lo,Noah,"shefinallysaid.

    Noahsaidnothing.

    "MayIein?"sheasked,hervoicesteady,revealingnothing.

    Hestammeredoutareplyasshewalkedpasthim,stoppingjustbeforethestairs.

    "Whoisit?"Allieshoutedfromthekit,andthewomanturhesoundofhervoice.

    "Itsyourmother,"Noahfinallyanswered,andimmediatelyafterhesaidit,heheardthesoundofbreakingglass.

    "Iknewyouwouldbehere,"AnneNelsonsaidthterasthethreeofthemsataroundthecoffeetableinthelivingroom.

    "Howcouldyoubesosure?"

    "Youremydaughter.Onedaywhenyouhavekidsofyourown,youllknowtheanswer."

    Shesmiled,buthermannerwasstiff,andNoahimaginedhowdifficultthismustbeforher."Isawthearticle,too,andIsawyourrea.Ialsosawhowtenseyouvebeenduricoupleofweeks,andwhenyousaidyoingshoppihecoast,Iklywhatyoumeant."

    "WhataboutDaddy?"

    AnneNelsonshookherhead."No,Ididnttellyourfatheroranyoneelseaboutit.NordidItellanyonewhereIwasgoingtoday."

    Thetablewassilentforamomentastheywonderedwhatwasi,butAnneremainedquiet.

    "Whydidyoue?"Alliefinallyasked.

    Hermotherraisedaneyebrow."IthoughtIwouldbetheooaskthatquestion."

    Alliepaled.

    "IcamebecauseIhadto,"hermothersaid,"whichImsureisthesamereasonyoucame.AmIright?"

    Allienodded.

    AuroNoah."Theselastcoupleofdaysmusthavebeenfullofsurprises."

    "Yes,"heansweredsimply,andshesmile