“I’ll miss our breakfasts,” Art Pohly said.

“Oh, I’ll come back and visit,” Sam said.

It was the third week of September and the two good friends were sitting on the deck at Flynnie's. Officially the beach had closed on Labor Day. The lifeguards and their towers were gone. Flynnie's remained open for joggers who ended their calorie-busting runs with hot buttered blueberry muffins, and for dog walkers who could now bring their pets to the beach. And regulars like Sam and Art.

“No, you won’t come back,” Art said, bringing the bill of his cap down to shield his eyes from the morning sun. “Once you’re out there in paradise you’ll forget all about Marblehead.”

“Well, then, you and Rachel will have to come out there for an overnight.”

“Now you’re talking. We’ll do that.”

The old man Sam had watched weeks earlier eating a bagel arrived at the steps where his daughter steadied his arm as he haltingly made his way up to the deck.

“Good morning,” Art and Sam said in unison.

“What a lovely day,” the woman said cheerfully. The man’s bony chin bobbed as he smiled a greeting. They sat at the next picnic table, both on the same side facing the ocean. “Look out there, Dad.” On the horizon a shadowy cloud undulated southward. Sam and Art followed her gaze. On closer inspection Sam could see the cloud was hundreds of geese flying south. “Can you see them, Dad?” The old man looked up, but didn’t seem to focus on anything in particular. “They’re geese. Flying south.” He gave his head several jerky nods. “Fall’s coming.”

Sam looked over Art’s shoulder at the rickety man who once had foreshadowed his own future. Now he saw only an elderly person waiting with his daughter for a bagel and cream cheese. Sam smiled.

“When do you move?” Art asked.

“The movers are coming on Monday and I’ll close on the house Tuesday morning, then out to West Hillton to close on that house.”

“You got more guts than I have, Sam.”

“Thanks, Art.”


That afternoon, Sam addressed letters telling people he was moving: each letter the same with the same picture of his new house at the top followed by the same news. He scribbled his name at the bottom, then copied an address from his dog-eared address book, wondering if the person were still alive. Sign one, stick it in the envelope and address it: sign another, stick it in the envelope and address it. A monotonous job.

Russ was in the basement putting a lifetime’s collection of tools into sturdy boxes he’d gotten from the liquor store.

Sam set his pen down on the kitchen table and looked out at the yard. The trees were in fall foliage and a chilly wind bobbed the bird-feeder on its branch. He’d have to bring that in and pack it. That and the outside thermometer, the garden hose, the pots filled with plants wilted and brown — the list was endless. Well, he’d finish the moving letter, then think about that. He signed another and reached for an envelope. Again he stopped and gazed out the window. How many winters had he and Sarah spent in this house? The kids’s sleds still hung on the garage wall and skis were still stacked in the corner. He thought about the times he and Sarah had taken the kids up the street to Seaside Park and watched them slide.

“Stop it!” he told himself, and turned another page in his address book.

There was a knock at his front door, but before he could get there, the door flew open and two Newfoundlands charged into the house pushing him aside. Key West, asleep on the sofa, sprang to life and flew to the back of a chair and across the room in mid-air to the top shelf of the bookcase.

“Hi Sam.” Annie rushed into the room and began shouting at Molly and Maggie. “Sit, you goddam bitches, sit!” The presence of Key West, glaring down from his perch on top of the bookcase, overruled her commands.

“Annie,” Sam exclaimed, “what a surprise!”

“Well,” she said, giving up on the dogs, “Jimmy called and said you need help getting ready to move.”

“Jimmy?”

“Yeah. He’s worried about you.”

She marched into the living room, took a look around and said, “For God’s sake, Sam, you’re nowhere near ready. The boy was right.” Then she came over and gave Sam a hug. “Glad to see me?”

“I guess so,” he said nonplused.

“Good. Where the hell’s Russ?”

“In the basement.”

“Get him up here while I make some coffee.” Sam showed her the coffee and coffee maker, then called Russ.

When he came into the kitchen, Annie gave him the once-over. “You look pretty good. How’re you feeling?”

Russ shrugged, “Not bad.”

