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Ellie looked at the cup for a moment, then up at Cal. Part of him wanted to knock it out of her hands. After all, they had no idea what was really in the cup. But the commune wanted to impress them, right? By offering these retreats, they were hoping for converts, so it was unlikely they’d put anything harmful in there. He finally lifted a shoulder, silently telling her it was her choice.
Ellie nervously twisted the cup in her hands. “Did you know that during World War I, when traditional sources of cotton were scarce, nettles were cultivated and used as a substitute for making uniforms and other textile goods?”
Remedy chuckle. “I did not know that.”
Yep, Ellie was definitely nervous. She only spouted off random facts like that when she was flustered.
Cal gave her a reassuring smile as he took a tentative sip of his own tea. It wasn’t terrible, a little bitter, but not unbearable.
She watched him, then took a hesitant sip from her own cup, and her face brightened with surprise. “That’s... actually really good. Kinda sweet and… earthy.”
“Nettle tea is much maligned,” Remedy said, a hint of amusement creeping into her voice. “But it’s rather like us, don’t you think? A bit weird and prickly on the outside, but warm and comforting once you get to know us.”
Cal had to admit the woman was good—disarmingly so.
“Oh. Um…” Ellie seemed flustered. “I’m so sorry if I’m coming off as suspicious. I just…”
Remedy offered her a kind smile. “It’s only natural. Change can be quite unsettling. But your presence here is healing already. Now, I have to return to work. The garden won’t weed itself. It was very nice to meet you both.” She bowed slightly to Serenity before drifting back to her garden, her bare feet silent on the grassy path.
Cal lifted his cup to his mouth again but didn’t drink it. His attention snagged on the newcomer striding confidently toward them. The man exuded precision, from the crisp lines of his white tunic shirt under his blue robe to his measured gait.
“Cal, was it? I’m Merit.” He extended a hand, the handshake firm and assessing. “I understand you’re a man of the law. Must be fascinating work.”
Cal recognized the type—men who calculated every move, every word, to maintain control. “Every day is different.”
“Merit tends the community’s monetary resources,” Serenity explained. “He’s here for your retreat fee.”
“Oh, of course.” Cal dug the envelope out of his pocket and tried not to wince as he passed it to the man. Defending criminals in rural California wasn’t exactly a lucrative line of work, and he’d had to dip deep into his savings for the fee. Ellie had offered to pay, but he knew her financial situation was a bit more precarious than his since she and Alexis’s new podcast network had yet to launch fully. “So, you’re the money man?”
“Ah, it’s a bit more than that. I manage all of our resources and ensure we thrive without outside dependencies.” As Merit tucked the envelope into his robe, his eyes flickered with what might have been pride—or a well-disguised arrogance. “We’re self-sufficient, a closed ecosystem of sorts. Our members contribute what they can, be it skills or finances, and in return, they share in the abundance we create.”
“Sounds like an ideal arrangement,” Cal said, choosing the words carefully to sound intrigued but not too eager.
“It is,” Merit agreed, tilting his head slightly. “But enough about us—tell me, what brings a man with your background to our sanctuary?”
“Curiosity,” he answered truthfully—or, at least, partially truthfully. He just didn’t add that his curiosity was investigative, not spiritual.“I’ve always been interested in different ways of life.”
“Ah, a seeker then!” Merit’s eyes gleamed with approval, or maybe that was anticipatory dollar signs. “Well, you’ll find no shortage of new experiences here.”
Serenity gently cut into the conversation. “We should let them settle in before tonight’s ceremony.” She gave Merit a pointed glance, earning a small, contrite nod from the man.
“Of course,” Merit said. “Please excuse my curiosity. It’s refreshing to have new faces around.”
With that, Merit turned on his heel and departed, leaving Ellie and Cal alone with Serenity once again.
“Everyone’s so nice here,” Ellie said. to anyone who didn’t know her, they’d take the statement at face value, but he read the subtext was clear: everyone was too nice in her opinion, and she was silently freaking out.
As they continued their tour, they got a glimpse of the commune’s daily life—members tending to gardens, practicing yoga under leafy canopies, or meditating near a burbling brook. Each person exuded an air of contentment that was palpable.
“Look at them,” Ellie whispered, nodding towards a group of members tending to a lush vegetable garden. “They seem truly content.”
He leaned down close to her ear so as not to be overheard. “Seem is the operative word there.”
“Over there is our dining hall,” Serenity pointed toward a massive thatched-roof structure with open sides. “And beyond it, you’ll find our guest accommodations. Let me show you to your new home.”
New home.
Like Serenity was already fully expecting them to convert.
