Amy was relieved to see Derek’s car in David’s driveway as Alex had predicted. She parked on the street and rushed to the front door ahead of the others, wishing she still had her windbreaker as the mountain winds whipped up.

David opened the door after her first knock. “Hi, Amy!” he said, smiling.

“Hi, David.” She smiled back, noting from his tee shirt and jeans that he must not have left the house. “Alex wants to see you.”

“I know,” he said, and looked beyond her. “Hey, Alex!”

“What do you mean?” Amy asked him.

“I called David before I heard from you,” Alex explained, joining her. To David, he said, “I got a little delayed.”

“Where’s your partner?” David asked him.

“He’s more than delayed.”

“What’s going on?” Barb asked from behind Amy.

Amy stepped aside so they could see each other. “Barb, this is David Nichols. David, this is my friend Barb Johannson. I don’t know if you’ve met before.”

“I’ve heard about you,” Barb told David. “I don’t keep up with Derek’s friends, but you definitely made an impression with Amy by introducing her to Alex.”

“Come on inside,” David suggested.