The grandfather clock in the hallway began to chime five. All was on schedule. The pork tenderloin was just about ready, the water for the baby carrots, snow peas and sweet potatoes was just coming to the boil. Dessert and a tossed salad were chilling in the fridge. Sam took a moment to run a critical eye over the table setting: his dad’s best china, a bunch of roses from Mrs. Jenkins’ garden, the candlesticks Zack had picked up at a yard sale the previous year, and Zack’s special gift safely tucked away in the top drawer of the bureau.
“Fourteen years. Who’d have thunk it.”
Who’d have thought Sam, big, goofy, easy-going Sam would have been able to attract—much less keep—Zackary Pierce. Zack was the most handsome, hell, fuckin’ studliest jock at their high school. Sam knew Zack could h
