Chapter 5As a wedding present and as a way to give her own personal touch to the Nickerson house, Billie gifts Isaac with a mariner's bell, a symbol of the blending of their two families. The bell had come from a vessel her father and grandfather helped build. “What an incredible coincidence that your family was in the ship building business,” Isaac remarks, admiring the vintage treasure.
“Yes, they were. But not as prosperous as your family. Fishing boats were their specialty, but they were quite sea worthy and sailed to many exotic ports.”
As Billie polishes the brass bell to a gleaming finish, she reminisces about all the exciting adventures her father spoke of. She can pretend he is still alive, rocking in his favorite chair by the crackling glow of the fireplace with her devoted mot
