Nicholas Sparks - Safe Haven

Alex pulled out two bottles of wine and turned around. Seeing her, he seemed to freeze, his expression one of disbelief. She stood surrounded by the last rays of the setting sun, perfectly radiant, and for a moment all he could do was stare.

His wonder was obvious, and Katie let it wash over her, knowing she wanted the feeling to last forever.

“You made it,” she said.

The sound of her voice was enough to break the spell, but Alex continued to stare. He knew he should say something witty, something charming to break the tension, but instead he found himself thinking, I’m in trouble. Serious trouble .

He wasn’t exactly sure when it had happened. Or even when it started. It may have been the morning when he’d seen Kristen holding Katie after Josh had fallen in the river, or the rainy afternoon when he’d driven her home, or even during the day they had spent at the beach. All he knew for sure was that right here and now, he was falling hard for this woman, and he could only pray that she was feeling the same way.

In time, he was finally able to clear his throat. “Yeah,” he said. “I guess I did.”

The early evening sky was a prism of colors as Katie led Alex through the small living room and toward the kitchen.

“I don’t know about you, but I could use a glass of wine,” she said.

“Good idea,” he agreed. “I wasn’t sure what we were having, so I brought both a sauvignon blanc and a zinfandel. Do you have a preference?”

“I’ll let you pick,” she said.

In the kitchen, she leaned against the counter, one leg crossed over the other while Alex twisted the corkscrew into the cork. For once, he seemed more nervous than she was. With a series of quick movements, he opened the bottle of sauvignon blanc. Katie set the glasses on the counter next to him, conscious of how close together they were standing.

“I know I should have said it when I first got here, but you look beautiful.”

“Thank you,” she said.

He poured some wine, then set the bottle aside and handed her a glass. As she took it, he could smell the coconut-scented body lotion she’d used.

“I think you’ll like the wine. At least, I hope so.”

“I’m sure I’ll love it,” she said, raising her glass. “Cheers,” she offered, clinking her glass against his.

Katie took a sip, feeling inordinately pleased about everything: how she looked and felt, the taste of the wine, the lingering scent of the raspberry sauce, the way Alex kept eyeing her while trying not to be obvious about it.

“Would you like to sit on the porch?” she suggested.

He nodded. Outside, they each sat in one of the rockers. In the slowly cooling air, the crickets began their chorus, welcoming the coming night.

Katie savored the wine, enjoying the fruity tang it left on her tongue. “How were Kristen and Josh today?”

“They were good.” Alex shrugged. “I took them to a movie.”

“But it was so pretty outside.”

“I know. But with Memorial Day on Monday, I figure we can still spend a couple of days outside.”

“Is the store open on Memorial Day?”

“Of course. It’s one of the busiest days of the year, since everyone wants to spend the holiday on the water. I’ll probably work until one o’clock or so.”

“I’d say I feel sorry for you, but I’m working, too.”

“Maybe we’ll come in and bother you again.”

“You didn’t bother me at all.” She peered at him over the top of her wineglass. “Well, the kids didn’t bother me, anyway. As I recall, you were complaining about the quality of service.”

“Us old guys will do that,” he quipped.

She laughed before rocking back in the chair. “When I’m not working, I like to sit out here and read. It’s just so quiet, you know? Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one around for miles.”

“You are the only one around for miles. You live in the sticks.”

She playfully slapped his shoulder. “Watch it. I happen to like my little house.”

“You should. It’s in better shape than I thought it would be. It’s homey.”

“It’s getting there,” she said. “It’s a work in progress. And best of all, it’s mine, and no one’s going to take it away.”

He looked over at her then. She was staring out over the gravel road, into the grassy field beyond.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She took her time before answering. “I was just thinking that I’m glad you’re here. You don’t even know me.”

“I think I know you well enough.”

Katie said nothing to that. Alex watched as she lowered her gaze.

“You think you know me,” she whispered, “but you don’t.”

Alex sensed that she was scared to say any more. In the silence, he heard the porch creaking as he rocked back and forth. “How about I tell you what I think I know, and you tell me if I’m right or wrong? Would that be okay?”

She nodded, her lips compressed. When Alex went on, his voice was soft.

“I think you’re intelligent and charming, and that you’re a person with a kind heart. I know that when you want to, you can look more beautiful than anyone I’ve ever met. You’re independent, you’ve got a good sense of humor, and you show surprising patience with children. You’re right in thinking that I don’t know the specifics of your past, but I don’t know that they’re all that important unless you want to tell me about them. Everyone has a past, but that’s just it — it’s in the past. You can learn from it, but you can’t change it. Besides, I never knew that person. The person I’ve come to know is the one I want to get to know even better.”

As he spoke, Katie gave a fleeting smile. “You make it sound so simple,” she said.

“It can be.”

She twisted the stem of her wineglass, considering his words. “But what if the past isn’t in the past? What if it’s still happening?”

Alex continued to stare at her, holding her gaze. “You mean… what if he finds you?”

Katie flinched. “What did you say?”

“You heard me,” he said. He kept his voice steady, almost conversational, something he’d learned in CID. “I’m guessing that you were married once… and that maybe he’s trying to find you.”

Katie froze, her eyes going wide. It was suddenly hard to breathe and she jumped up from the chair, spilling the rest of her wine. She took a step away from Alex, staring, feeling the blood drain from her face.

“How do you know so much about me? Who told you?” she demanded, her mind racing, trying to piece it together. There was no way he could know those things. It wasn’t possible. She hadn’t told anyone.

Except for Jo.

The realization was enough to leave her breathless and she glanced at the cottage next door. Her neighbor, she thought, had betrayed her. Her friend had betrayed her—

As fast as her mind was working, Alex’s was working as well. He could see the fear in her expression, but he’d seen it before. Too many times. And, he knew, it was time to stop playing games if they wanted to be able to move forward.

“No one told me,” he assured her. “But your reaction makes it clear that I’m right. That’s not the important question. I don’t know that person, Katie. If you want to tell me about your past, I’m willing to listen and help in any way I can, but I’m not going to ask you about it. And if you don’t want to tell me, that’s okay, too, because, again — I never knew that person. You must have a good reason for keeping it secret, and that means I’m not going to tell anyone, either. No matter what happens, or doesn’t happen, between us. Go ahead and make up a brand-new history if you want and I’ll back you up word for word. You can trust me on that.”