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〃I wish you could have read the letters I wrote you；〃 he said。
She didn't speak for a while。
〃It wasn't just up to you； Noah。 I didn’t tell you； but I wrote you a dozen letters after I got Home。 I just never sent them。〃
〃Why？〃 Noah was surprised。
〃I guess I was too afraid。〃
〃Of what？〃
〃That maybe it wasn’t as real as I thought it was。 That maybe you forgot me。〃
〃I would never do that。 I couldn't even think it。〃
〃I know that now。 I can see it when I took at you。 But back then it was different。 There was so much I didn't understand； things that a young girl's mind couldn't sort out。〃
〃What do you mean？”
〃When your letters never came； I didn't know what to think。 I remember talking to my best friend about that summer； and she said that you had got what you wanted； and that she wasn't surprised that you wouldn't write。 I didn't believe that you were that way； I never did； but hearing it and thinking about all our differences made me wonder if maybe the summer meant more to me than it had meant to you 。。。”
Noah looked away and she continued。 〃In time； the hurt began to fade and it was easier to just let it go。 At least I thought it was。 But in every boy I met in the next few years I found myself looking for you； and when the feelings got too strong I'd write you another letter。 But I never sent them for fear of what I might find。 By then you'd gone on with your life and I didn't want to think about you loving…someone else。 I wanted to remember us like we were that summer。〃
〃You're better than I remembered； Allie。〃
〃You're sweet； Noah。〃
He almost stopped there； knowing that if he kept the words inside him he could keep control； the same control he had kept the past fourteen years。 But then something overtook him and he gave in to it； hoping it would take them back to what they'd had so long ago。
〃I'm not saying it because I'm sweet。 I'm saying it because I love you now and I always have。 More than you can imagine。〃
A log snapped； sending sparks up the chimney； and both of them noticed the smouldering remains； almost burned through。
Allie took a sip of bourbon and began to feel its effects。 But it wasn’t Just the alcohol that made her hold Noah a little tighter and feet his warmth against her。 Glancing out of the window； she saw the clouds were almost black。 〃Noah； you've never asked； but I want you to know something。〃
〃What is it？〃
Her voice was tender。 〃There's never been another； Noah。 You weren't just the first。 You're the only man…I've ever been with； I don’t expect you to say the same thing； but I wanted you to know。〃
Noah was silent as he turned away。 She felt warmer as she watched the fire。 She leaned into him and felt the heat between them； felt his body； felt his arm tight around her。 It felt so right to be here。 Everything felt right。 The fire； the drinks； the storm—it
couldn't have been more perfect。 It seemed their years apart didn't matter any more。
They gave in then to everything they had fought against for the last fourteen years。 Allie lifted her head off his shoulder； looked at him with hazy eyes； and Noah kissed her softly on the lips。 She brought her hand to his face and touched his cheek； brushing it softly with her fingers。 He leaned in and kissed her tenderly； and she kissed back； feeling the years of separation dissolve into passion。
She closed her eyes and parted her lips as he ran his fingers up and down her arms； slowly； lightly。 He kissed her neck； her cheek； her eyelids； and she felt the moisture of his mouth linger wherever his lips had touched。 She took his hand and led it to her breasts； and a whimper rose in her throat as he gently touched them through the thin fabric of the shirt。
The world seemed dreamlike as she pulled back from him； the firelight setting her face aglow。 Without speaking； she started to undo the buttons on his shirt。 He watched her as she did it and listened to her soft breaths as she made her way downwards。 With each button he could feel her fingers brushing against his skin； and she smiled softly at him when she finally finished。 He felt her slide her hands inside； touching him lightly； exploring his body。 She kissed his neck gently as she pulled the shirt over his shoulders； freeing the sleeves。 With that； he slowly reached for her。 He lifted her shirt and ran his finger slowly across her belly before raising her arms and slipping it off。 She felt short of breath as his hands gently caressed her back； her arms； her shoulders； and she felt their heated bodies press together； skin to skin。
They lay back； close to the fire； and the heat made the air seem thick。 She ran her hands through his hair as he held himself above her； his arm muscles hard from the exertion。 With a little tempting frown； she pulled him closer； but he resisted。 Instead he lowered himself and lightly rubbed his chest against her； and she felt her body respond with anticipation。
He did this until she couldn't take it any more； and when they finally joined as one； she cried aloud and pressed her fingers hard into his back。 She buried her face in his neck and felt him deep inside her； felt his strength and gentleness。
She opened her eyes and watched him in the firelight； marvelling at his beauty。 She saw his body glisten with crystal sweat and felt every responsibility； every facet of her life； slipping away。
