(This story starts with the scene where Allie has to make her decision in the hotel room, with Lon by her side.)
"I'll choose you," whispered Allie. "I will. I know were meant to be together. It's just… it's just really hard… I know I'm supposed to end up with you… it's just, I used to love Noah—"
"Allie. I can't change your past. You loved somebody before, I understand that. And I'm going to have to live with the fact that you will always love him. But I can change your present. I can change your mind about him. Marry me,Allie, marry me. We'll live in a big, beautiful home together, overlooking the ocean. I know you'd like that. I know you love the ocean. We could have lots of kids, how many do you want, Allie? How many kids do you want?"
"Three," whispered Allie, crying. "I want three. Lon... I just don't know." Allie held the bundle of letters from Noah. She was sitting on her bed in the Seabrook hotel room. Her mother was in the hotel lobby, anxiously awaiting Allie's decision. Allie wiped the tears off her face with her hands and just stared at the letters in her hand.
"Okay," whispered Allie. She sniffled and took a deep breath. "Okay, Lon, I know what I'm gonna do. We're gonna live together, Lon. We're gonna live in a beautiful home, like you said, overlooking the ocean. We're gonna have three kids... we're gonna live the rest of our lives together."
"That's right," said Lon, hugging her. "That's right. You've made the right decision, I know it."
Allie broke free from Lon's arms, stood up, and paced back and fourth in the room.
"But I just don't know. My life would be different with Noah too. Maybe... maybe you should meet Noah. Yes... maybe that would be the good thing to do. Maybe, if you met him, you could see for yourself how hard a decision this is."
"Allie, you're joking."
"No, no I'm not," said Allie, sitting back down by Lon. "I'm not Lon. This is a good idea. If you meet him, you can see for yourself. You can talk to him, get to know him, and I can see you side by side."
"Allie, let's be reasonable here," said Lon, holding her hands. "I can't meetNoah."
"Why not?" asked Allie. "Why not? You could see my past. You could see who I used to be... there's a part of me that still loves him, Lon. I'm not over him yet. Why don't you just wanna meet him, just this once, Lon?"
"Because, god dammit Allie... cause you slept with him," shouted Lon. "God dammit Allie. How can I be around a guy you slept with? I can't look at him... all I'll think about is you, and him, together... and I can't bare it. I know I have to accept your past, Allie, but I don't have to see it for myself! I just can't do it!"
Allie stormed out of the hotel room.
"Wait... Allie!" Lon ran out after her. She was right outside the room, sitting against the wall, her face in her hands.
"I can't believe you said that Lon..." wept Allie."I can't believe you said that. What's wrong with you?"
"Allie, I'm sorry, but honestly now," said Lon. He sat down by her. "I love you. And I'll respect your decision either way. Whether you pick him... or whether you pick me, I'll respect it. But you and I both know whose right for you... and that's me. Allie, I don't know who Noah is, but I do know no other man can give you the love I've given you, and the love that I will give you. I can give you everything you'll ever need. Can Noah do that Allie? Can Noah do that? You look at me and tell me Noah can give you everything you'll ever need. You tell me he can give you the world. I'll give you the world, Allie. Can Noah give that to you? You tell me he can give you the world... and I'll leave... you can go back to Noah's and spend your life with him. But just tell me he can give you the world. Just tell me, Allie."
Allie wept for the next few minutes, thinking. After she hadn't said anything, Lon stood up, brushed off his jacket with his hands, and walked away.
"No!" cried Allie. "Stop... stop."
