s on someone else。 It’s like you keep waiting for her to pop out of thin air to take you away from all this。 。 。” A month later she visited him at work and told him she’d met someone else。 He understood。 They parted as friends； and the following year he received a postcard from her saying she was married。 He hadn’t heard from her since。
In December 1941； when he was twenty…six； the war began； just as Goldman had predicted。 Noah walked into his office the follow…ing month and informed Goldman of his intent to enlist； then returned to New Bern to say goodbye to his father。 Five weeks later he found himself in training camp。 While there； he received a letter from Goldman thanking him for his work； together with a copy of a certificate entitling him to a small percentage of the scrap yard if it was ever sold。 “I couldn’t have done it without you；” the letter said。 “You’re the finest young man who ever worked for me； even if you aren’t Jewish。”
He spent his next three years with Patton’s Third Army； tramp…ing through deserts in North Africa and forests in Europe with thirty pounds on his back； his infantry unit never far from action。
He watched his friends die around him； watched as some of them were buried thousands of miles from Home。
He remembered the war ending in Europe； then a few months later in Japan。 Just before he was discharged he received a letter from a lawyer in New Jersey representing Morris Goldman。 Upon meeting the lawyer he found out that Goldman had died a year earlier and his estate had been liquidated。 The Business had been sold； and Noah ost seventy thousand dollars。
The following week he returned to New Bern and bought the house。 He remembered bringing his father around later； pointing out the changes he intended to make。 His father seemed weak as he walked； coughing and wheezing。 Noah was concerned； but his father told him not to worry； assuring him that he had the flu。
Less than one month later his father died of pneumonia and was buried next to his wife in the local cemetery。 Noah tried to stop by regularly to leave some flowers； occasionally he left a note。 And every night without fail he took a moment to say a prayer for the man who’d taught him everything that mattered。
AFTER REELING in the line； he put the gear away and went back to the house。 His neighbour； Martha Shaw； was there to thank him； bringing three loaves of Homemade bread in appreciation for what he’d done。 Her husband had been killed in the war； leaving her with three children and a shack to raise them in。 Winter was …ing； and he’d spent a few days at her place last week repairing her roof； replacing broken windows and sealing the others； and fixing her wood stove。 He hoped it would be enough to get them through。
Once she’d left； he got into his battered Dodge truck and went to see Gus。 He always stopped there when he was going to the store； because Gus’s family didn’t have a car。 One of the daughters hopped up and rode with him； and they did their shopping at Capers General Store。
When he got Home he didn’t unpack the groceries right away。 Instead he showered； found a Budweiser and a book by Dylan Thomas； and went to sit on the porch。
SHE STILL had trouble believing it； even as she held the proof in her hands。 It had been in the newspaper at her parents’ house three Sundays ago。 She had gone to the kitchen to get a cup of Coffee； and when she’d returned to the table her father had smiled and pointed at a small picture。 “Remember this？”
He handed her the paper and； after an uninterested first glance； something in the picture caught her eye and she took a closer look。 “It can’t be；” she whispered； and when her father looked at her curiously she ignored him； sat down and read the article without speaking。 She vaguely remembered her mother ing to the table and sitting opposite her； and when she finally put aside the paper her mother was staring at her。 “Are you okay？” she asked over her Coffee cup。 “You look a little pale。”
Allie didn’t answer right away； she couldn’t； and it was then that she’d noticed her hands were shaking。 That had been when it started。
“And here it will end； one way or the other；” she whispered again。 She refolded the scrap of paper and put it back； remember…ing that she had left her parents’ Home later that day with the paper so she could cut out the article。 She read it again before she went to bed that night； trying to fathom the coincidence； and read it again the next morning as if to make sure the whole thing wasn’t a dream。 And now； after three weeks of long walks alone； after three weeks of distraction； it was the reason she’d e。
When asked； she said her erratic behaviour was due to stress。 It was the perfect excuse； everyone understood； including Lon； and that’s why he hadn’t argued when she’d wanted to get away for a couple of days。 The wedding plans were stressful to everyone involved。 Almost five hundred people were invited； including the governor； one senator and the ambassador to Peru。 It was too much； in her opinion； but their engagement was news and had dominated the social pages since they had announced their plans six months ago。
She took a deep breath and stood again。 “It’s now or never；” she whispered； then picked up her things and went to the door。 She went downstairs and the manager smiled as she walked by。 She could feel his eyes on her as she went out to her car。 She slipped behind the wheel； started the engine and turned right onto Front Street。
She still knew her way around the small town； even though she hadn’t been here in years。 After crossing the Trent River on an old…fashioned drawbridge； she turned onto a gravel road that wound its way between antebellum farms； and she knew that； for some of the farmers； life hadn’t changed since before their grandparents were born。 The constancy of the place brought back a flood of memories as she recognized landmarks she’d long ago forgotten。
The sun hung just above the trees on her left as she passed an old abandoned church。 She had explored it that summer； looking for souvenirs of the War between the States； and； as she passed； the memories of that day became stronger； as if they’d happened yesterday。
A majestic oak tree on the riverbank came into view next； and the memories became more intense。 It looked the same as it had back then； branches low and thick； stretching horizontally along the ground with moss draped over the limbs like a veil。 She remembered sitting beneath the tree on a hot July day with someone who looked at her with a longing that took everything else away。 And it had been at that moment that she’d first fallen in love。
He was two years older than she was； and as she drove along this roadway…in…time； he slowly came into focus once again。 He always looked older than he really was； she remembered thinking； slightly weathered； like a farmer ing Home after hours in the field。 He had the calloused hands and broad shoulders that came to those who worked hard for a living； and the first faint lines were beginning to form around dark eyes that seemed to read her every thought。
He was tall and strong； with light brown hair； and handsome in his own way； but it was his voice that she remembered most of all。 He had read to her that day as they lay beneath the tree with an accent that was soft and fluent； almost musical in quality。 She remembered closing her eyes； listening closely and letting the words he was reading touch her soul。
He thumbed through old books with dog…eared pages； books he’d read a hundred times。 He’d read for a while； then stop； and the two of them would talk。 She would tell him what she wanted in her life—her hopes and dreams for the future—and he would listen intently and then promise to make it all e true。 And the way he said it made her believe him； and she knew then how much he meant to her。
Another turn in the road and she finally saw the house in the distance。 It had changed dramatically from what she remembered。 She slowed the car； turning into the long； tree…lined dirt drive。
She took a deep breath when she saw him on the porch； watching her car。 He was dressed casually。 From a distance； he look