Nick introduced them all to Reese, the owner of Eco-Tours who had finagled permission for a ride out to the island—never letting the owners know it was the OWP that would be going.

Reese pulled on the bill of a baseball cap over blond curls. He looked younger than Jack, although Amy knew he wasn’t. Nick had told her all about him-—a corporate dropout from Atlanta who couldn’t stand one more day of traffic, cell phones and beepers. When he’d arrived home to find his wife waiting for him at the front door with her suitcases packed—she’d decided she was in love with their marriage counselor—he’d taken one bag of his stuff and never looked back.

The mismatched group climbed into the boat—proof that a cause can bring largely different individuals together.

The boat sliced through the waves, and reverence for the Sound brought silence. Norah and Brenton leaned over the bow and allowed the water to splash them. Revvy, on the backseat, lifted his face to the late-afternoon sun. Reese stood at the bow and steered the boat with one hand while singing to himself.

Amy’s body trembled and she blamed the humming motor of the boat; she wished she could be as still and immersed as the rest of the group. She sat next to Nick on a vinyl bench at the back of the boat—he flung his arm atop the seat behind her and she resisted leaning into it and closing her eyes as physical memory became stronger than present reality.

The sea spread before them in a blue stretch of peace, separating in V-shaped waves from the bow of the boat, allowing them to pass through the water. Amy sat straight, her hands in her lap, her satchel at her feet

Nick pulled at the ends of her hair. “Whatcha thinkin’?”

“What a beautiful evening this is. We’re lucky. The last time we came it was overcast, choppy. I got a little seasick. A representative of the Eldrin clan escorted us. They only gave us one hour to view the island. We thought we wouldn’t be able to get back here unless we broke the law—trespassed. I know they were ready to do it.” She waved at the disjointed group. “But jail time did not seem in my best interest.”

“I’d like to take the credit, but it was all Reese.”

“Well, Reese or you—or both. Thank you, Nick.”

“You know, the owners can’t find out about this—Reese could lose his job.”

“No problem. I’ve already told all of these guys to keep it quiet.” The boat slowed and Amy stood.