Page 14 of Dan

“I very much enjoy them,” she said, smiling at him. “I like them better than my own family.” Dan just chuckled, shaking his head as he went back to the food line. Paige, Sara, and Ella smiled at the young woman.

“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you earlier,” she said. “Please forgive me.”

“There is nothing to forgive, Finley. You were being honest and direct. I appreciate that very much,” said Paige.

“You’re all very young-looking,” she frowned, looking at their faces. “You don’t look old enough to have a son or grandchildren Dan’s age. Is it the minerals in the water here?” The whole table turned to look at her.

“The minerals?” asked Miller. “What do you mean?”

“I can smell them. Your mineral content in the soil and water is extraordinarily high. The average person probably can’t smell them, but my senses are heightened in every way. In fact, the minerals and other deposits shouldn’t be here, not here in this part of the country, but they are. I suspect it helps your gardens.”

“You are a puzzle, Finley,” smiled Antoine.

“That’s what my parents said every time they sent me to the mental hospital. I was a puzzle that needed to be sorted out. They had a lot of money and very little time to deal with a child like me. I was a great disappointment to them despite getting multiple college degrees and excelling at anything academic.

“I don’t understand why it would matter if I can’t modify my language in social settings. Shouldn’t others be more accommodating and compassionate?”

“They should be,” smiled Ella. “You’ve met Alexandra. She was just like you at one time, and so was Ace. They’ve all learned to let the inner voice take over sometimes and sometimes to tell it to be silent.”

“Will I learn that as well?”

“We can help you if you like,” said Paige. “But hear me loud and clear, Finley. You’re perfect just the way you are. You don’t have to change for anyone here, including my son. He seems to think you’re just perfect.”

“He’s a wonderful kisser,” she grinned. The women giggled, and Finley realized she’d made another mistake. “I did it again, didn’t I?”

“No. You said something wonderfully innocent and sweet,” said Sara.

“I like you all very much.”

CHAPTER NINE

“Luke?” called Pigsty. “We just heard over the wire that aid ships are on their way to the Philippines. An 8.4 quake hit one hundred miles off the coast, causing a thirty-foot tsunami. It’s bad, brother. Really bad.”

“Is this natural or manmade?” he asked.

“We’re not sure yet. There is some drilling happening off the islands, but it’s all been legal and approved. I’m adjusting the satellites to see if I can get a better look at what’s going on there.”

“Just be careful, so no one knows you’re using their satellites,” smirked Luke.

“No worries, it just means most of Japan won’t have their morning news.”

Luke just laughed, shaking his head as he left Pigsty and the others to do their thing. It would most likely be morning before they would know anything. At least for tonight, they could rest easy knowing that Finley was safe.

In the grove, the couples were gathered for the first night of good weather they’d had in a while. The firepit was blazing, and people were making s’mores and other toasty treats, listening to music, and just enjoying the evening. Finley looked as if she were completely lost, watching everyone laughing and talking. Luke sat next to her and smiled.

“It’s a bit overwhelming, isn’t it?” he said.

“Oh. Yes, I suppose that is the feeling I’m getting. Overwhelmed, but I’m also counting the numbers of people here, the parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. You all look remarkably young.” Luke nodded again. “It’s the minerals. Isn’t it?”

Surprised and yet not, he gave her a half-smile.

“We’re honestly not sure, Finley. There are several warm thermal ponds on the property that contain high contents of certain minerals and deposits that we’re still trying to figure out. It seems to have extraordinary healing properties and, in some ways, anti-aging effects. We ask that you not tell anyone about this.”

“No, of course not,” she said, nodding. “I’m very good with secrets. I promise.”

“I’m sure you are,” smiled Luke. “Finley, do you think that GAM Lab had anything to do with you being taken? I mean, it seems suspicious that they wanted you to think about your loyalty after they asked you to work on something to do with drilling, and now we all think drilling could be at the source of what the men who took you were trying to do.”

She frowned at him, then looked down at the dirt and up again.

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