“We need tons of boxes. Go to the grocery stores and get as many as you can. If they don’t have any, buy them somewhere.”

Sam was beginning to catch Annie’s fire. “The stores won’t have any this late in the day. Go straight to Staples and buy about fifty moving boxes. Here’s some money.”

He left, and Annie said, “Looks like he’s back on track.”

“He’s doing a lot better. Are you putting me on about Jimmy calling you?”

“No. The kid’s an organizer.”

Sam laughed, then asked, “How long can you stay?”

“Till you kick me out, but I’m not leaving until you’re ready to move. Has Kathleen moved to her new job in Pittsfield yet, or is she still here?” Back and forth, Sam told her. “Well, I’ll try her here. What’s her work number?” Sam gave it to her and she dialed her number. They talked for a while and when Annie hung up she said, “She’ll be over after work. I told her to call Cynthia, too.” Annie smiled sardonically, “I thought it was safer for her to call.”

The neat stack of letters on the table caught her attention. “What are you doing?”

“Letting people know I’m moving.”

She picked up one of the letters. “Mind if I read it?”

“Nope. It’ll save me a stamp.”


Dear Friends,
After thirty-five years in the same house, I’ve decided to move to the house pictured above. It was built in 1812 but the old beams are as sturdy as the day somebody’s great-great grandfather raised them.

Behind the house is a river to keep me cool in the summer. And beyond it are high forested hills where I hope to catch glimpses of deer and bear. I can see it all from a room that will be my study.

It’s an old dream moving here, not originally mine, but my father’s. We lived in Easthampton, and he always hoped that one day he’d have a house in the Hampshire Hills. He never realized his dream, so I’ll do it for both of us.

It’s a big house with plenty of room for you to spend the night, even when my family’s visiting. I’m serious. Come soon and we’ll sit in front of a blazing fire and talk about dreams coming true.

As ever,
Sam Langley


“Hey, I like it,” Annie said, “But you forgot skinny-dipping.”
He laughed. “That’s our secret.”

Kathleen came straight from work and helped Annie wrap and pack china and glasses in the boxes Russ had bought. Sam and his son packed books. They worked until ten and then Kathleen, Annie and her two dogs went to Kathleen’s to spend the night.

They were back the next morning with a bag of muffins from the Muffin Shop. The house had begun to look like a move was eminent. Bookshelves and cabinets were stripped bare, their contents packed in boxes stacked against the walls. The crew, including the two dogs, squeezed around the kitchen table to eat warm buttered muffins.

“Okay sergeant,” Sam said to Annie, “what’s the battle plan?” If she hadn’t been a sergeant when she was in the army, she should have been.

“The kitchen’s done” Annie announced. “The books are packed. Now we take it room by room until everything’s boxed up. Sam, why don’t you finish with these letters before they get lost in the mess?”

“Hello everybody,” a timid voice called from the front door. Immediately the dogs began barking and charged through the living room. “Ohmagod!” the voice screamed. Sam looked into the living room to see Cynthia yank Claudia and Vickie back out the door and slam it. Annie was on the dogs in a second, cussing them out and ordering them to sit. When they were quiet, she opened the door.

“I’m sorry,” she said to a terrified Cynthia and two weeping girls. “They just wanted to say hello. They’re very gentle.”

“If you can’t control your dogs,” Cynthia snarled, “you should keep them tied up.”

By this time Sam was at the door. “It’ll be all right,” he said. “Just give them a minute.” And for an extended moment everyone was quiet. Cynthia glared at her father, the girls wiped their eyes on the sleeve of their mother’s jacket and the sitting dogs anxiously swept the floor with their tails.

Claudia, quickly conquered her fear and asked, “Can I pet them, Mommy?”

“No,” Cynthia declared, “we’re not going in there until those dogs are in the backyard.” But as she spoke, Vickie walked up to Maggie, put our her hand and let the dog lick it. Cynthia gasped.

“Me too, Mommy,” Claudia begged. “I wanna lick, too.” Without waiting for an answer, she went up to Molly and held out her hand. Molly obliged by covering her hand with slobber. “Ick! It’s slimy.” She turned back to her mother and wiped her hand on Cynthia’s slacks.

