the notebook-恋恋笔记本(英文版)-第6部分

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She　took　a　deep　breath　when　she　saw　him　on　the　porch；　watching　her　car。　He　was　dressed　casually。　From　a　distance；　he　looked　the　same　as　he　had　back　then。　When　the　light　from　the　sun　was　behind　him；　he　almost　seemed　to　vanish　into　the　scenery。

Her　car　continued　forward　slowly；　then　finally　stopped　beneath　an　oak　tree　that　shaded　the　front　of　the　house。　She　turned　the　key；　never　taking　her　eyes　from　him；　and　the　engine　sputtered　to　a　halt。　He　stepped　off　the　porch　and　began　to　approach　her；　walking　easily；　then　suddenly　stopped　cold　as　she　emerged　from　the　car。　For　a　long　time　all　they　could　do　was　stare　at　each　other　without　moving。

Allison　Nelson；　twenty…nine　years　old　and　engaged；　a　socialite；　searching　for　answers；　and　Noah　Calhoun；　the　dreamer；　thirty…one；　visited　by　the　ghost　that　had　e　to　dominate　his　life。

CHAPTER　THREE：　REUNION

NEITHER　ONE　of　them　moved　as　they　faced　each　other。

He　hadn’t　said　anything；　and　for　a　second　she　thought　he　didn’t　recognize　her。　Suddenly　she　felt　guilty　about　showing　up　this　way；　without　warning；　and　it　made　it　harder。　She　had　thought　that　she　would　know　what　to　say。　But　she　didn’t。　Everything　that　came　into　her　head　seemed　inappropriate；　somehow　lacking。

As　she　stared　at　him；　she　noticed　how　little　he’d　changed　since　she’d　last　seen　him。　He　looked　good；　she　thought。　With　his　shirt　tucked　loosely　into　old　faded　jeans；　she　could　see　the　same　broad　shoulders　she　remembered；　tapering　down　to　narrow　hips　and　a　flat　stomach。　He　was　tanned；　too；　as　if　he’d　worked　outside　all　summer；　and；　though　his　hair　was　a　little　thinner　and　lighter　than　she　remembered；　he　looked　the　same　as　he　had　when　she’d　known　him　last。

She　took　a　deep　breath　and　smiled。　“Hello；　Noah。　It’s　good　to　see　you　again。”

He　looked　at　her　with　amazement　in　his　eyes。　Then；　after　shaking　his　head　slightly；　he　slowly　began　to　smile。　“You　too；”　he　stammered。　He　brought　his　hand　to　his　chin；　and　she　noticed　he　hadn’t　shaved。　“It’s　really　you；　isn’t　it？　I　can’t　believe　it。。

She　heard　the　shock　in　his　voice　as　he　spoke；　and　surprising　her　it　all　came　together—being　here；　seeing　him。　She　felt　something　twitch　inside；　something　deep　and　old；　something　that　made　her　dizzy　for　just　a　second。　She　caught　herself　fighting　for　control。　She　hadn’t　expected　this　to　happen；　didn’t　want　it　to　happen。　She　was　engaged　now。　She　hadn’t　e　here　for　this。　Yet。

Yet　the　feeling　went　on　despite　herself；　and　for　a　brief　moment　she　felt　fifteen　again。　Felt　as　she　hadn’t　in　years；　as　if　all　her　dreams　could　still　e　true。　Felt　as　though　she’d　finally　e　Home。

Without　another　word　they　came　together；　as　if　it　were　the　most　natural　thing　in　the　world；　and　he　put　his　arms　around　her；　drawing　her　close。　They　held　each　other　tightly；　both　of　them　letting　the　fourteen　years　of　separation　dissolve　in　the　deepening　twilight。

They　stayed　like　that　for　a　long　time　before　she　finally　pulled　back　to　look　at　him。　Up　close；　she　could　see　the　changes　she　hadn’t　noticed　at　first。　His　face　had　lost　the　softness　of　youth。　The　faint　lines　around　his　eyes　had　deepened。　There　was　a　new　edge　to　him；　he　seemed　less　innocent；　more　cautious；　and　yet　the　way　he　was　holding　her　made　her　realize　how　much　she’d　missed　him。

Her　eyes　brimmed　with　tears　as　they　finally　released　each　other。　She　laughed　nervously　while　wiping　the　corners　of　her　eyes。

“Are　you　okay？”　he　asked；　a　thousand　other　questions　on　his　face。

“I’m　sorry；　I　didn’t　mean　to　cry。

“It’s　okay；”　he　said；　smiling。　“I　still　can’t　believe　it’s　you。　How　did　you　find　me？”

She　stepped　back；　trying　to　pose　herself；　wiping　away　the　last　of　her　tears。　“I　saw　the　story　on　the　house　in　the　Raleigh　paper　a　couple　of　weeks　ago；　and　I　had　to　e　and　see　you　again。”

Noah　smiled　broadly。　“I’m　glad　you　did。”　He　stepped　back。　“You　look　fantastic。　You’re　even　prettier　now　than　you　were　then。”

She　felt　the　blood　in　her　face。　Just　like　fourteen　years　ago。

“Thank　you。　You　look　great；　too。”　And　he　did；　no　doubt　about　it。

“So　what　have　you　been　up　to？　Why　are　you　here？”

