the new development that’s opening up across the lake — you know, next to the newer, bigger marina. Gave out a bunch of my cards too. Maybe something will come of it.”
“We can hope.”
On the drive home, as Crosby and Dylan slept and Spring buried her nose in a book, Laurel considered her new acquaintances. What different feelings they provoked in her! Susan and Gary were very nice but stirred up a fevered kind of anxiety inside her. It was hard to talk to them without constantly remembering their connection to James, but with time, maybe she could overcome that. She was glad she’d met them and could see why James was so fond of them. Like him, they were good people — forthright, plainspoken, and yet, kind too.
In contrast, Cooper was a bit of an enigma, and somehow, that also drew her interest. Her father would be glad she had spoken with Dr. Edwards. She believed they once had been great friends although, over time, they had drifted apart.
Laurel had to admit she was charmed by the man. He was pleasant, well mannered, and probably quite interesting to talk to. She wondered though . . . He had asked after her family but hadn’t mentioned any family of his own. But that intriguing train of thought was interrupted when Dylan woke up and put in a CD, and the two of them had a great time belting out ’80s tunes all the way home.
Chapter 17
The next weekend, Laurel went out on Dylan’s boat with Ginny, Stuart, and her brothers. As Dylan steered past a couple of jet skis and a pontoon, a sudden shout from Stu startled her out of the pleasant lethargy brought on by the sun, the drone of the motor boat, and the wind in her face.
“Hey, Dylan, turn the boat around! It’s James.”
Laurel’s eyes popped open and she squinted in the direction Stu pointed. Another boat bobbed in the wake and Laurel’s eyes were immediately drawn toward one of the boaters, shirtless and leaning over the stern, pulling in a ski rope. He turned in response to the shout and held up his hand in greeting, a toothy smile gleaming in his tanned face. James had developed quite an outdoorsy look to him since he’d arrived, and Laurel thought it suited him. She turned her attention to the rest of the group and saw two men and a woman she didn’t recognize scattered about the boat, but it was difficult to discern their features given the distance. Laurel surmised they could only be the famous EMP think tank and found herself very curious about the people who knew more about the man James had become than she did. She was interested — but undeniably apprehensive — when Dylan indicated a small beach where they could all meet up.
They tied up at a little dock floating just a few feet from an area of dirty sand, flat enough to hold a few chairs and maybe a little hibachi grill.
“Hey, Stu, imagine meeting you here!” James came up and the two shook hands, James reaching up to clap him on the shoulder. “Hi, Virginia,” he nodded. He looked at the rest of the party. “You guys need to come over and meet the California crew.”
He led them over, and Stu whistled. “Nice boat, James.”
“Oh, it isn’t mine. I rented it for a couple of weeks. Not much use for it when it’s just me, but I thought it might come in handy while I had guests. Had to show them the best of the area, and a boat’s the best way to do it.” He turned to his friends.
“Stuart, this is Eric Harville and his wife Millie, and this is John Benwick. Guys, meet my old buddy Stuart Pendleton. This is his wife, Virginia, and her brothers, Dylan and Crosby Elliot, and her sister Laurel.”
Eric gave a small start of recognition at Laurel’s name, and cast a quick surreptitious look between her and James. Then he stepped forward and held out his hand to her. He was an average-looking guy with a pleasant aura about him. “It’s nice to meet you.” He turned to the others and shook hands with them as well. “This is quite a big crowd for just one family,” he remarked.
“We have another sister too,” Laurel replied with a serene smile, “but she’s seventeen and too cool to come out with us old folks. She went to the movies with some friends.”
“Wow, lucky