NOAH OPENED the door for Anne Nelson as she went out.
“Goodbye Noah," she said quietly. He nodded without speaking.
There wasn't anything else to say; they both knew that. She turned
from him and left, closing the door behind her. Noah watched her dim
away without looking back. She was a strong woman, he thought to
himself, and he knew then where Allie got it
Noah peeped into the living room, saw Allie sitting with her head
down, then went to the back porch, knowing that she needed to be
alone. He sat quietly in his rocker and watched the water
After what seemed like an eternity he heard the back door open. He
didn’t turn to look at her—for some reason he couldn’t-and he
listened as she sat in the chair beside him.
“I’m sorry," Allie said. "I bad no idea this would happen."
Noah shook his head. "Don't be sorry. We both knew it was coming
to some form or another."
"It’s still hard.”
"I know." He finally turned to her, reaching for her hand. "Is here
anything I can do to make it easier?"
She shook her head. "No. Not really. I have to do this alone.
Besides, I'm not sure what I'm going to say to him yet." She looked
down and her voice became softer. "I guess it depends on him and
low much he knows. If my mother was right, he may have suspicions,
but he doesn't know anything for sure."
Noah felt tightness in his stomach. When he finally spoke his voice
was steady, but she could hear the pain in it. "You're not going to tell
him about us, are you?"
"I don't know. I really don't. While I was in the living room, I kept
asking myself what I really wanted in my life." She squeezed his
hand. "And do you know what the answer was? The answer was that I
want you. I want us. I love you and I always have." She took a deep