mean when you say you had to come? Don't you trust me?" Anneturned back to her daughter. "This has nothing to do with trust. This has to dowith Lon. He called the house last night to talk to me about Noah, and he's on hisway here right now. He seemed very upset. I thought you'd want to know." Allieinhaled sharply. "He's on his way?"

"As we speak. He arranged to have the trial postponed until next week. If he's not inNew Bern yet, he's close."

"What did you say to him?"

"Not much. But he knew. He had it all figured out. He remembered my telling himabout Noah a long time ago."

Allie swallowed hard. "Did you tell him I was here ?"

"No. And I won't. That's between you and him. But knowing him, I'm sure he'll findyou here if you stay. All it takes is a couple of phone calls to the right people. Afterall, I was able to find you."

Allie, though obviously worried, smiled at her mother. "Thank you," she said, and hermother reached for her hand.

"I know we've had our differences, Allie, and that we haven't seen eye to eye oneverything. I'm not perfect, but I did the best I could with raising you. I'm yourmother and I always will be. That means I'll always love you."

Allie was silent for a moment, then: "What should I do?"

"I don't know, Allie. That's up to you. But I would think about it. Think about whatyou really want."

Allie turned away, her eyes reddening. A moment later a tear drifted down her cheek.

"I don't know... ," she trailed off, and her mother squeezed her hand. Anne looked atNoah, who had been sitting with his head down,listening carefully. As if on cue, hereturned her gaze, nodded, and left the room. When he was gone, Anne whispered,

"Do you love him?"

"Yes, I do," Allie answered softly, "very much."

"Do you love Lon?"

"Yes, I do. I love him, too. Dearly, but in a different way. He doesn't make me feel theway Noah does."

"No one will ever do that," her mother said, and she released Allie's hand. "Ican't make this decision for you, Allie, this one's all yours. I want you to know,though, that I love you. And I always will. I know that doesn't help, but it's allI can do."

She reached in her pocketbook and removed a bundle of letters held together withstring, the envelopes old and slightly yellowed.

"These are the letters that Noah wrote you. I never threw them away, and theyhaven't been opened. I know I shouldn't have kept them from you, and I'm sorry forthat. But I was just trying to protect you. I didn't realize..." Allietook them and ran her hand over them, shocked.

"I should go, Allie. You've got some decisions to make, and you don't have much time.

Do you want me to stay in town?"

Allie shook her head. "No, this is up to me." Anne nodded and watched her daughterfor a moment, wondering. Finally she stood, went around the table, leaned over, andkissed her daughter on the cheek. She could see the question in her daughter's eyesas Allie stood from the table and embraced her.

"What are you going to do?" her mother asked, pulling back. There was a long pause.

"I don't know," Allie finally answered. They stood together for another minute, justholding each other.

"Thanks for coming," Allie said. "I love you." "I love you, too." On her way out thedoor, Allie thought that she heard her mother whisper, "Follow your heart," but shecouldn't be sure.

Crossroads

Noah opened the door for Anne Nelson as she went out.

"Good‐bye, Noah," she said quietly. He nodded without speaking. There wasn'tanything

else to say; they both knew that. She turned from him and left, closing the doorbehind her. Noah watched her walk to her car, get in, and drive away without looking

back. She was a strong woman, he thought to himself, and he knew where Allie gotit from.

Noah peeked in the living room, saw Allie sitting with her head down, then went tothe back porch, knowing that she needed to be alone. He sat quietly in his rockerand watched the water drifting by as the minutes passed.

After what seemed like an eternity he heard the back door open. He didn't turn tolook at her just then‐‐for some reason he couldn't‐‐and he listened as she sat in thechair beside him.

"I'm sorry," Allie said. "I had no idea this would happen."

Noah shook his head. "Don't be sorry. We both knew it was coming in some form oranother."

"It's still hard."