Dominic, an EMT from Michigan, travels to Italy to discover his heritage. But after visiting the small town where his great grandparents lived, he finds so much more. The historical treasures of Rome. The priceless artwork of Florence. And then on to Venice to explore the city billed as “Disneyland for Adults.”<br><br>But the city is battling a historic flood, altering his plans and setting him on a course he never could have imagined, a path that intersects with the lives of three others. Sandro, a handsome Italian actor, appears to be the man of his dreams. As they walk the flooded city, they meet the charming Maria and her energetic young son Massimo. A near tragedy soon binds their lives together forever as Venice tries to defend itself against encroaching waters.<br><br>Dominic vows to return to his lover in a few months. But February of 2020 proves to be a bad time for a reunion. Can these two men overcome a flood, a tragedy, and the perils of a pandemic to have a life together? Will their love survive until life someday returns to normal?

High Water Mark

“Hey, Luigi! Are you taking your boat out today?”


“I was thinking about it. I don’t know if there’s much point. All the tourists have left, and the locals have other things to worry about than a romantic boat ride.”


“Well, I’ve got a tourist here with me, and I would like to show him more of the city. He was only here one day before the flood. It seems to me the only way to give him the tour right now is by water. What do you say?”


“The current is still a little tricky in some spots, but we’ll give it a try. Oh, yeah, I remember you, Dominic. I’m surprised you’re still here. Where are you staying?”


Dominic opened his mouth to reply but Sandro was quicker. “I’ve been putting him up at my place. We managed to get up to where he was staying on the other side of St. Mark’s and get his stuff down to my apartment. We wanted to make sure he would be able to leave without a hassle when his trip was up.”


Chapter 27