Noah and Allie stand in silence, each lost in his and her own thoughts and memories and feelings. Finally, Allie breaks the silence, greeting Noah. Awkward silence is followed by awkward, stilted conversations. Allie asks and Noah confirms that no significant other exists in his life, yet then she admits that she is not only engaged to be married, but that the wedding is in three weeks.
Noah asks all the right questions about the nature of her relationship, and Allie provides all the right answers; still Noah cannot help but wonder if Allie truly loves Lon or if she is merely trying to convince herself that she does. He then invites her to stay for a crab dinner. Allie follows Noah to the dock. While he inspects the crab cages, she inspects the dock and finds the inscription "Noah loves Allie," which was carved in the dock just days before she left, 14 years prior. Allie admires the house as Noah prepares dinner.
During their conversation, Allie reveals her mother's attitude toward social class, and Noah questions her as to why she never responded to any of his letters. Allie reveals that she never received any of them.
Allie almost admits that she felt compelled to come after she saw the newspaper clipping about Noah's restoration of the old house. During the course of their continued conversation, Noah is shocked to learn that Allie no longer paints; she is just as shocked to realize he not only remembered but also a painting of hers hangs in his living room.