“Why don’t you all come in?” Sam said. Annie pulled the dogs away from the door making room so Cynthia could make a cautious entrance. The girls, however, ran to the dogs and hugged them.

Sam said, “Cynthia, I’d like you to meet Annie Haas.” He watched his daughter’s malice-filled eyes as she turned toward Annie.

Before she could speak, Annie said, smiling, “I’m glad to meet you. Sam tells me you’re going to Africa with Doctors Without Borders.”

The change in Cynthia’s expression was immediate. Her hostility gave way to surprise and then to pleasure. “Why, thank you,” she said. “I leave in two weeks.”

Sam relaxed and thanked his daughter and the girls for coming to help with the moving. His granddaughters played with the dogs while Cynthia wrapped figurines in newspapers and carefully placed them in boxes marked fragile.

“Molly! Maggie!” a voice called form the front door. It was Jimmy. The dogs remembered him and bounded across the living room to greet him. Sam went to close the door Jimmy had left open when he saw Teresa coming up the steps.

“Jimmy insisted that I come,” she said in a put-upon voice. “He said you asked if I would come to unhook and pack up your computer equipment. So here I am.”

That little conniver, Sam said to himself. But to Teresa, “I really would appreciate your help if you have time.”

“I can spare an hour or so.” And to her son, she said, “Find your dad and tell him we need his help lifting things.” Like a flash, Jimmy was off.

Lunch time came and Sam made a trip to Munchies for a variety of subs. Everybody stopped to eat and to throw scraps to the delighted dogs. Later in the afternoon, Cynthia discovered that Annie had spent time in Viet Nam with the Army, and asked questions about being in a country that was at war. Teresa stayed on, working with Russ. By five the job was done. What wouldn’t fit in a box had a label on it indicating where it should go in the new house.

When it was time for Cynthia and the girls to leave, Sam said good bye knowing that he might not see her again before she left for Africa. He held her close and whispered that he was proud of her.

When they were gone, Teresa asked Sam if he would mind sitting with Jimmy that night. “Russ and I thought we might have dinner together and maybe go to a movie.” Jimmy was standing behind her, grinning broadly and moving his head up and down in an exaggerated yes.

Sam looked at him and smiled. “Sure,” he said to Teresa. “He can stay here.” Jimmy pulled down a “Yes” sign with his fist and watched his dad and mom leave the house together.

While this was going on, Kathleen was speaking in confidential tones with Annie. Then she said good bye to her dad and he thanked her for her help. Closing the door, he turned to Annie who shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

“She’s got a date tonight and thought it would be best if I wasn’t there.”

“Then stay here.” He looked at her, and during the millisecond their eyes met, Sam communicated his hopes and Annie answered with her reticence. Resigned, Sam said, “If I can find where we packed the sheets, Russ can sleep on the sofa and I’ll put fresh ones on his bed for you.”

“We can find them,” she assured him, smiling.

Jimmy watched TV in his grandfather’s bedroom while Sam and Annie went to a delicatessen to create a meal out of an assortment of appetizers. Back home they cleared a place on the sofa and sat down with two glasses of scotch on the rocks.

“Another hour of packing,” Sam said, “and my back would have snapped. I hope I can do the physical work that old house’ll require.”

“Russ’ll be with you, won’t he?”

“I’ll have to take him. He and I met with his psychologist this week. It was as much for me as it was for Russ. He explained to both of us about Russ’s medication, and how Russ will be tempted to stop taking it. He was very open about that. He told me the signs to look for should Russ stop.”

“How does he take having you as a keeper?”

“I think he accepts it. He knows he needs to be on the medication if he’s to get along, and I think he knows he needs help to stay on it. The doctor’s given me the name of a psychologist is Northampton and we’ll tie up with her as soon as we get out there.”

“Maybe you’ll be taking Teresa and Jimmy, too. Have you thought about that?”

“Not until today. It’s pretty clear that Jimmy wants it.” Sam shook his head. “Frankly it’d be a hellava lot easier financially if it happened. The alimony and child support Teresa wants will kill me. We’ll just have to see what happens. The house is big enough.”

