CHAPTER 1

It seemed as if the road was stretching ahead of them endlessly. The air washeavy with the humidity of summer, and the relentless sun rays poundingonto the windshield didn't prevent Dan and Malou from enjoying their driveback to their home in Davie. They were returning from visiting their son,Stefano, who was a junior at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Parting from him again was difficult, but after seeing how happy he wasand acknowledging the fact that their son was becoming his own man now,Malou and Dan were delighted with the two days they had spent with him. Attwenty-two, Stefano not only looked like his father, but had his determinedcharacter trait and his hard work at school mirrored Dan's attitude toward lifeperfectly. Stefano, in his third year of university, had already made the dean'slist, to the pride of his parents. Mind you, his stubbornness accounted for alot of his progress or success in everything he did – just like his dad.

As for Malou, a very alluring woman in her late forties, she was a fantasticmother; her whole world revolving around her home, her children and herhusband. Although known for being disorganized, she managed to keep thefamily home immaculate and its surroundings pleasant to the eye.

"How about we take highway 27 down to Okeechobee Lake instead of the otherway?" Dan asked Malou as soon as they passed the turn-off near Orlando.

She turned her lovely face to him. "Feeling adventurous, are you?" Herblack, silky hair seemed to be dancing on the curls cascading down to hershoulders.

"Something like that, yes," Dan replied, throwing her a smile full ofmischief. Nearly fifty by then, Dan had kept his adolescent face and muscularstature in check. There was no denying the fact that Dan was a handsome man.His piercing and intelligent gaze complemented the gentle but square jaw linewithout highlighting the decisiveness that lied just below the surface of hismanners. "Besides, we have time – nothing waiting for us at home – and I'dlike to see if we could find a nice little place to have dinner ..."

"Wow, where does that come from? Don't you like my cooking anymore?"Malou asked, all tease.

He threw her another brief smile. "You know I love your cooking, butI think you deserve to be treated to a summer night at the terrace of a niceristorante."

"But, Hon, this isn't Italy, you know – where are we going to find a ristorantearound here, you think?"

"We'll see ..., maybe we'll be surprised and if not, we'll go home and haveone of your wonderful lasagnas – how's that?"

Highway 27 afforded the travelers with gorgeous scenery of the evergladesand sugar plantations, which reminded the couple of their lives in Pennsylvaniawhere their home was up on a hill, and where their kids enjoyed sleigh ridesduring winter and hay rides during fall. The sugar plantations that stretchedto the horizon were very similar to the corn plantations they remembered inthe days they lived in Bethlehem.

The afternoon drive was nothing short of glorious. As soon as they veeredoff and took the road that skirted Okeechobee Lake, Dan slowed the car downto a speed that allowed them to take a peek at the lake stretching in the distancebeside the highway. This piece of water, seemingly plopped in the middle ofthe everglades, was the host of numerous birds and all kinds of aquatic life.Its freshness provided a welcome relief to the searing heat of the day. Danand Malou couldn't stop smiling for some reason – the landscape was simplypeaceful and inexplicably tranquil.

After driving for a while they arrived in Pahokee. Bordering the lake, thistiny town community featured many seemingly abandoned houses, a smallmarina, and a very old hotel called Chippewa Inn, standing along a dirt andgravel track-like road – its...