It was too much to hope that Dirk would be on time, he thought as he followed the waiter to the white linen covered table overlooking the canal that he had requested. It was not often now that Dirk wanted to meet. When he had been a university student, they had met each week. Pieter smiled as he remembered Saturday mornings and eating huge pancakes filled with cheese and onions with Dirk as he listened to him rhapsodize about his newest love and share his latest career plans. But that was a long time ago. Now, it had to be a problem that had made Dirk ask to meet. But what problem? A fight with Crispin? Not likely, Crispin had given up trying to give Dirk advice. Money? Please, don’t let it be another request to help finance some project. He ordered a Jenever and sat back to wait.“Pieter, on time as always.” Dirk folded himself gracefully into the chair that the waiter held for him and, gesturing toward Pieter’s glass, said, “The same.” Pieter regarded his brother dispassionately.
