by Bill Walker
Zack’s eyes widened. He didn’t know what he’d expected, but Lake Sunapee was a lot bigger than he’d ever imagined.
“Are we going to live up here?” he asked.
“Just until the new townhouse is ready. This will be our weekend retreat.”
“Cool.”
Joanna slowed the SUV and made a right turn onto a street paralleling the lake. Moments later, she eased the car to a halt in front of a two-story crescent-shaped modern, set on a low rock promontory jutting out into the lake.
The outer curve of the house, mostly windows, faced the lake and the long dock dominating the small cove. At the end of the dock, Zack spotted a sleek all-mahogany 1940s-style inboard speedboat. A lone figure knelt by the craft, snapping on a weatherproof cover over the cockpit and windscreen.
Joanna spotted the man and turned to Zack. “Do I look okay?”
She looked so comically worried that Zack wanted to laugh. Instead, he gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “You look really pretty, Mom.”
Her face lit up. “Thanks, sweetie,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. “Now, be sure to put the gift someplace special, okay? I’ll leave it to your sharp artistic eye.”
Zack gave her a “thumbs-up,” and grabbed the heavy box by his feet. Joanna ruffled his hair and they both climbed out of the SUV. She hesitated a moment, watching the man work on the boat and then started toward him. Something made him stand and look her way. Even at that distance Zack saw the dramatic change in the man’s demeanor.
“So, how’s my favorite professor?” Brian called out.
Zack heard his mother giggle and then she took off running, pounding down the dock and launching into Brian’s arms.
For a second, Zack was afraid they’d both tumble into the lake, but Brian held her and swung her around. Her laughter echoed across the water.
Grinning, Zack hefted the box and walked into the house. It took him a moment to get his bearings then he passed through the foyer into the living room. He nixed both the fireplace mantel and the glass coffee table in front of the couch. Then he spotted the teakwood table in the dining area and gave a satisfied nod. Perfect. He placed the box on the table.
Through the plate glass window, he saw Brian and his mother standing at the end of the dock, their arms around one another, heads touching, watching the sun beginning its descent toward the mountains beyond the lake’s western shore.
Smiling again, he opened the box and lifted out the sculpture, placing it in the middle of the table, turning it to catch the light just so.
It was breathtaking.
Two hands, a man’s and a woman’s, lovingly intertwined, every bump and line rendered in flawless detail.
And even though he’d placed them on that table mere seconds before, he knew within the deepest regions of his heart those loving hands would remain together... forever....
Table of Contents
Old Acquaintance Title Page
Old Acquaintance Copyright Page
Dedication
2006
Epigraph
Chapter 01
Chapter 02
Chapter 03
Chapter 04
Chapter 05
1991
Chapter 06
Chapter 07
Chapter 08
Chapter 09
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
2006 two
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Epilogue