“That’s true.”
Peter looked at Stone and Dino, frowning. “I have to say, you’re both taking the news much better than we thought you would.”
“Ask us about it in a couple of weeks, and we might have more to say.”
“That’s not cryptic at all,” Ben said.
“Let’s just say we’re still processing everything,” Dino said.
“NowthatI can understand,” Peter said.
“So, what’s this meeting that brings you to New York?” Stone asked.
“It’s with Josie Hale,” Ben said.
“She sent us a script, and it was bangers,” Peter said.
Ben nodded. “We want to meet with her before anyone else does.”
Stone cocked his head. “Why do I know that name?”
“Do you remember the TV showTobin Country?” Peter asked.
“Was that the one about a family who…” Stone paused, thinking.
“Ran an outdoor adventure company in Colorado?”
“That’s it.” The show had run for nearly a decade.
“Good memory. Josie played the mother. When the show ended, she gave up acting and became a director. TV mostly, but she also makes documentaries and has been branching into feature films.”
“I had no idea.”
“You might have seen one of her docs,” Ben said. “She’s like the David Attenborough of the sea. Focuses on the oceans and the creatures who inhabit it.”
“Like you almost did,” Dino said to Stone.
“What do you mean?” Peter asked.
Stone gave Dino a thanks-for-nothing look. Stone had yet to tell Peter about his ordeal.
“It was nothing,” he said.
Peter looked questioningly at Dino, who held up his hands and said, “Apparently, I’m sworn to secrecy.”
Both Peter and Ben turned their attention to Stone.
“You’re a real pal, you know that?” Stone said to Dino.
“The cat’s out of the bag,” Peter said to him. “So, you might as well tell me now.”
“Oh, all right.” Stone told them about the sinking of theAmanda Jaeand his subsequent rescue from the sea.
“I saw a news report on that,” Ben said. “They didn’t mention the name of the survivors, though.”
Peter stared at his father, dumbfounded. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
“I was fine, so there was no reason to bother you,” Stone countered.
