Nicholas Sparks - At First Sight

At First Sight

Nicholas Sparks

Acknowledgments

For this novel in particular, I have to thank my wife, Cathy. Not only was she the inspiration for Lexies character, but she showed amazing patience while I was writing the novel. I wake every day knowing that Im lucky to have married her.

My kids-Miles, Ryan, Landon, Lexie, and Savannah-who never let me forget that even though Im an author, Im first and foremost a father.

Theresa Park, my agent, deserves my thanks for letting me bend her ear whenever the mood strikes. But more than that, she always knows exactly what to say when the going gets tough. Im fortunate to work with her.

Jamie Raab, my editor, has once again earned my undying gratitude. Shes not only insightful, but charming, and I couldnt have written this book without her.

Larry Kirshbaum, the illustrious head of Time Warner Book Group, is heading to different pastures, but I cant let him leave without a final word of praise. I know it was a tough decision, but Im sure you know whats best for you. Its been my honor and privilege to work with you, and Id like to wish you the best of luck in whatever future awaits.

Maureen Egen, another biggie at Time Warner Book Group, has always been a delight. Shes as sharp as they come, and Ive loved every minute weve spent together.

Denise Di Novi, my patron saint in the world of Hollywood, is, and always has been, a blessing in my life.

Howie Sanders and Dave Park, my agents at UTA, always look out for me, and Im thankful to work with them.

Jennifer Romanello and Edna Farley, my publicists, are both fabulous and gifted. They are treasures, and its because of them that Im still able to get out and meet my readers.

Lynn Harris and Mark Johnson, responsible for The Notebook, are, and always will be, my friends.

Scott Schwimer, my attorney, has not only a kind heart, but an extraordinary ability to make sure every contract is just as it should be.

Flag, who does my covers; Harvey-Jane Kowal, who handles some of the editing; and Shannon OKeefe, Sharon Krassney, and Julie Barer also deserve my gratitude.

Id like to thank a few more people. First, Dr. Rob Patterson, who talked to me about amniotic band syndrome. If I got anything right, its because of him; attribute all errors to me. And to Todd Edwards, who salvaged this novel from the hard drive when my computer crashed, all I can say is that Im grateful that he was around.

Finally, Id like to thank Dave Simpson, Philemon Gray, Slade Trabucco, and the track athletes at New BernHigh School and TRACK EC (the Junior Olympic program) whom Ive had the pleasure to meet and coach. Thanks for giving me your best.

Prologue

February 2005

Is love at first sight truly possible?

Sitting in his living room, he turned the question over in his mind for what seemed to be the hundredth time. Outside, the winter sun had long since set. A grayish sheen of fog was visible through the window, and aside from the gentle tap of a branch against the glass, all was quiet. Yet he wasnt alone, and he pulled himself up from his spot on the couch and walked down the hall to peek in on her. As he stared, he thought about lying beside her, if only to have an excuse to shut his eyes. He could use the rest, but he didnt want to risk falling asleep just yet. Instead he watched as she shifted slightly, his mind drifting to the past. He thought again about the path that had brought them together. Who was he then? And who was he now? On the surface, those questions seemed easy. His name was Jeremy; he was forty-two years old, the son of an Irish father and Italian mother; and he wrote magazine articles for a living. Those were answers he would offer when asked. Though they were true, he sometimes wondered whether he should add something more. Should he mention, for instance, that hed traveled to North Carolina five years ago to investigate a mystery? That he fell in love there, not once but twice that year? Or that the beauty of those memories was intertwined with sadness and that even now he questioned which memories would endure?

He turned away from the bedroom doorway and returned to the living room. Though he didnt dwell on those events from long ago, he didnt avoid thinking about them, either. He could no more erase that chapter of his life than he could change his birthday. While there were times when he wished he could roll back the clock and erase all the sadness, he had a hunch that if he did so, the joy would be diminished as well. And that was something he couldnt contemplate.

It was in the darkest hours of the night that he most often found himself remembering his night with Lexie in the cemetery, the night hed seen the ghostly lights that hed come down from New York to investigate. It was then, however, that hed realized for the first time how much Lexie meant to him. As they had waited in the blackness of the cemetery, Lexie had told him a story about herself. Shed been orphaned as a young child, she explained. Jeremy had already known that, but what he didnt know was that shed begun having nightmares a few years after the deaths of her parents. Terrible, recurring nightmares in which she witnessed the death of her parents. Her grandmother Doris, not knowing what else to do, finally brought her to the cemetery to see the mysterious lights. To a young child, the lights were miraculous, heavenly, and Lexie instantly recognized them as the ghosts of her parents. It was, somehow, what shed needed to believe, and those nightmares never plagued her again.

Jeremy had been touched by her story, moved by her loss and the power of innocent beliefs. But later that night, after he too had seen the lights, hed asked Lexie what she thought they really were. Shed leaned forward then and whispered, It was my parents. They probably wanted to meet you.

It was then that he knew he wanted to take her in his arms. Hed long since pinpointed that as the moment he first fell in love with her, and hed never stopped loving her.

Outside, the February wind picked up again. Beyond the murky darkness, he could see nothing, and he lay down on the couch with a weary sigh, feeling the pull of that year draw him backward in time. He could have forced the images away, but as he stared at the ceiling, he let them come. He always let them come.

This, he remembered, is what happened next.

One

Five Years Earlier

New York City, 2000

See, its simple, Alvin said. First, you meet a nice girl, and then you date for a while to make sure you share the same values. See if you two are compatible in the big, this is our life and were in it together decisions. You know, talk about which family youre going to visit on the holidays, whether you want to live in a house or an apartment, whether to get a dog or a cat, who gets to use the shower first in the morning, while theres still plenty of hot water. If you two are still pretty much in agreement, then you get married. Are you following me here?

Im following you, Jeremy said.

Jeremy Marsh and Alvin Bernstein were standing in Jeremys Upper West Side apartment on a cool Saturday afternoon in February. Theyd been packing for hours, and boxes were strewn everywhere. Some of the boxes were already filled and had been stacked near the door, ready for the moving van; others were in various stages of completion. All in all, it looked as if a Tasmanian devil had burst through the door, had himself a party, then left once there was nothing else to be destroyed. Jeremy couldnt believe how much junk hed accumulated over the years, a fact that his fiance, Lexie Darnell, had been pointing out all morning. Twenty minutes ago, after throwing up her hands in frustration, Lexie had gone to have lunch with Jeremys mother, leaving Jeremy and Alvin alone for the first time.

So what on earth do you think youre doing? Alvin prodded.