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We both laugh. “Come and have a look,” she says softly, and she goes up the steps and pushes open the door.
I follow her inside. The Haven turns out to be a hall with white walls, light-wood furniture, and high windows, including one rather beautiful stained-glass window that’s decorated with religious symbols from all religions, with a table at the front. There are chairs and bean bags, and a low table with paper and coloring pencils for the kids, with their drawings pinned to a large board. Two huge displays of fresh flowers on either side of the front table bring a splash of color. There’s also a stand for votive candles, incense holders, and several bookcases.
“Our library of wisdom,” Scarlett says as I wander over to it. It contains a carefully curated selection of religious texts, philosophical treatises, and explorations of spirituality from across lots of different cultures.
I pick up one and show it to her with a raised eyebrow. It’s calledReveal Your Inner Goddess.
“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” she says.
I laugh and put it back. “I like the fact that it caters for all religions.”
“We believe everyone’s faith is important and valid here.”
I think about that as I follow her out of the Haven, into the bright sunshine.
“This is our town hall.” She opens the door of the big building next to the Haven, and I follow her inside. It’s a basic community hall, with white walls, polished wooden floors, exposed beams, long benches and tables and stackable chairs, and a noticeboard near the door. Handmade tapestries hang on the walls, presumably crafted by members of the community. Pots holding more fresh flowers are placed at regular intervals along the walls.
Open doors reveal smaller meeting rooms off to the sides. “The Elders meet here every evening,” she says. “I saw them last night to put forward your proposal.”
“Oh?” It’s the first time she’s mentioned this. “What did they say?”
“They’re interested in your offer. They want me to report back on our meeting today, and then they’ll discuss it.” She looks down.
I tip my head to try to see her face. “Do you get a say in it?”
“We trust the Elders to make the decisions for the commune.”
“I get that. But you own the land now, right?”
She frowns. “Technically.”
“So you should have the final say on what happens to it.”
“It’s complicated.” She turns and starts walking, and I fall into step beside her. “This is the retreat,” she says, and she stops before the largest building. “Come on.”
I hesitate, though. “Are you sure? If this is a sanctuary for abused women and children, the last thing they would want is a strange guy wandering through the corridors.”
Her gaze scans me, and then her expression softens. “You wanted to see all of it, right? It’s important that they don’t think they’re coming here to get away from men. Men make up half the population of the world, and the vast majority of them are good people. They need to reestablish trust by connecting with the good ones, that’s all.”
I blink. “And you’re including me in that group?”
Her eyebrows lift as if she’s surprised herself. Then she gives me a quirky smile. “Looks like it. I don’t think you’re a bad person, Orson. Just misguided.” The smile turns mischievous. “Anyway, you’re with me. You’ll be fine.” She gestures with her head for me to follow her.
Stunned at that little revelation, I go inside with her.
We walk slowly through the building. There’s a big meeting room, classrooms for group workshops, and smaller offices for one-on-one counseling. A gym with a space for yoga, ballet, and Jiu Jitsu classes. I discover that Scarlett herself runs many of those. A kitchen backs onto the vegetable patches, and she tells me that everyone is encouraged to spend time helping out there, because they believe a connection with nature is integral to healing.
“We run a mind, body, and spirit holistic healing program,” she says as we slowly climb a central staircase to the next floor. “Physical healing is obviously important in cases of abuse, but healing the mind and the soul is also essential. Relationships are all about the balance of power, and in the cases of most of these women, they feel as if they’ve lost all their power. We try to help them regain some of that control over their lives by showing them how to eat better, exercise, andmeditate, as well as to help them deal with some of the more practical aspects of their situation.”
“You offer legal and financial advice, right?”
“Well not me personally, I’m clueless about that side of things. But yes, some of the members of the commune are experts in those fields, and they offer their help if needed.”
We get to the top of the stairs, and she shows me around. It’s like a hotel, with individual rooms for the women and children, playrooms for the kids, and spotless bathrooms. As we’re walking along the corridor, a woman comes out of a room with a teenage girl. She sees us, stops, and takes an involuntary step back. I stop walking, horrified to think my presence had that impact on her.
But Scarlett just smiles and says, “Morning, Tina, morning Bella! Are you heading down to lunch?”
Tina, the mother, gathers herself and nods. “We’re going to make a sandwich.”