Down the stairs again and out the door. As she left she heard a voice behind her.
“Miss?”
She turned, knowing it was directed at her. The manager. Same man as yesterday, a curious look on his face.
“Yes?”
“You had some calls last night.”
She was shocked. “I did?”
“Yes. All from a Mr. Hammond.”
Oh, God.
“Lon called?”
“Yes, ma’am, four times. I talked to him when he called the second time. He was rather concerned about you. He said he was your fiancé.”
She smiled weakly, trying to hide what she was thinking. Four times? Four? What could that mean? What if something had happened back home?
“Did he say anything? Is it an emergency?”
He shook his head quickly. “He really didn’t say, miss, but he didn’t mention anything. Actually, he sounded more concerned about you, though.”
Good, she thought. That’s good. And then, just as suddenly, a pang in her chest. Why the urgency? Why so many calls? Had she said anything yesterday? Why would he be so persistent? It was completely unlike him.
Is there any way he could have found out? No . . . that was impossible. Unless someone saw her here yesterday and called. . . . But they would have had to follow her out to Noah’s. No one would have done that.
She had to call him now; no way to get around it. But she didn’t want to, strangely. This was her time, and she wanted to spend it doing what she wanted. She hadn’t planned on speaking to him until later, and for some reason she felt almost as if talking to him now would spoil the day. Besides, what was she going to say? How could she explain being out so late? A late dinner and then a walk? Maybe. Or a movie? Or . . .
“Miss?”
Almost noon, she thought. Where would he be? His office, probably… No. In court, she suddenly realized, and immediately felt as if she’d been released from shackles. There was no way she could talk to him, even if she wanted to. She was surprised by her feelings. She shouldn’t feel this way, she knew, and yet it didn’t bother her. She looked at her watch, acting now.
“Is it really almost twelve?”
The manager nodded after looking at the clock. “Yes, a quarter till, actually.”
“Unfortunately,” she started, “he’s in court right now and I can’t reach him. If he does call again, could you tell him I’m shopping and that I’ll try to call him later?”
“Of course,” he answered. She could see the question in his eyes, though: But where were you last night? He had known exactly when she’d come in. Too late for a single woman in this small town, she was sure.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling. “I’d appreciate it.”
Two minutes later she was in her car, driving to Noah’s, anticipating the day, largely unconcerned about the phone calls. Yesterday she would have been, and she wondered what that meant.
As she was driving over the drawbridge less than four minutes after she’d left the inn, Lon called from the courthouse.
Moving Water
Noah was sitting in his rocker, drinking sweet tea, listening for the car, when he finally heard it turn up the drive. He went around front and watched the car pull up and park beneath the oak tree again. Same spot as yesterday. Clem barked a greeting at her car door, tail wagging, and he saw Allie wave from inside the car.
She stepped out, patted Clem on the head while she cooed at her, then turned, smiling at Noah as he walked toward her. She looked more relaxed than yesterday, more confident, and again he felt a slight shock at seeing her. It was different from yesterday, though. Newer feelings now, not simply memories anymore. If anything, his attraction for her had grown stronger overnight, more intense, and it made him feel a little nervous in her presence.
Allie met him halfway, carrying a small bag in one hand. She surprised him by kissing him gently on the cheek, her free hand lingering at his waist after she pulled back.
“Hi,” she said, radiance in her eyes, “where’s the surprise?”
He relaxed a little, thanking God for that. “Not even a ‘Good afternoon’ or ‘How was your night?’”
She smiled. Patience had never been one of her strongest attributes.
“Fine. Good afternoon. How was your night? And where’s the surprise?”
He chuckled lightly, then paused. “Allie, I’ve got some bad news.”
“What?”
“I was going to take you someplace, but with those clouds coming in, I’m not sure we should go.”