COURTROOMS

Summary

Lon is meeting with the defense lawyer and the judge in the judge's chambers. He has asked the judge for permission to adjourn the trial until Monday. His reason is personal, and the defense attorney agrees, because Lon has agreed to reopen discussion on a matter not covered by that proceeding. The judge doesn't like it, but he agrees since Lon has never asked for such permission before. Two minutes later, Lon is leaving the courthouse and heading for New Bern, his hands shaking.

Notes

This entire chapter foreshadows the inevitable meeting between the characters involved in this romantic triangle. The reader can assume that Allie will eventually be placed into a position of having to choose between Noah and Lon.

AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR


Summary

The next morning, Noah makes breakfast for Allie, and after they have eaten, they make love again, a powerful confirmation of what they have shared. Then, they dress and spend the morning together. Noah's property has pretty much escaped the storm unscathed, but walking the grounds gives them the opportunity to hold hands and kiss. They eat lunch on the porch, serenaded by a mockingbird.

While they are doing dishes, a persistent knock comes at the door, and when Noah opens it, there stands Allie's mother. Anne Nelson admits to her daughter that she knew she would be at Noah's. She had seen her reaction to the newspaper article and how distracted she had been, but she had told no one where she had gone this day. She tells Allie that she came here, because she had to, just like Allie had had to come. She also tells Noah that he may not think so, but she had always liked him; she had just never thought he was right for her daughter. However, Noah has no sympathy for her feelings, saying, . . . it wasn't fair to me, and it wasn't fair to Allie. Otherwise, she wouldn't be here.

Anne Nelson ignores Noah's comment and reveals that Lon had called her the night before and revealed that he knew Allie was with Noah. She tells them that he is on his way. Allie asks her what she should do, but Anne says that such a decision is up to Allie. Then, Anne looks pointedly at Noah, until he excuses himself and leaves the room. Then, she and Allie discuss whether she loves Noah and whether she loves Lon. Allie admits she loves them both, but that Lon just doesn't make her feel the way Noah does. Then, Anne gives her all the letters that Noah had written over the years. Allie is shocked that her mother had kept them. Anne says she had kept them from her daughter to protect her, but she had never opened and read them. Then, she gets up to leave, advising Allie that she has some serious decisions to make. Allie tells her mother that she doesn't know what she is going to do, but as Anne leaves, Allie is sure she hears her mother whisper, Follow your heart.

Notes

The arrival of Anne Nelson is unexpected in two ways: Allie thinks no one in her family knows she's at Noah's home and her mother may be more supportive of Allie than she or the reader thinks. It also sets into motion the feeling that maybe we are assuming too much when we think that Allie will choose Noah.