His　questions　brought　her　back　to　the　present；　making　her　realize　what　could　happen　if　she　wasn’t　careful。　Don’t　let　this　get　out　of　hand；　she　told　herself；　the　longer　it　goes　on；　the　harder　it’s　going　to　be。　And　she　didn’t　want　it　to　get　any　harder。

　　　　She　turned　away　and　took　a　deep　breath；　wondering　how　to　say　it；　and　when　she　finally　started；　her　voice　was　quiet。　“Noah；　before　you　get　the　wrong　idea；　I　did　want　to　see　you　again；　but　there’s　more　to　it　than　just　that。”　She　paused　for　a　second。　“I　came　here　for　a　reason。　There’s　something　I　have　to　tell　you。”

“What　is　it？”

She　looked　away　and　didn’t　answer　for　a　moment；　surprised　that　she　couldn’t　tell　him　just　yet。　In　the　silence；　Noah　felt　a　sinking　feeling　in　his　stomach。　Whatever　it　was；　it　was　bad。

“I　don’t　know　how　to　say　it。　I　thought　I　did　at　first；　but　now　I’m　not　so　sure。。

The　air　was　suddenly　rattled　by　the　sharp　cry　of　a　raccoon；　and　Clem　came　out　from　under　the　porch；　barking　gruffly。　Both　of　them　turned　at　the　motion；　and　Allie　was　glad　for　the　distraction。

“Is　he　yours？”　she　asked。

Noah　nodded；　feeling　the　tightness　in　his　stomach。　“Actually　it’s　a　she。　Clementine’s　her　name。　But　yeah；　she’s　all　mine。”　They　both　watched　as　Clem　stretched；　then　wandered　towards　the　sounds。　Allie’s　eyes　widened　just　a　bit　when　she　saw　her　limp　away。

“What　happened　to　her　leg？”　she　asked；　stalling　for　time。

“Hit　by　a　car　a　few　months　back。　Doc　Harrison；　the　vet；　called　me　to　see　if　I　wanted　her　because　her　owner　didn’t　any　more。　After　I　saw　what　had　happened；　I　guess　I　just　couldn’t　let　her　be　put　down。〃

“You　were　always　nice　like　that；”　she　said；　trying　to　relax。　She　looked　past　him　towards　the　house。　“You　did　a　wonderful　job　restoring　it。　It　looks　perfect；　just　like　I　knew　it　would　some　day。”

He　turned　his　head　in　the　same　direction　as　hers　while　he　wondered　about　the　small　talk　and　what　she　was　holding　back。

“Thanks；　that’s　nice　of　you。　It　was　quite　a　project；　though。　I　don’t　know　if　I　would　do　it　again。”

“Of　course　you　would；”　she　said。　She　knew　exactly　how　he　felt　about　this　place。　But　then　she　knew　how　he　felt　about　everything—　or　at　least　she　had　a　long　time　ago。

And　with　that　she　realized　they　were　strangers　now。　Fourteen　years　apart　was　a　long　time。　Too　long。

“What　is　it；　Allie？”　He　turned　to　her；　but　she　continued　to　stare　at　the　house。

“I’m　being　rather　silly；　aren’t　I？”　she　asked；　trying　to　smile。

“What　do　you　mean？”

“This　whole　thing。　Showing　up　out　of　the　blue；　not　knowing　what　I　want　to　say。　You　must　think　I’m　crazy。”

“You’re　not　crazy；”　he　said　gently。　He　reached　for　her　hand；　and　she　let　him　hold　it　as　they　stood　next　to　one　another。　He　went　on：

“Even　though　I　don’t　know　why；　I　can　see　this　is　hard　for　you。　Why　don’t　we　go　for　a　walk？”

“Like　we　used　to？”

“Why　not？　I　think　we　both　could　use　one。”

She　hesitated　and　looked　to　his　front　door。　“Do　you　need　to　tell　anyone？”

He　shook　his　head。　“There’s　no　one　to　tell。　It’s　just　me　and　Clem。”

Even　though　she　had　asked；　she　had　suspected　there　wouldn’t　be　anyone　else；　and　inside　she　didn’t　know　how　to　feel　about　that。　But　it　did　make　what　she　wanted　to　say　a　little　harder。　It　would　have　been　easier　if　there　was　someone　else。

They　started　towards　the　river　and　turned　onto　a　path　near　the　bank。　She　let　go　of　his　hand　and　walked　on　with　just　enough　distance　between　them　so　that　they　couldn’t　accidentally　touch。

He　looked　at　her。　She　was　still　pretty；　with　thick　hair　and　soft　eyes；　and　she　moved　so　gracefully　that　it　seemed　as　though　she　were　gliding。　He’d　seen　beautiful　women　before；　women　who　caught　his　eye；　but　to　his　mind　they　usually　lacked　the　traits　he　found　most　desirable。　Traits　like　intelligence；　confidence；　strength　of　spirit；　passion；　traits　that　inspired　others　to　greatness；　traits　he　aspired　to　himself。

Allie　had　those　traits；　he　knew；　and　as　they　walked　now　he　sensed　them　once　again　lingering　beneath　the　surface。　“A　living　poem”　had　always　been　the　words　that　came　to　mind　when　he　tried　to　describe　her　to　others。