But that thought led to anotherto several, actu ally. She imagined Nonny taking herself and her things back to West Winter and Sami being taken away to God only knew where by strangers. She imagined that the house was as quiet as this every night, just kitty and her, having dinner alone, tossing a paper ball back and forth, night after night after night, because Noah would have moved on, too.

And Sara. And Angie, who had taken her risk of the heart and won. And Peter, who might lose his case against Julie but had found himself in spite of it.

There would be plenty of people left in Tucker to see, none of whom she wanted to see. Not in the same way.

Year after year after year.

She felt a swift shaft of panic, followed by a hollowness so dense that it threatened to swallow her up.

She heard wordsnights in my house are silent deadbarrenand thought of Mara, up on the hill side, buried six feet under with hopes and dreams that would never be realized. And suddenly she knew what she wanted.

Or what she didn't want.

She didn't want to live in a house that was silent, dead, and barren.

She didn't want to be the victim of missed connections. She didn't want Sami raised by someone else. She didn't want Nonny moving back to West Winter.

And she didn't want Noah to leave.

She jumped up from the stairs so quickly that kitty squealed in alarm.

Snatching her up, she hurried to the phone and punched out Noah's number.

He sounded exhausted, and rightfully so. He had the weight of his own world on his shoulders. But she had to see him. "Can you come over?

I can't find Nonny. I'm imagining all kinds of awful things."

"Give me five minutes," he said, and five minutes later he pulled into the driveway. He ran to the door with Sara on his heels.

Without saying a word, Paige wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tightly. It was only after several minutes of his returning her hug that she was able to talk. She told of coming home to a dark house, finding no note, and phoning all around. She told of sitting on the stairs for what seemed like hours.

"It was awful, Noah," she cried from beneath the shelter of his arm.

"The house was dead quiet. Just kitty and me. And it used to be just me alone before Mara diedand that was fine. But something's changed.

It isn't fine anymore." When he drew her into his arms again, she felt an instant relief. ill don't want to go back."

"Me neither," he whispered.

"I have to grow. I can't keep holding on to the past."

"No kidding."

"But it's scary.

"Most good things are."

Sara cleared her throat. "Am I supposed to be here?"

"Definitely," Noah said in full voice. "You're part Paige would have reached out for her if she hadn't been loving Noah's hold so much.

There was something new in it, something permanent that should have terrified her but didn't.

Maybe I should go out looking for Nonny," Sara "No. We'll call Norman Fitch in a" UYooo-hoooo," came a call from the kitchen.

"Anyone home?"

Paige looked up. Swearing softly, she broke away from Noah and, taking Sara in hand, ran toward the kitchen. Nonny was bundled as tightly and brightly as Sami. Neither looked as though there were anything at all wrong.

"Where have you been?" Paige cried. She caught Sami up in one arm and hugged Nonny with the other. "Noah was about to call the police!"

"But I left a note," Nonny said. "Right there on the table. I said I was going to visit Elisabeth. She's baby-sitting her grandchildren while their parents are away."

"There was no note."

"But I did leave it," Nonny insisted.

"I was so worried!"

"We weren't that late."

"But it was dark, and the house was empty and still." Paige looked Nonny in the eye, suddenly excited. "I'm keeping Sami. For good.

Will you stay?"

Nonny's whole face lit up. ill certainly will Hallelujah, it's about time."

Paige raised a sheepish look to Noah, who was a wall of warmth by her shoulder. ill guess it is."

Behind his glasses, his eyes were as bright as Nonny's face.

"Here's Nonny's note," Sara said, coming through 4 .S .s the door, unfolding the paper ball that Paige had been tossing to kitty.

Paige gawked. "But it was crumpled up on the floor."

Sara flattened it on the table. Seconds later kitty was there, trying to paw it off again.

"'Scuse me," Noah said, taking Sami from Paige and putting her in Sara's arms. ill have to talk with Paige alone for a minute."

He had her by the hand and was leading her from the room before she could protest, and once he had her in the front hall, pinned to the wall by the weight of his body, protest was the last thing on her mind.

He kissed her with a thoroughness that blurred her thoughts.

Having made a bundle of momentous decisions in an incredibly short time, she was feeling relieved of an awesome burden. Which was ironic.

Since being burdened was what she had feared most.

"Did you mean all you said?" he asked.