Two minutes later he was leaving the courthouse. He walked to the car he had parkeddirectly across the street, got in, and began the drive to New Bern, his hands shaking.
Non expected visitor
Noah made breakfast for Allie while she slept in the living room. Bacon, biscuits,and coffee, nothing spectacular. He set the tray beside her as she woke up, and assoon as they had finished eating, they made love again. It was relentless, a powerfulconfirmation of what they had shared the day before. Allie arched her back and criedout fiercely in the final tidal wave of sensations, then wrapped her arms around himas they breathed in unison, exhausted.
They showered together, and afterward Allie put on her dress, which had driedovernight.
She spent the morning with Noah. Together they fed Clem and checked the windowsto make sure no damage had been done in the storm. Two pine trees had blown over,though neither had caused much damage, and a few shingles had blown off the shed,but other than that, the property had escaped pretty much unscathed.
He held her hand most of the morning and the two talked easily, but sometimes hewould stop speaking and just stare at her. When he did, she felt as though she shouldsay something, but nothing meaningful ever came into her head. Lost in thought, sheusually just kissed him.
A little before noon, Noah and Allie went in to prepare lunch. Both of them werestarving again because they hadn't eaten much the day before. Using what he had onhand, they fried some chicken and baked another batch of biscuits, and the two ofthem ate on the porch, serenaded by a mockingbird.
While they were inside doing the dishes, they heard a knock at the door. Noah leftAllie in the kitchen. Knock again.
"I'm coming," Noah said. Knock, knock. Louder. He approached the door. Knock,knock.
"I'm coming," he said again as he opened the door.
"Oh, my God."
He stared for a moment at a beautiful woman in her early fifties, a woman he wouldhave recognized anywhere. Noah couldn't speak.
"Hello, Noah," she finally said.
Noah said nothing.
"May I come in?" she asked, her voice steady, revealing nothing.
He stammered out a reply as she walked past him, stopping just before the stairs.
"Who is it?" Allie shouted from the kitchen, and the woman turned at the sound ofher voice.
"It's your mother," Noah finally answered, and immediately after he said it, he heardthe sound of breaking glass.
"I knew you would be here," Anne Nelson said to her daughter as the three of themSat around the coffee table in the living room. "How could you be so sure?" "You'remy daughter. One day when you have kids of your own, you'll know the answer."
She smiled, but her manner was stiff, and Noah imagined how difficult this must befor her. "I saw the article, too, and I saw your reaction. I also saw how tense you'vebeen during the last couple of weeks, and when you said you were going shoppingnear the coast, I knew exactly what you meant."
"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 ?"
