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Havenwood

Riley stood in the center of Havenwood and felt for the first time since her grandma died that she was home.

It was an odd feeling. She’d been raised here, and then there had been violence and sorrow.

But there had also been good.

She remembered learning about edible plants from her grandmother. About how to bake bread from Aunt Thalia. About carpentry from William and animals from Andrew. She remembered the harsh winters and beautiful summers. How she tried and failed a hundred times to quilt, and marveled at Tess’s swift, sure fingers as she created clothes from cloth.

Havenwood was not the world, but it was a world, and her past wasn’t all bad.

Now Havenwood was hers.

Ryder Kim had told her that her grandfather William had left a will giving the land to her if Thalia was deceased. That alone wouldn’t have guaranteed the transfer, but the original deed was clear: descendants of Thaddeus Riley, William’s grandfather, could stay on the land. William had legally adopted Calliope, something Riley hadn’t known. Because the adoption was legal, Riley was his legal granddaughter and one of his descendants.

In fact, his only descendant. The last heir because William’s brother had signed over all rights to Havenwood long ago.

When Riley died, if she had no children, the land would be deeded back to the government, unless she signed away her rights to them before then.

She couldn’t imagine doing that.

There was so much to do. Half the people of Havenwood had left, walked away disillusioned after learning the truth. Several had been arrested—including Garrett, Abby, and Evan. Some were dead. Anton had survived his suicide attempt and was now in jail awaiting his trial, but Ginger, Marcos, and Karin all died from the poison. Riley didn’t know if she could trust any who remained, but how could she send them off into a world they knew nothing about?

She was in limbo, but she had ideas. So many ideas. She shared her thoughts with the remaining residents, and most supported her.

Matt and Kara came to visit. They told her they had to wrap up some legal details in Colorado, but Riley sensed they came to make sure she was okay.

They drove down in a four-wheel-drive rental car. No one tried to stop them because Riley had taken the gate down. Havenwood was open now, and people could come and go as they pleased.

Riley greeted them with Banjo, the Saint Bernard, at her side. She’d moved into her grandmother’s cottage; she would never live in her mother’s house. She couldn’t even cross the threshold. Maybe someday she could face the demons between those walls; not today.

She’d considered taking the entire building apart.

“I’m glad you came,” Riley said to Matt and Kara. She smiled and it felt genuine. She’d smiled a lot lately, more than she had in years.

In fact, she didn’t think she had smiled much since her grandmother died.

“We’re flying out tonight, wanted to check on you, make sure everything was okay,” Matt said. He looked around, skeptical.

“I’m good,” she said, and meant it. “Most people left, but some stayed. Enough, I think. We have a lot of work to do.”

She motioned for them to walk with her and she told them how Ryder had helped her find a lawyer to make sure she didn’t lose the property. Because part of the land had been used for growing and selling illegal marijuana, the government could have come in and kicked everyone off. But because Riley hadn’t participated in it, and was shutting down the operation and allowing inspections and fully cooperating with the authorities, the lawyer was confident she could retain the land.

“And you’ve been working with Agent Stewart, right?” Matt said. One of the agreements Riley had made was to be available for questions. George Stewart with the Denver FBI office was her assigned contact.

“Yes,” Riley said. “He was here the other day, told me what was going on in the process. He’s very kind.” She paused, bit her lip. “I’ve been giving something a lot of thought.” Saying this out loud was awkward.

“What?” Kara asked.

“I’m going to turn Havenwood into an artist retreat. We have to earn money to survive, pay taxes, all that stuff. So from April through September, we’ll open cabins to writers and painters and creators of all sorts. They can stay for a week, month, all summer. They’ll pay for it, and help run the place.”

“That’s a great idea,” Kara said.

Riley beamed. “Yeah, I think so. It’s just such a change. We have to get the word out, but I think it’ll work. I really do.”

Matt and Kara stayed for lunch, then they said their good-byes and left.

Riley walked around, Banjo by her side, seeing all the possibilities. Yes, a retreat was a great idea.

She headed back to her cottage and sat on the bench, watched the community go about their business.

There were forty-two people left. And a few more were going to leave, she knew. Probably by the end of the summer, before the snow would change the way they lived. But that was okay.

She would make Havenwood work, in a way her grandmother would be proud.

Kara leaned her head on Matt’s shoulder as they flew not to DC, but to Miami. They had a three-day weekend and he was going to make the most of it.

Matt had convinced her to meet his brother and family. He didn’t know if she agreed because of everything that happened two weeks ago, or if she really wanted to. Maybe he didn’t care.

Maybe he cared a little.

He played with her fingers, wondering what she was thinking.

“When do you close escrow on your house?” he asked.

“May 15.” She sighed. “I’m going to miss Quantico.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“It was free.” She grinned at him, kissed him. “I’m looking forward to making the house my own. I loved my condo in Santa Monica because it was mine, something I bought all by myself. But I never did anything to it. I was hardly there.”

“With our schedules, I doubt we’ll be spending much time in either of our houses.”

She laughed. “True. But, when I’m home, I want it to be mine. I want it to be personal, special.”

“I understand that.”

“Okay, Matt, spill. What’s bugging you?”

“Are you okay with meeting my brother and his family?”

She didn’t say anything.

“Kara?”

“I’m nervous. I know they are important to you, and I just... I don’t know, I don’t do family events well. And it’s your niece’s baptism. Right? Baptism?”

He smiled. “Yes. She was born right before Christmas and is adorable. Baptism is probably the mellowest of Catholic traditions. And then there’s a party with lots of people, but they’re good people. You’ll like most of them. But tonight, it’s just you and me on the beach.”

“Isn’t that a drink?”

“That’s sex on the beach.”

“Right.”

She nipped his lip and he kissed her. “You drive me crazy. Don’t stop.”

“I won’t.” She leaned into him. “You think Riley is going to be okay?”

“She seemed...at peace. Yeah, I think she will be okay.”

“Good.”

Kara, who never slept on planes, fell to sleep. Matt looked at her, kissed her hair, reached for her hand, and closed his eyes.

They were exactly where they were supposed to be.