Annie was quiet for a moment, then said, “Sam, you’ve put me off every time I’ve asked you about your luncheon with Vera Ashby.”

Sam’s face clouded. He took a deep breath. “I know. What she told me was so preposterous I didn’t want to bother you with it.”

“Try me.”

“She said the reason Sarah resigned was because she’d been charged with sexual harassment.”

Annie’s first reaction was to burst out laughing, but the laughter quickly turned to anger. “That’s the damnest thing I’ve ever heard. What was it, some young prick trying to get his boss fired?”

“No, a young woman.”

Annie’s eyes opened wide, then she said, “Humph! So Vera had lunch with you to hit you with this. How the hell did she come up with a story like that?”

“She said she saw a copy of the harassment complaint. But there was never a hearing. Sarah quit, she said, rather than face the board.”

“It’s a lie. She was framed for some reason. What’re you going to do about it?”

“There’s nothing I can do. I’d like to raise hell, believe me.”

“Who’s the bitch that made the charge? I’ll break her knees.”

“Her name’s Jenny Anderson. She worked for Sarah as a photographer. Vera said she quit Elite Designs soon after Sarah disappeared.”

Annie swirled the ice in her glass. “I knew something was wrong that day Sarah left. I asked what it was but she wouldn’t tell me.” She closed her eyes and shook her head slowly. “Poor Sarah. What a vicious thing to do to someone.”

“And Vera’s no better. Once she got hold of this juicy information, she spread it all over the company. That’s why she wanted to meet me. When I didn’t know about the resignation, she realized I didn’t know the reason. She couldn’t resist the chance to tell me.”

Annie sighed. “Sarah loved her job. People admired her. It must have been more than she could bear. How the hell do you fight a rumor? It was easier for her to leave, to leave all of us, and start over.”

“I wish she’d told me,” Sam said, his expression pained. “We could have fought it together.”

Annie nodded. “When I asked if there was a problem at work, all she said was, ‘You wouldn’t want to know’.”

“Let’s stop talking about it. I’m sick and tired of Vera Ashby.” Sam got to his feet. “Come on. I want to show you something.” He went to the kitchen and out to the back deck. As he walked he said, “I’m leaving a big part of my life here.” He went out into the yard. “See these trees?” Three tall maples were crowded together at the back of the yard. “I planted one for each of the kids right after Sarah brought them home from the hospital. Now they’re full grown just like the kids. The people who buy the house will never know that. They’ll just be three maples some guy planted too close together.”

Annie started toward one of the trees. “Careful,” Sam said. “That stone’s where Harvey’s buried. I told you about the dog we had when Russ was a boy. I don’t suppose the new owners will sweep the leaves off it.”

“No,” Annie said not sharing Sam’s maudlin tone. “They’ll probably think you shot a neighbor named Harvey and buried him there.” Still, she stepped around the stone respectfully and went to one of the trees, placing her ear against the trunk.

“This one sounds like Kathleen,” she said.

Sam laughed. “You’re right.” When she came back to him he put his arm around her and led her to the side of the house where the weeping beech was. “How do like this one?” he asked.

“What a beautiful and strange looking tree. It looks like some giant turned it wrong side out.”

“It was under a tree like this in Boston’s Public Garden that I first kissed Sarah. When we bought this house, she gave me this tree as a gift. It was only a sapling then.” Sam pulled back some of the branches that hung like a beaded curtain. “Let’s go inside.”

Annie resisted the pull of his arm around her. “I’m not going in there with you. This is your and Sarah’s tree.”

He exhaled a long, tired breath. “I know.”

“Sam, it won’t be long. You’ll get it resolved soon, one way or another.”

That’s code, he thought, for finding that Sarah is dead. That, or she’s alive and living with someone else. Again the emptiness of life without her swept over him. “If Sarah is dead, I think she wants me to find out what’s happened to her. Remember the time I woke up from a nap and saw the woman standing in the rain looking at the house. I was sure she was Sarah.” Annie nodded. “I never told you that it was the branches from this tree whipping against the window that woke me.”

“Do you think there really was a woman there?”

“I’m beginning to doubt it, but I still think that whatever I saw was Sarah.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven