wouldthinkaboutit.Thinkaboutwhatyoureallywant."

    Allieturnedaway,hereyesreddening.Amomentlaterateardrifteddownhercheek.

    "Idontknow,"shetrailedoff,ahersqueezedherhand.AnnelookedatNoah,whohadbeensittingwithhisheaddown,listeningcarefully.Asifoncue,hereturnedhergaze,nodded,aheroom.

    Whenhewasgone,Annewhispered,"Doyoulovehim?"

    "Yes,Ido,"Allieansweredsoftly,"verymuch."

    "DoyouloveLon?"

    "Yes,Ido.Ilovehim,too.Dearly,butinadifferentway.HedoesntmakemefeelthewayNoahdoes."

    "Noonewilleverdothat,"hermothersaid,andshereleasedAllieshand.

    "Itmakethisdecisionforyou,Allie,thisonesallyours.Iwantyoutoknow,though,thatIloveyou.AndIalwayswill.Iknowthatdoesnthelp,butitsallIdo."

    Shereachedinherpocketbookandremovedabundleoflettersheldtogetherwithstring,theenvelopesoldandslightlyyellowed.

    "ThesearethelettersthatNoahwroteyou.Ihrewthemaway,andtheyhaventbeenopened.IknowIshouldnthavekeptthemfromyou,andImsorryforthat.ButIwasjusttryingtoprotectyou.Ididntrealize..."

    Allietookthemandranherhahem,shocked.

    "Ishouldgo,Allie.Youvegotsomedecisionstomake,andyoudonthavemuchtime.Doyouwaayintown?"

    Allieshookherhead."No,thisisuptome."

    Annenoddedandwatchedherdaughterforamoment,w.Finallyshestood,wentarouable,leanedover,andkissedherdaughteronthecheek.ShecouldseethequestioninherdaughterseyesasAlliestoodfromthetableandem