Divingwithtearsinhereyeswasdifficult,butshewentonanyway,hopingthatinstinctwouldtakeherbacktotheinthewindowrolleddown,thinkingthefreshairmighthelpclearhermind,butitdidohelp.Nothingwouldhelp.

    Shewastired,andshewonderedifshewouldhavetheenergyshealktoLon.Andwhatwasshegoingtosay?Shestillhadhopedthatsomethingwouldetoherwheimecame.

    Itwouldhaveto.

    BythetimeshereachedthedrawbridgethatledtoFrontStreet,shehadherselfalittlemoreundertrol.Notpletely,butwellenough,shethought,totalktoLon.Atleastshehopedso.

    Trafficwaslight,aimetowatchstrangersgoingabouttheirbusinessasshedrovethroughNewBern.Atagasstation,ameicwaslookinguhehoodofaomobilewhileaman,presumablyitsowoodbesidehim.TwowomenwerepushingbabycarriagesjustoutsideHoffman-Lane,chattiweenthemselveswhiletheywindow-shopped.InfrontofHearnsJewelers,awell-dressedmanwalkedbriskly,carryingabriefcase.

    Shemadeaurnandsawayoungmanunloadinggroceriesfromatruckthatblockedpartofthestreet.Somethingaboutthewayheheldhimself,orthewayhemoved,remindedherofNoahharvestingcrabsattheendofthedock.

    Shesawtheinnjustupthestreetwhileshewasstoppedataredlight.Shetookadeepbreathwhenthelightturnedgreenanddroveslowlyuntilshereachedtheparkinglotthattheinnsharedleofotherbusinesses.SheturnedinandsawLonscarsittinginthefirstspot.Althoughtheooiten,shepasseditandpickedaspotalittlefartherfromtheentrance.

    Sheturhekey,andtheeoppedpromptly.shereachedintotheglovepartmentforamirrorandbrush,findingbothsittingontopofamapofNorthCarolina.Look