fine.”
“It might help to go below for a bit.”
“I said I’m fine.” The loud pitch of Alex’s voice made Drew turn toward them.
“Okay.” George held up his hands, palms out. “Just offering friendly advice. I know what it’s like to be seasick.” He leaned on the railing. “We’ll be heading in closer to shore soon. The chop won’t be so bad then.”
Alex patted his pockets and muttered a curse. “Don’t suppose you’d have a smoke?”
George’s eyebrows hunched together. “No, I don’t.”
Alex gripped the thin railing. They both turned at the sound of Alex’s name to see Drew beckoning to him. Alex wanted to ignore him, but knew he had no excuse for being that rude. He left George at the rail and moved toward the older man.
“Would you like to take a turn at the helm?”
“What?”
“Take the wheel.” He stepped back, motioning for Alex to take his place. Alex hesitated for another moment, then reached for it. He felt the pull on the rudder instantly and grabbed on with his other hand.
“Just keep her tacked into the wind and hold her steady. She’ll do the rest.”
Alex planted his feet more firmly. He liked the feel of it, liked the power he felt as the boat surged under him. He suddenly realized he was in control. A wrong move and he could spill them all into the sea. He grinned to himself. What would Miss Kendra Adams think of me then? Maybe it would be something she’d expect me to do. After all, she’d read between the lines. He was wondering how much it would take to make this thing flip over when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?” Drew Adams was smiling, but Alex had the feeling he’d read his mind.
Drew looked up at the billowing sails. “Feels like you’re in control, like it’s all up to you.” He dropped his eyes back to Alex’s. “But it’s all an illusion. Believing we’re in control is always an illusion.” He turned away, his eyes roaming the sound. “But it’s a temptation on a day like this.”
Alex kept the boat tacked into the wind, the sails full.
It was hard to avoid Kenni for the rest of the trip, especially when she passed out sandwiches and sodas for lunch. Alex managed not to make eye contact. He wasn’t into making idle conversation with George either so he stayed with Drew at the helm, learning how to maneuver the boat until they moored it late in the day below a large boathouse.
The Adams’ “beach house” was a sprawling cedar home, its front mostly high windows extending to a steep roof. Alex felt like he was walking onto a movie set. And he was the only prop that didn’t fit. As they left the dock he noticed a woman waving from the deck. She came to meet them as they walked through the front door, giving Drew a peck on the cheek and Kenni a hug. She reached out and squeezed George’s hand. Kenni didn’t make any attempt to introduce him, and Alex noticed Drew waited for her to do so until it was obvious he would have to.
“Alex, this is my wife, Marie.”
“So you’re the famous Alex Donnelly.” Alex thought he heard Kenni groan. Her mother extended her hand and Alex was struck by how different the two women were. In contrast to Kenni’s slim figure, Marie was short and well into the stage of middle-aged spread. Her hair was blond, though Alex suspected it wasn’t natural. But he was drawn into her warm smile.
“Or maybe infamous,” he said in a flat tone.
Marie chuckled. “Well, if we were truthful, we’d all have to admit to a bit of infamy, wouldn’t we?”
Alex didn’t smile, but met her steady gaze as she chattered on.
“I hope you’re hungry. I’ve been cooking all afternoon. Do you like seafood, Alex? I’ve made Drew’s favorite, Dungeness crab. With a chocolate mousse for dessert. It’s fairly light and quite fun to make. And we have some wonderful coffee some friends just brought us from Brazil. Do you drink coffee? I hope so. It’d be a shame not to taste it.”
Without waiting for him to answer her questions she turned to her husband. “You don’t need to change, do you, dear? It’s almost ready. You don’t mind an early supper, do you?”
She turned to Alex again. “We don’t dress for dinner here, Alex. When we’re at the beach we keep things informal. I like it better that way, don’t you?” Alex opened his mouth to reply, but she’d already turned to George.
“So how was the day, George? Did Drew let you take the helm?”
“Alex was our pilot for most of the day,” George managed to squeeze in. He flashed a look at Alex that made him frown.
Marie’s eyebrows shot up. “Ah, you’re privileged indeed, Alex. Drew doesn’t let just anyone handle the Angel.”
“He did a fine job,” Drew said.
“Well, you all must be starving. I always get so hungry when I’ve been out on the water, don’t you? Kenni, why don’t you show Alex where he can wash up? I’ve got to get back to the kitchen.”
Kenni pointed toward the back of the house without looking at him. “Down that hallway, to your right.”
Alex followed the directions without comment.
George was waiting for him when he came out and he wasted no time coming to the point.
“What did you say to Kenni?”
“What?”
“She’s in the worst mood I’ve seen her in for months. What’d you say to her?”
Alex scowled. “Maybe you should ask her what she said to me.”
“Kenni’s the most considerate, compassionate person I’ve ever known. So don’t—”
Alex snorted. “I thought you said you had no attachment.”
George’s frown deepened and he lowered his voice a notch as he leaned forward. “We’re friends, Alex. Maybe that’s a word you don’t understand, but I’m warning you.…”
Alex’s hands clenched into fists. He felt the familiar rage building. Part of him wanted to let go and slam his fist into George’s face. Part of him tried to hold back. He forced his fingers to straighten as Marie’s voice floated out to them from the other end of the house.
“Dinner, everyone. Come to the table please. Kenni? Find those boys and get them in here. I don’t want this to get cold.”
They heard Kenni’s footsteps approaching.
George stepped around the corner to meet her. “Alex is coming,” he told her. Their footsteps faded away.
Alex slumped against the wall, reached for a cigarette, and cursed under his breath when he remembered he didn’t have any. He lingered in the hallway until he heard Drew call his name. He pushed himself away from the wall and joined them.
At
