Sparks, Nicholas - The Notebook by Sparks Nicholas

Author:Sparks, Nicholas
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2008-09-22T22:18:02+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN: AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR

LATER THAT same morning, three men - two lawyers and the judge—sat in chambers while Lon finished speaking.

"It’s an unusual request," the judge answered, pondering the situation. "It seems to me the trial could very well end today. Are you saying this matter can't wait until later this evening or tomorrow?"

"No, your honour, it cant," Lon answered almost too quickly. Stay relaxed, he told himself. Take a deep breath.

"And it has nothing to do with this case?"

"No, your honour. It's of a personal nature. I know it's out of the ordinary, but I really need to take care of it."

The judge leaned back in his chair, evaluating him for a moment.

"Mr. Bates, how do you feel about this?"

The lawyer cleared his throat. "Mr. Hammond called me this morning arid I've already spoken to my clients. They're willing to postpone until Monday. Mr. Hammond has agreed in return to reopen discussion on a certain matter not covered by this proceeding."

The judge looked hard at both of them. "I don't like it," he said, "not at all. But Mr. Hammond has never made such a request before, and I assume the matter is very important to him." He banged for effect, then looked at some papers on his desk. "I'll agree to adjourn until Monday; Nine o'clock sharp."

"Thank you, your honour.” Lon said.

Two minutes later he was leaving the courthouse. He walked to the car he had parked directly across the street, got in and began the drive to New Bern, his hands shaking,

NOAH MADE breakfast for Allie while she slept in the living room.

Bacon, rolls and coffee, nothing spectacular. He set the tray beside her as she woke up, and as soon as they had finished eating they made love again, in powerful confirmation of what they had shared the day before.

They showered and afterwards Allie put on her dress, which had dried overnight She spent the morning with Noah, Together they fed

Clem and checked the windows to make sure no damage bad been done in the storm. Two pine trees bad blown over, though neither had caused much damage, and a few shingles had Mown off the shed, but, other than that, the property had escaped unscathed.

He held her hand most of the morning and they talked easily, but sometimes he would stop speaking and just stare at her. When he did, she felt as though she should say something, but nothing meaningful ever came into her head. She usually just kissed him.

A little before noon, Noah and Allie went in to prepare lunch. Using what he had on hand, they tried some chicken and baked another batch of bread rolls, and the two of them ate on the porch, serenaded by a mockingbird.

While they were inside doing the dishes* they heard a knock at the door, Noah left Allie in the kitchen.

Knock, knock. Louder.

Noah approached the door.

Knock, knock.

"I'm coming," he said as he opened the door. "Oh, my God."

He stared for a moment at a beautiful woman in her early fifties, a woman he would have recognized anywhere.

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