Allie's Journey to New Bern

Allie Nelson, now twenty-nine and engaged to Lon Hammond Jr., sits alone on the porch swing of her parents' home in Raleigh, wrestling with a decision. She has been struggling for days, but ultimately decides she must go to New Bern. She lies to Lon, telling him she wants to visit antique shops near the coast to take a break from wedding planning. The next morning, she drives the two hours to New Bern, checks into a small inn, and spends the afternoon shopping for antiques as a cover. She calls Lon from her room, giving him the phone number and promising to call the next day, careful not to arouse suspicion. She reflects on how she met Lon in 1942 while volunteering at a hospital during the war, and how his confidence and humor helped her cope with the horrors of war. She accepted his proposal because she felt secure and loved, but now she feels guilty for being in New Bern. She almost leaves, but the coincidence that brought her here—a newspaper article about Noah's house restoration—compels her to stay. She takes a bath, chooses a simple blue dress, and prepares to visit Noah, her hands shaking with nervousness.