Check?...

And his mind clicked another notch. Check... checking.., checking in? He looked to the ceiling. Checking in? Yes, that was it. He closed his eyes and thought for a second. No. Nothing. What, then? Cmon, dont fail now. Think, damn it, think. New Bern.

The thought popped into his head just then. Yes, New Bern. That was it. The little detail, or part of it. What else, though?

New Bern, he thought again, and knew the name. Knew the town a little, mainly from a few trials he had been in. Stopped there a few times on the way to the coast. Nothing special. He and Allie had never been there together.

But Allie had been there before ... And the rack tightened its grip, another part coming together.

Another part.., but there was more ...

Allie, New Bern... and.., and.., something at a party. A comment in passing. From Allies mother. Hed hardly noticed it. But what had she said?

And Lon paled then, remembering. Remembering what had been said so long ago. Remembering what Allies mother had said.

It was something about Allie being in love one time with a young man from New Bern. Called it puppy love. So what, he had thought when hed heard it, and had turned to smile at Allie.

But she hadnt smiled. She was angry. And then Lon guessed that she had loved that person far more deeply than her mother had suggested. Maybe even more deeply than she loved him. And now she was there. Interesting.

Lon brought his palms together, as though he were praying, resting them against his lips. Coincidence? Could be nothing. Could be exactly what she said. Could be stress and antique shopping. Possible. Even probable.

Yet... yet… what if?

Lon considered the other possibility, and for the first time in a long time, he became frightened. What if? What if she with him?

He cursed the trial, wishing it were over. Wishing he had gone with her. Wondering if shed told him the truth, hoping that she had.

And he made up his mind then not to lose her. He would do anything it took to keep her. She was everything hed always needed, and hed never find another quite like her.

So, with trembling hands, he dialed the phone for the fourth and last time that evening. And again there was no answer.