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Chapter no 9 – An Unexpected Visitorโ€Œ

The Notebook #1

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 as soon as they had finished eating, they made love again. It was relentless, a powerful confirmation of what they had shared the day

before. Allie arched her back and cried out fiercely in the final tidal wave of sensations, then wrapped her arms around him as they breathed in unison, exhausted.

They showered together, and afterward 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 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 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. Lost in thought, she usually just kissed him.

A little before noon, Noah and Allie went in to prepare lunch. Both of them were starving again because they hadnโ€™t eaten much the day before. Using what he had on hand, they fried some chicken and baked another batch of biscuits, 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 again.

โ€œIโ€™m coming,โ€ Noah said. Knock, knock. Louder.

He approached the door. Knock, knock.

โ€œIโ€™m coming,โ€ he said again as he opened the door.ย โ€œOh, my God.โ€

He stared for a moment at a beautiful woman in her early fifties, a woman he would have recognized anywhere.

Noah couldnโ€™t speak.

โ€œHello, Noah,โ€ she finally said. Noah said nothing.

โ€œMay I come in?โ€ she asked, her voice steady, revealing nothing.

He stammered out a reply as she walked past him, stopping just before the stairs.

โ€œWho is it?โ€ Allie shouted from the kitchen, and the woman turned at the sound of her voice.

โ€œItโ€™s your mother,โ€ Noah finally answered, and immediately after he said it, he heard the sound of breaking glass.

โ€œI knew you would be here,โ€ Anne Nelson said to her daughter as the three of them sat around the coffee table in the living room.

โ€œHow could you be so sure?โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re my daughter. One day when you have kids of your own, youโ€™ll know the answer.โ€ She smiled, but her manner was stiff, and Noah

imagined how difficult this must be for her. โ€œI saw the article, too, and I saw your reaction. I also saw how tense youโ€™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.โ€

โ€œWhat about Daddy?โ€

Anne Nelson shook her head. โ€œNo, I didnโ€™t tell your father or anyone else about it. Nor did I tell anyone where I was going today.โ€

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

โ€œWhy did you come?โ€ Allie finally asked.

Her mother raised an eyebrow. โ€œI thought I would be the one to ask that question.โ€

Allie paled.

โ€œI came because I had to,โ€ her mother said, โ€œwhich Iโ€™m sure is the same reason you came. Am I right?โ€

Allie nodded.

Anne turned to Noah. โ€œThese last couple of days must have been full of surprises.โ€

โ€œYes,โ€ he answered simply, and she smiled at him. โ€œI know you donโ€™t think so, but I always liked you, Noah. I just didnโ€™t think you were right for my daughter. Can you understand that?โ€

He shook his head as he answered, his tone serious. โ€œNo, not really. It wasnโ€™t fair to me, and it wasnโ€™t fair to Allie. Otherwise she wouldnโ€™t be here.โ€

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

โ€œWhat do you mean when you say you had to come? Donโ€™t you trust me?โ€

Anne turned back to her daughter. โ€œThis has nothing to do with trust.

This has to do with Lon. He called the house last night to talk to me about Noah, and heโ€™s on his way here right now. He seemed very upset. I thought youโ€™d want to know.โ€

Allie inhaled sharply. โ€œHeโ€™s on his way?โ€

โ€œAs we speak. He arranged to have the trial postponed until next week.

If heโ€™s not in New Bern yet, heโ€™s close.โ€ โ€œWhat did you say to him?โ€

โ€œNot much. But he knew. He had it all figured out. He remembered my telling him about Noah a long time ago.โ€

Allie swallowed hard. โ€œDid you tell him I was here?โ€

โ€œNo. And I wonโ€™t. Thatโ€™s between you and him. But knowing him, Iโ€™m sure heโ€™ll find you here if you stay. All it takes is a couple of phone calls to the right people. After all, I was able to find you.โ€

Allie, though obviously worried, smiled at her mother. โ€œThank you,โ€ she said, and her mother reached for her hand.

โ€œI know weโ€™ve had our differences, Allie, and that we havenโ€™t seen eye to eye on everything. Iโ€™m not perfect, but I did the best I could with raising you. Iโ€™m your mother and I always will be. That means Iโ€™ll always love

you.โ€

Allie was silent for a moment, then: โ€œWhat should I do?โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t know, Allie. Thatโ€™s up to you. But I would think about it. Think about what you really want.โ€

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

โ€œI donโ€™t know. . . โ€ She trailed off, and her mother squeezed her hand. Anne looked at Noah, who had been sitting with his head down, listening carefully. As if on cue, he returned her gaze, nodded, and left the room.

When he was gone, Anne whispered, โ€œDo you love him?โ€

โ€œYes, I do,โ€ Allie answered softly, โ€œvery much.โ€ โ€œDo you love Lon?โ€ โ€œYes, I do. I love him, too. Dearly, but in a different way. He doesnโ€™t

make me feel the way Noah does.โ€

โ€œNo one will ever do that,โ€ her mother said, and she released Allieโ€™s hand.

โ€œI canโ€™t make this decision for you, Allie, this oneโ€™s all yours. I want you to know, though, that I love you. And I always will. I know that doesnโ€™t help but itโ€™s all I can do.โ€

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

โ€œThese are the letters that Noah wrote you. I never threw them away, and they havenโ€™t been opened. I know I shouldnโ€™t have kept them from you, and Iโ€™m sorry for that. But I was just trying to protect you. I didnโ€™t realize . . .โ€

Allie took them and ran her hand over them, shocked.

โ€œI should go, Allie. Youโ€™ve got some decisions to make, and you donโ€™t have much time. Do you want me to stay in town?โ€

Allie shook her head. โ€œNo, this is up to me.โ€ Anne nodded and watched her daughter for a moment, wondering. Finally she stood, went around the table, leaned over, and kissed her daughter on the cheek. She could see the question in her daughterโ€™s eyes as Allie stood from the table and embraced her.

โ€œWhat are you going to do?โ€ her mother asked, pulling back. There was a long pause.

โ€œI donโ€™t know,โ€ Allie finally answered. They stood together for another minute, just holding each other.

โ€œThanks for coming,โ€ Allie said. โ€œI love you.โ€ โ€œI love you, too.โ€

On her way out the door, Allie thought that she heard her mother whisper, โ€œFollow your heart,โ€ but she couldnโ€™t be sure.

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