He asked about the roof.
The heating system.
The dock.
The condition of the shoreline.
I answered honestly.
He spent several minutes studying the lake from the deck.
Then he turned toward me.
“My wife and I used to bring our children up here.”
I smiled.
“Really?”
“We rented a cabin farther down the shore. Nothing nearly as beautiful as this.”
He looked toward the water.
“She died four years ago.”
My expression softened.
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
He paused.
“I’ve been looking for a place where my grandchildren might enjoy the same kind of summers.”
I glanced toward the old dock.
Thomas had built part of it himself.
Madison learned to swim beside it.
We’d spent years watching the sunset from those boards.
Alan continued.
“I know selling isn’t easy.”
I nodded.
“No.”
He looked back at the house.
“But I think we’d take good care of it.”
I swallowed.
Then I said, “I’d like that.”