By the time the rain had stopped and the sun had set； her body was exhausted。 They spent the day in each other's arms； alternately making love by the fire and then holding each other as they watched the flames curl around the wood。 He recited his favourite poems as she lay beside him； and she listened with her eyes closed and almost felt the words。 Then they joined again and he murmured words of love between kisses as they wrapped their arms around one another。
They went on throughout the evening； making up for their years apart； and slept in each other's arms that night。 Occasionally he would wake up and look at her； her body spent and radiant； and feel as if everything were suddenly tight in this world。
Once； when he was looking at her in the moments before daybreak； her eyes fluttered open and she smiled and reached up to touch his face。 He put his fingers to her lips； gently； to keep her from speaking； and for a long time they just looked at one another。
When the lump in his throat subsided； he whispered to her； 〃You are the answer to every prayer I’ve offered。 You are a song； a dream； a whisper； and I don't know how I could have lived without you for as long as I have。 I love you； Allie； more than you can ever imagine； I always have and I always will。〃
〃Oh； Noah；〃 she said； pulling him to her。 She wanted him； needed him now more than ever； like nothing she'd ever known。
CHAPTER SEVEN： AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR
LATER THAT same morning； three men … two lawyers and the judge—sat in chambers while Lon finished speaking。
〃It’s an unusual request；〃 the judge answered； pondering the situation。 〃It seems to me the trial could very well end today。 Are you saying this matter can't wait until later this evening or tomorrow？〃
〃No； your honour； it cant；〃 Lon answered almost too quickly。 Stay relaxed； he told himself。 Take a deep breath。
〃And it has nothing to do with this case？〃
〃No； your honour。 It's of a personal nature。 I know it's out of the ordinary； but I really need to take care of it。〃
The judge leaned back in his chair； evaluating him for a moment。 〃Mr。 Bates； how do you feel about this？〃
The lawyer cleared his throat。 〃Mr。 Hammond called me this morning arid I've already spoken to my clients。 They're willing to postpone until Monday。 Mr。 Hammond has agreed in return to reopen discussion on a certain matter not covered by this proceeding。〃
The judge looked hard at both of them。 〃I don't like it；〃 he said； 〃not at all。 But Mr。 Hammond has never made such a request before； and I assume the matter is very important to him。〃 He banged for effect； then looked at some papers on his desk。 〃I'll agree to adjourn until Monday； Nine o'clock sharp。〃
〃Thank you； your honour。” Lon said。
Two minutes later he was leaving the courthouse。 He walked to the car he had parked directly across the street； got in and began the drive to New Bern； his hands shaking；
NOAH MADE breakfast for Allie while she slept in the living room。 Bacon； rolls and Coffee； nothing spectacular。 He set the tray beside her as she woke up； and as soon as they had finished eating they made love again； in powerful confirmation of what they had shared the day before。
They showered and afterwards Allie put on her dress； which had dried overnight She spent the morning with Noah； Together they fed Clem and checked the windows to make sure no damage bad been done in the storm。 Two pine trees bad blown over； though neither had caused much damage； and a few shingles had Mown off the shed； but； other than that； the property had escaped unscathed。
He held her hand most of the morning and they talked easily； but sometimes he would stop speaking and just stare at her。 When he did； she felt as though she should say something； but nothing meaningful ever came into her head。 She usually just kissed him。
A little before noon； Noah and Allie went in to prepare lunch。 Using what he had on hand； they tried some chicken and baked another batch of bread rolls； and the two of them ate on the porch； serenaded by a mockingbird。
While they were inside doing the dishes* they heard a knock at the door； Noah left Allie in the kitchen。
Knock； knock。 Louder。
Noah approached the door。
Knock； knock。
〃I'm ing；〃 he said as he opened the door。 〃Oh； my God。〃
He stared for a moment at a beautiful woman in her early fifties； a woman he would have recognized anywhere。
〃Hello； Noah；〃 she said。
Noah said nothing。
“May I e 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 of her voice。
〃It's your mother。” Noah finally answered； and immediately after he said it he heard the sound of breaking glass。
〃I knew you would be here；〃 Anne Nelson said to her daughter as the three of them sat around the Coffee table in the living room。
〃How could you be so sure？〃
〃You're my 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 be for her。 〃I saw the article； too； and I saw your reaction。 I also saw how tense you've been during the last couple of weeks； and when you said you were going shopping near 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。〃
〃Why did you e？〃 Allie asked。
〃I came because I had to；〃 her mother said； 〃which I'm sure is the same reason you came。 Am I right？〃
Allie nodded。
Anne turned to Noah。 〃I know you don't think so； but I always liked you。 I just didn't think you were right for my daughter。 Can you understand that？〃
He shook his head as he answered。 〃No； not really。 It wasn’t f