An Unexpected Love by Tracie Peterson, Judith Miller

half hour late. The moment he entered the building, he scanned the area for his old friend. It didn’t take long to locate him. He had selected a table in close proximity to the bar rather than one in the formal dining room.
    Another man sat at the table with his back toward the entrance. Jonas narrowed his eyes and strained to make out the figure. As he approached the table, he shuddered. William Snodgrass! The banker was engrossed in a heated conversation with Mortimer. Jonas must find some way to get rid of him, for they were already pressed for time.
    Though the sight of Snodgrass annoyed him, Jonas determined to speak in a cheerful voice. He would accomplish little with anger. “Mortimer! I apologize for my delay. I see you’ve located someone to help you pass the time while you waited on me.” He extended his arm and shook hands with William. “Good to see you, William. I was detained at the office and now find myself late for my meeting with Mortimer.”
    William pointed to a chair. “Sit down and join us. Mortimer tells me your family is off to England.” He jabbed an arthritic finger at Jonas. “I hope they won’t further deplete your bank account. Perhaps you should have gone along to ensure they don’t spend all your money.”
    “I plan to join them once I conclude a pressing business matter that holds me in Rochester. In fact, that’s why I scheduled this meeting with Mortimer.”
    William rested his arm on the table. “Then I’m glad I joined Mortimer. I imagine I can be of some help, too.” He signaled for a waiter. “Why don’t we order something to eat? I always think better on a full stomach.”
    Jonas glanced across the table. Mortimer had obviously had more than two glasses of port, for his eyelids had dropped to half-mast. If Jonas didn’t do something, his lawyer would soon be snoring. Unable to think of any other immediate remedy, Jonas slapped his palm on the table.
    The table shook, the glasses rattled, and Mortimer jumped as though he’d been shot. “What’s wrong? What happened?” Mortimer rubbed his forehead, clearly dismayed.
    “I was expressing my anger over being late. William would like to join us for lunch, but with my late arrival, we don’t have sufficient time. I do apologize to both of you.” Jonas nudged Mortimer’s knee, hoping the lawyer would take his cue. When he failed to respond, Jonas pushed away from the table. “Come along, Mortimer. We don’t want to be late for our meeting.”
    “What? Late?” He looked at the clock and shook his head. “We have plenty of time before we meet with Judge Webster.”
    William raised a bushy white eyebrow. “Judge Webster?” He leaned a little closer to Jonas. “Have you gone and gotten yourself into some kind of trouble?”
    Glances came from several nearby tables, for William’s “whispered” words were akin to a shout. Jonas glared at Mortimer, who returned a glassy-eyed stare. “No. This is merely a business meeting regarding some, uh, some investments.”
    “Right. Investments,” Mortimer repeated. “I think I’d like another glass of port.”
    “There will be no more port. We must be on our way.”
    William clasped Jonas’s wrist with his bony fingers. “Now, wait a moment, Jonas. As your banker, I believe I can add valuable insight about investments. Why don’t we order lunch, and the three of us can discuss this matter before you meet with the judge. Who, I might add, has very little business sense. I don’t know why you’re meeting with him.”
    “Please keep your voice down, William. I don’t want everyone in the club to know my business.”
    The old banker grinned. “Afraid they’ll overhear us and attempt to intrude upon your latest venture?”
    Jonas tugged at his collar. “One can never be too careful. You know that.”
    “Yet you’re willing to include Judge Webster in your scheme. Why not the man who’s been your banker for years?”
    “If our venture succeeds, I promise to