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    He needed to relax and forget his troubles. And there was only one place that would soothe him at this time of night. Forgetting dinner, he crossed the room to the downstairs bathroom, stripped out of his clothes, and donned his trunks. He walked out to the backyard with a beach towel wrapped around his waist.
    He slipped into the hot tub and hunkered low, allowing the pulsating jets to knead his sore muscles. Eric was right. He was tense, too tense for his own good. He'd have to see the doctor for blood pressure medication if he wasn't careful. Michael looked up. The moon, shining through the gazebo's glass dome, gave the water a luminescent effect.
    Lord, please help me sell another house . . . or at least find renters.
    Michael shifted to another seat, the jets now focusing on his lower back. Tomorrow he would run by his rental property since he had missed his chance that afternoon. The painters would be finished repainting the inside, and the carpets should be steam cleaned by now. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
    "Honey." Sandy's voice trilled above the whir of the hot tub. "Where have you been?"
    Michael bolted upright. "I thought you were sleeping."
    "I was, but then I heard the garage door open and waited for you to come upstairs." Sandy wrapped the chenille blanket tighter around her shoulders. "You didn't answer my question."
    Michael turned off the jets. "I was at work."
    Even in the dark, he could see the look of distrust in Sandy's eyes. "You've never stayed at work this long without calling."
    "I was going through files of potential clients." Michael playfully flicked water at Sandy. "Care to join me?"
    "It's almost midnight." Sandy took a step back. "I'm going back to bed. Will you be long?" She flung one corner of the blanket over her shoulder to cover her exposed neck.
    "A few more minutes. It's been a rough day." Michael slunk down in a corner seat.
    "For me too." Sandy took another step toward the back door, her figure more of a shadow. "I'll be upstairs, waiting. "She turned and went into the house.
    Michael pressed the button for the jets once more. Should he stay in the hot tub long enough for Sandy to go back to sleep? He didn't feel like talking.
    Didn't his wife realize he was working his tail off for her? For Julia? And for the wedding he wished he'd saved up for a long time ago? Michael laid his head back and looked at the moon. Lord, help me relax.

    "Go? Right now?" Claire stood dumbfounded as Pearl and Harry prepared to leave the campground.
    "It's a good three hours to San Francisco from here and I want to see my new grandbaby come into the world." Pearl folded the bed back into a table.
    The thought of a good night's sleep vanished. "I'll let you two get ready." Claire turned to grab the door handle.
    "And where do you think you're going, young lady?" Harry set his baseball cap on his head and reached out to stop Claire from leaving. "You're coming with us."
    For a moment she felt as if she were being kidnapped. But the sweet look on Harry's face told her otherwise.
    "That's if you don't mind hanging out with two old folks like us." Harry laughed. "Or do you have somewhere else to go?"
    "No, but I can't simply leave my car . . . ?" Claire peered out the window. "I don't think we can move it ourselves to hook it onto your trailer." She thought about the letter and Capitola. Could they drop her off at the return address? Claire shook off the thought.
    Harry rubbed his chin, which made a scratching noise against the stubble. "You're right about that. I'd hate to wake the Andersons."
    "Why don't you two go?" Claire blurted. "Samantha's probably still awake. I'll bunk with her and then call a tow truck in the morning." Claire leaned down and snatched her purse from the tan leather seat.
    "I hate to leave you." Pearl took a tissue and blew her nose. "I know God put you in our lives for a reason. And we're blessed because of you."
    Claire didn't understand this couple. She had rammed