Healing Stones by Stephen Arterburn, Nancy Rue Page A

lingered in the air. Each word we’d spoken—beyond the yearning whispers to the real exchanges that led us to know that we thought and believed and doubted in identical ways—screamed now from the pages of the books he’d left behind.
    Along with everything else. The electric kettle, the canvas bag he used to carry his overflow of papers, even the twenty-pound, leather-bound Oxford Annotated Bible were exactly where they’d always been.
    I shoved my knuckles against my mouth. He wouldn’t leave all this here.
    So where was he?
    When I got to Ethan Kaye’s office, Gina took one look at me—told me I looked awful—and went directly into the inner sanctum. She was back before I could sink any further and ushered me in.
    Ethan didn’t have to tell me to sit down. I couldn’t stand up. I barely made it to the Windsor chair before I broke down. Hard, from the pit of myself.
    Ethan and I didn’t have the kind of relationship where I poured out my personal soul. In fact, I didn’t have that kind of relationship with anyone—except Zach. I choked myself back and buried my face in the handkerchief he tucked into my hand.
    â€œIt’s finally hit you,” he said.
    â€œRich knows. My kids know.”
    He let a short silence fall. “That’s rough.”
    â€œI deserve it.” I looked up. “I’m trying to tie up loose ends—I brought my letter.”
    â€œNo hurry.”
    â€œI need to know—Ethan, where is Zach?”
    His eyes narrowed.
    â€œI don’t want to see him for—that,” I said. “But we need to get closure with the kids on the Faith and Doubt project.”
    â€œI have no idea where he is.” Ethan’s voice flattened. “And neither does anyone else. As of this morning, his e-mails are bouncing back. His cell phone service has been discontinued. To my knowledge he hasn’t been seen since you left him on the boat Thursday night. I’ve talked to the police, the fire inspector—there’s no trace of him in the—remains of the boat.” He cleared his throat. “They’ve had divers in the inlet.”
    â€œWhat about whoever took the pictures? He would know.” I choked back another threatening sob. “I should never have had a relationship with Zach, Ethan, but I can’t just shrug off the fact that he’s disappeared. Something has happened to him.”
    Ethan ran his hand across his mouth. “Or he simply left.”
    I stared at him. “Right or wrong, Zach loves me. He wouldn’t abandon me to take the fall for both of us.”
    Ethan said something that I didn’t hear, because I put my face into the handkerchief and wept until it hurt.
    When the strange woman inside me finally shuddered out the last of it, Ethan handed me a glass of water.
    â€œDrink this,” he said. “And I want you to listen to me.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I didn’t come here to do this. I’m fine.”
    â€œNo, you’re not fine, and you won’t be until you get help with this. Hear me out.”
    I nodded and took a sip. He half-perched on his desk. The lines on his face drew long.
    â€œI have a friend who’s a therapist,” Ethan said. “He’s a well-known Christian psychologist—has a syndicated radio talk show, has written a couple of books. You may have heard of the Healing Choice Clinics.”
    I shook my head.
    â€œAnyway, he’s gifted. He doesn’t see clients much anymore, but he would talk to you if I asked him to. We go way back.”
    â€œI can’t go to—wherever—” My intellect seemed to have drained out with my tears.
    â€œYou wouldn’t have to. He’s on sabbatical up at Point No Point. That has to be a God-thing.”
    â€œI appreciate the offer, Ethan, but I can handle this.”
    His silence clearly said he didn’t agree.
    â€œAll right, give me his