Free The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks Page B

able to select the cases he had the expertise to win. He had reached that level in his practice. Only a select few in the city had that kind of stature, and his earnings reflected that.
    But the more important part of his success came from hard work. He had always paid attention to details, especially when he’d begun his practice. Little things, obscure things, and it had become a habit now. Whether it was a matter of law or presentation, he was diligent in his study, and it had won him a few cases early in his career when he should have lost.
    And now, a little detail bothered him.
    Not about the case. No, that was fine. It was something else.
    Something about Allie.
    But damn, he couldn’t put his finger on it. He was fine when she’d left this morning. At least he thought he was. But sometime after her call, maybe an hour or so, something clicked in his mind. The little detail.
    Detail.
    Something insignificant? Something important? Think . . . think . . . Damn, what was it?
    His mind clicked.
    Something . . . something . . . something said? Something had been said? Yes, that was it. He knew it. But what was it? Had Allie said anything on the phone? That had been when it started, and he ran through the conversation again. No, nothing out of the ordinary.
    But that was it, he was sure now.
    What had she said?
    Her trip was good, she had checked in, had done some shopping. Left her number. That’s about all.
    He thought about her then. He loved her, he was sure of that. Not only was she beautiful and charming, but she’d become his source of stability and best friend as well. After a hard day at work, she was the first person he would call. She would listen to him, laugh at the right moments, and had a sixth sense about what he needed to hear.
    But more than that, he admired the way she’d always spoken her mind. He remembered that after they’d gone out a few times, he’d said to her what he said to all women he dated—that he wasn’t ready for a steady relationship. Unlike the others, though, Allie had simply nodded and said, “Fine.” But on her way out the door, she’d turned and said: “But your problem isn’t me, or your job, or your freedom, or whatever else you think it is. Your problem is that you’re alone. Your father made the Hammond name famous, and you’ve probably been compared to him all your life. You’ve never been your own person. A life like that makes you empty inside, and you’re looking for someone who will magically fill that void. But no one can do that but you.”
    The words had stayed with him that night and rung true the following morning. He’d called again, asked for a second chance, and after some persistence, she’d reluctantly agreed.
    In the four years they’d dated, she’d become everything he ever wanted, and he knew he should spend more time with her. But practicing law made limiting his hours impossible. She’d always understood, but still, he cursed himself for not making the time. Once he was married, he’d shorten his hours, he promised himself. He’d have his secretary check his schedule to make sure he wasn’t overextending himself. . . .
    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?
    C’mon, don’t 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