New Bern, he thought again, and knew the name. Knew the town a little, mainly from a few trials he had been in. Stopped there a few times on the way to the coast. Nothing special. He and Allie had never been there together.

Lon brought his palms together, as though he were praying, resting them against his lips. Coincidence? Could be nothing. Could be exactly whhttps://read.99csw.comat she said. Could be stress and antique shopping. Possible. Even probable.

He cursed the trial, wishing it were over. Wishing he had gone with her. Wondering if shed told him the truth, hoping that she had.

So, with trembling hands, he dialed the phone for the fourth and last time that evening. And again there was no answer.

And his mind cｒead.9９ｃｓｗ.ｃoｍlicked another notch. Check... checking.., checking in? He looked to the ceiling. Checking in? Yes, that was it. He closed his eyes and thought for a second. No. Nothing. What, then? Cmon, dont fail now. Think, damn it, think. New Bern.

It was something about Allie being in love one time with a young man from New Bern. Called it puppy love. So what, https://read.99csw.comhe had thought when hed heard it, and had turned to smile at Allie.

The thought popped into his head just then. Yes, New Bern. That was it. The little detail, or part of it. What else, though?

Lon considered the other possibility, and for the first time in a long time, he became frightened. What if? What if she with him?

And Lon paled then, remembering. Rememberhttps://read.99csw.coming what had been said so long ago. Remembering what Allies mother had said.

Another part.., but there was more ...

Allie, New Bern... and.., and.., something at a party. A comment in passing. From Allies mother. Hed hardly noticed it. But what had she said?

And he made up his mind then not to lose her. He would do anything it took to keep her. She was everything hed always九*九*藏*書 needed, and hed never find another quite like her.

But Allie had been there before ... And the rack tightened its grip, another part coming together.

Yet... yet… what if?

But she hadnt smiled. She was angry. And then Lon guessed that she had loved that person far more deeply than her mother had suggested. Maybe even more deeply than she loved him. And now she was there. Interesting.