dathim.

    "Iknowyoudontthinkso,butIalwayslikedyou,Noah.Ijustdidntthinkyhtformydaughter.youuandthat?"

    Heshookhisheadasheanswered,histoneserious."No,notreally.Itwasntfairtome,anditwasntfairtoAllie.Otherwiseshewouldntbehere."

    Shewatchedhimasheanswered,butshesaidnothing.Allie,sensinganargument,:"Whatdoyoumeanwhenyousayyouhadtoe?Dontyoutrustme?"

    Aurnedbackthter."Thishasnothingtodowithtrust.ThishastodowithLon.HecalledthehouselastnighttotalktomeaboutNoah,andhesonhiswayhererightnow.Heseemedveryupset.Ithoughtyoudwanttoknow."

    Allieinhaledsharply."Hesonhisway?"

    "Aswespeak.Hearraohavethetrialpostpoilweek.IfhesnotinNewBer,hesclose."

    "Whatdidyousaytohim?"

    "Notmuch.Butheknew.Hehaditallfiguredout.HerememberedmytellinghimaboutNoahalongtimeago."

    Allieswallowedhard."DidyoutellhimIwashere?"

    "No.AndIwont.Thatsbetweenyouandhim.Butknowinghim,Imsurehellfindyouhereifyoustay.Allittakesisacoupleofphonecallsthtpeople.Afterall,Iwasabletofindyou."

    Allie,thoughobviouslyworried,smiledathermother."Thankyou,"shesaid,aherreachedforherhand.

    "Iknowwevehadourdifferences,Allie,andthatwehaventseeoeyeohing.Imnotperfect,butIdidthebestIcouldwithraisingyou.ImyourmotherandIalwayswillbe.ThatmeansIllalwaysloveyou."

    Alliewassilentforamoment,then:"WhatshouldIdo?"

    "Idontknow,Allie.Thatsuptoyou.ButI