lletrue.

    Feltasthoughshedfinallyehome.Withoutanotherwordtheycametogether,asifitwerethemostnaturalthingintheworld,ahisarmsaroundher,drawingherclose.Theyheldeachhtly,makingitreal,bothofthemlettingthefourteenyearsofseparationdissolveinthedeepeningtwilight.

    Theystayedlikethatforalongtimebeforeshefinallypulledbacktolookathim.

    Upclose,shecouldseethegesshehadntnoticedatfirst.Hewasamannow,andhisfacehadlostthesoftnessofyouth.Thefaintlinesaroundhiseyeshaddeepened,andtherewasashisthathadherebefore.Therewasaohim;heseemedlessi,morecautious,ahewayhewasholdinghermadeherrealizehowmuchshedmissedhimsinceshedseenhimlast.

    Hereyesbrimmedwithtearsastheyfinallyreleasedeachother.Shelaughednervouslyunderherbreathwhilewipiearsfromtheersofhereyes.

    "Areyouokay?"heasked,athousandotherquestionsonhisface.

    "Imsorry,Ididocry..."

    "Itsokay,"hesaid,smiling,"Istilltbelieveitsyou.Howdidyoufindme?"

    Shesteppedback,tryingtoposeherself,wipingawaythelastofhertears.

    "IsawthestoryonthehouseintheRaleighpaperacoupleofweeksago,andIhadtoeseeyouagain."

    Noahsmiledbroadly."Imgladyoudid."Hesteppedbackjustabit."God,youlookfantastic.Youreeveiernowthanyouwerethen."

    Shefeltthebloodinherface.Justlikefourteenyearsago.

    "Thankyou.Youlookgreat,too."Andhedid,nodoubtaboutit.Theyearshadtreatedhimwell.

    "Sowhathaveyoubeenupto?Whyareyouhere?"

    Hisquestihtherb