One Smooth Stone. Marcia Lee Laycock

Drew’s piercing blue eyes.

      “So what are your plans, Alex, if you don’t mind my asking?”

      He shrugged. “I don’t really have any yet.”

      “In a few days you’ll have some huge decisions to make.”

      “Maybe.”

      “You still think this is all a mistake?”

      Alex looked up. “I find it more than a little hard to believe, yes.”

      “I suppose I can understand that.”

      “Can you?”

      Drew lifted his chin. “I wasn’t always a wealthy man.”

      Find that hard to believe too.

      “Mind if I offer a little advice?”

      Alex shrugged again. “Sure.”

      “Get yourself a good financial advisor. I can recommend a couple. You’ll want to start thinking about investments or charitable donations. I can recommend a few good organizations that use their money wisely and well.”

      Alex sighed and slumped back. “Maybe I’ll just give it all away and be done with it.”

      Drew chuckled. “Well, that would make your life a lot simpler, I suppose, but wealth can be a great advantage. You could do a lot of good, bless a lot of people.”

      When Alex didn’t respond Drew leaned forward. “Can I pray for you, Alex?”

      The question so startled him that Alex just stared.

      Drew smiled. “It’s been my experience that prayer helps a lot when it comes to making decisions, whether they’re about money or careers or just life in general. Praying about it can make all the difference.”

      “You sort of have to believe in a god first, don’t you?”

      The older man chuckled again. “That does help.”

      “I only believe in what I can see.”

      “Oh? But you believed in something unseen today.”

      “What do you mean?”

      “The wind. We couldn’t see it, but we believed it was there.”

      Alex smirked. He’d heard this line before—from Pastor T. “Because of the evidence. The sails were full.”

      “Exactly. There’s all kinds of evidence that God is here.”

      “Maybe for you. I haven’t seen any.”

      “Maybe you just aren’t looking at things the right way.”

      Alex felt a pain knotting between his shoulder blades, but decided to play along. “For instance?”

      Drew waved his hand toward the windows. “What do you see?”

      Puget Sound lay calm and gleaming in the late day sun. Small waves rippled up onto the shore below them. Alex could hear their sighing between the cries of high-wheeling gulls.

      “Water and birds,” he answered.

      The chuckle came again and Alex turned back with a glare, thinking the man was mocking him. But Drew was smiling in a way that made Alex’s anger seep away.

      “It’s an ocean teaming with life, Alex. Fish of all kinds and colors, fish that aren’t fish at all, but mammals—mammals that communicate and live communally. Organisms so small and so complex scientists are still puzzled by them after years of study. And plant life just as diverse. Do you think it all just happened?”

      Alex shrugged. “I never really thought about it.”

      “And take your coming here to Seattle. I believe He led you to us and us to you.”

      “I thought that was Kenni’s good research.”

      “Kenni lost your trail at one point. Completely. When you went to the Yukon you almost disappeared off the map. You don’t use a credit card much, do you?”

      Alex shook his head. “I prefer cash.”

      “Why did you suddenly use one two months ago?”

      “Two months ago? I didn’t—” Alex stopped. “Oh, yeah. Dog food.”

      “Dog food?”

      “My supplier said he’d give me a real good deal if I bought a huge order. I figured I could sell some at a profit back in Dawson so I went for it. I had to use the card. What’s that got to do with it?”

      “Do you realize that’s the first credit card purchase you made since moving to the Yukon?”

      “So?”

      “Interesting that you did it just when Kenni had lost your trail. That purchase led her right to you.”

      “Coincidence,” he said, but cursed himself for using the plastic. He should never even have gotten one. He swallowed to try and settle the churning in his gut. He needed a smoke.

      Drew shook his head. “I don’t think so. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it was Kenni who was assigned to track you down.”

      “What do you mean?”

      Before he could answer, George walked into the room and the conversation was diverted. Within minutes they were discussing a case George had just been assigned, and became so engrossed in it that Alex slipped away and walked out onto the deck. He stared out at the sound again, the huge expanse of water turning gold under the setting sun.

      There was something good in the way Drew talked about it. Something...what was it? Respect. Awe. Passion. Alex sighed. He’d never felt that way about anything. He’d never allowed himself to. He was trying not to analyze why when he heard a sound behind him. He turned to find Kenni standing in the doorway. He dropped his eyes briefly, then leveled them to meet hers.

      Her words tumbled out as though afraid that if she hesitated, she wouldn’t say them. “Alex, I want to apologize. I’ve felt rotten all day.” She took a few steps toward him. “I had no right to say I had you all figured out. It was arrogant. I barely know you. It’s just that—”

      “You were right,” Alex interrupted her.

      She looked up at him. “Pardon?”

      “You nailed me to the wall. Guess that’s what made me so mad.” Alex dropped his eyes. “Or you could chalk it up to lack of nicotine.”

      Kenni’s eyes smiled. “Well, maybe if I’d had a bit more tact….”

      Alex shrugged. “You might’ve noticed tact isn’t exactly my strong suit either.”

      The smile moved from her eyes to her lips and she put out her hand. “Friends?”

      Alex shook her hand briefly, then frowned and looked away. “George just accused me of not knowing what that word means.”

      Kenni frowned. “George is a little…um…overprotective.”

      “Maybe he’s right.”

      “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

      When he glanced sideways at her he was surprised to see tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. He wondered what she’d do if he kissed her, and maybe he would’ve found out if George hadn’t walked out onto the deck right then. The man sure has great timing. He took a step away from Kenni. George’s eyes flashed from one to the other, then focused on Kenni.

      “You okay?”

      Kenni nodded as she blinked the tears out of her eyes.

      George peered into her face. “You sure?”

      “Yes. Yes, I’m fine. I was just apologizing to Alex for something I said earlier.”

      “Oh.”