Marcus."
"Zac..." " Her petition rang distinct.
"I have to go, Victoria." He dared to directly meet her eyes. "Have fun."
As he walked away, he willed their perfect blond images from his mind, reminding himself of his travesty with Carron. Alejandro's imminent disapproval of any further association with Victoria propelled Zac back to steadier ground.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"Looks like we got company, Mr. Zac," Josh announced as the Ramona Tres , still in deep water, approached the dock.
Zac turned, his gaze going to the shore. Even squinting into the distance and late afternoon glare, he easily made out Victoria and the children, along with a young black girl, waiting on the pier. He had sensed Victoria's presence the moment Josh spoke.
The images sharpened as the little shrimper drew nearer to the dock. Marcus waved.
Zac felt reprieved. He had spent the week, since Cinco de Mayo , rationalizing the infeasibilities surrounding Marcus. He'd even considered calling an adoption agency just to ask questions. Victoria's ability to adopt Marcus, seemingly without a hitch, made Zac think the process couldn't be too difficult. And Carron's money would probably help. Another little boy just like Marcus had to be out there—well maybe not just like Marcus. He was special. It had taken only an instant in an Italian piazza to see that, but God knew the desire of Zac's heart, and He would come through. All Zac had to do was uphold his end of his new bargain with God. Not step over any ambiguous lines, not hurt anyone. Ever again.
However, Christian's obvious absence in the little welcoming party represented ambiguous lines.
Cutting the engine back, he gave himself time to re-think how Christian had suffered in the scandal involving Victoria and Tomas Cordera. He took time to reiterate how he had trashed the sanctity of his own marriage by failing to keep his priorities in line. Mistakes of that vein didn't bear repeating.
He watched Marcus wrench his hand from Victoria's, edge dangerously near the edge of the old wooden dock in his eagerness. Zac waved reassuringly to him. Propriety could easily be maintained by remembering Marcus was the priority in this situation.
Nevertheless, the circumstances took on an enigmatic shape.
"Hello," Victoria called the moment they were in hearing range. "We thought this was your slip."
Wondering how she had known, he killed the engine, hoping to drift straight in, hoping not to miss anything else she might have to say. Caught off guard, Josh leaped around, hustling bumpers into place.
Just as the Ramona Tres whacked solidly into the dock. She exclaimed, "Your boat is wonderful."
For sure, she knew nothing about shrimp boats.
Zac reached for a nearby T-shirt, jerked it over his head and looked around for his clogs, coming up void. He hopped over the side, wrapped a mooring line around a steel cleat and approached them. CONTRAST flashed in his mind like a garish neon sign, when he observed Victoria, Ariana and Alexander. Seeing Marcus aligned with them was like gazing into a cracked mirror.
"Don't you have anything better to do with your Sunday afternoons, Victoria?" He tempered his chastisement with a smile.
The hot, humid dock and the smell of fish had never been so prevalent in his consciousness. He glanced down the way to where the Irish Lady tossed gently in the shrimper's wake. Today's reception party was definitely more suited to the yacht.
He spoke to Marcus. " Qué pasa, hombre ."
Marcus seized his proffered hand and pumped it, looking anxiously to Victoria who nodded encouragement. " Buenos tardes, señor ." His accent hadn't improved. He paused before stumbling over, "Cómo está usted?"
" Muy bién! Fantástico! "
"We've been watching the educational channel," Victoria offered. "He wanted to surprise you."
"He succeeded." Zac sank to his bare knees in front of Ariana. Alexander's hand was clasped tightly in that of the black teen-aged girl. Taking off his gloves, Zac touched
"Zac..." " Her petition rang distinct.
"I have to go, Victoria." He dared to directly meet her eyes. "Have fun."
As he walked away, he willed their perfect blond images from his mind, reminding himself of his travesty with Carron. Alejandro's imminent disapproval of any further association with Victoria propelled Zac back to steadier ground.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"Looks like we got company, Mr. Zac," Josh announced as the Ramona Tres , still in deep water, approached the dock.
Zac turned, his gaze going to the shore. Even squinting into the distance and late afternoon glare, he easily made out Victoria and the children, along with a young black girl, waiting on the pier. He had sensed Victoria's presence the moment Josh spoke.
The images sharpened as the little shrimper drew nearer to the dock. Marcus waved.
Zac felt reprieved. He had spent the week, since Cinco de Mayo , rationalizing the infeasibilities surrounding Marcus. He'd even considered calling an adoption agency just to ask questions. Victoria's ability to adopt Marcus, seemingly without a hitch, made Zac think the process couldn't be too difficult. And Carron's money would probably help. Another little boy just like Marcus had to be out there—well maybe not just like Marcus. He was special. It had taken only an instant in an Italian piazza to see that, but God knew the desire of Zac's heart, and He would come through. All Zac had to do was uphold his end of his new bargain with God. Not step over any ambiguous lines, not hurt anyone. Ever again.
However, Christian's obvious absence in the little welcoming party represented ambiguous lines.
Cutting the engine back, he gave himself time to re-think how Christian had suffered in the scandal involving Victoria and Tomas Cordera. He took time to reiterate how he had trashed the sanctity of his own marriage by failing to keep his priorities in line. Mistakes of that vein didn't bear repeating.
He watched Marcus wrench his hand from Victoria's, edge dangerously near the edge of the old wooden dock in his eagerness. Zac waved reassuringly to him. Propriety could easily be maintained by remembering Marcus was the priority in this situation.
Nevertheless, the circumstances took on an enigmatic shape.
"Hello," Victoria called the moment they were in hearing range. "We thought this was your slip."
Wondering how she had known, he killed the engine, hoping to drift straight in, hoping not to miss anything else she might have to say. Caught off guard, Josh leaped around, hustling bumpers into place.
Just as the Ramona Tres whacked solidly into the dock. She exclaimed, "Your boat is wonderful."
For sure, she knew nothing about shrimp boats.
Zac reached for a nearby T-shirt, jerked it over his head and looked around for his clogs, coming up void. He hopped over the side, wrapped a mooring line around a steel cleat and approached them. CONTRAST flashed in his mind like a garish neon sign, when he observed Victoria, Ariana and Alexander. Seeing Marcus aligned with them was like gazing into a cracked mirror.
"Don't you have anything better to do with your Sunday afternoons, Victoria?" He tempered his chastisement with a smile.
The hot, humid dock and the smell of fish had never been so prevalent in his consciousness. He glanced down the way to where the Irish Lady tossed gently in the shrimper's wake. Today's reception party was definitely more suited to the yacht.
He spoke to Marcus. " Qué pasa, hombre ."
Marcus seized his proffered hand and pumped it, looking anxiously to Victoria who nodded encouragement. " Buenos tardes, señor ." His accent hadn't improved. He paused before stumbling over, "Cómo está usted?"
" Muy bién! Fantástico! "
"We've been watching the educational channel," Victoria offered. "He wanted to surprise you."
"He succeeded." Zac sank to his bare knees in front of Ariana. Alexander's hand was clasped tightly in that of the black teen-aged girl. Taking off his gloves, Zac touched
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