About halfway through the game, as we were debating whether the butler or the gardener was more suspicious, Heidi set down her cards.
“Jamie was controlling,” she whispered. “Not physically at first, but it got worse. He had an opinion about everything. What I wore, who I talked to, how I spent my time. It got worse after we moved in together. He’d get angry if I made plans without checking with him first, or if I stayed out too late with friends. He said it was because he cared, because he worried about me.”
Maya reached over and took her hand. “That’s not care. That’s control.”
“I know. I know that now. I’ve known it for a while, honestly, but leaving felt,” Heidi shrugged. “Impossible. Like I was giving up, or being dramatic, or, something. I had all these reasons Ishould stay and try to make it work. But then he started going through my phone, and that was when I realized it was never going to get better. That’s not normal, right? That’s not what love looks like?”
“That’s not what love looks like,” I confirmed, my voice coming out rougher than intended. I thought about Maya. I didn’t care who she went out with, or what her hobbies were. I knew she had friends I’d never met and didn’t need to meet them unless she wanted me to. How the idea of controlling any aspect of her life felt wrong. “Love is trusting someone to be themselves.”
Everest nodded. “My parents have been together for forty years. I’ve never once seen my dad question where my mom was going or who she was with. They’re partners, not jailers.”
“Exactly.” Heidi’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. “So I left. Packed my stuff while he was at work, and drove here. Maya had been telling me about Calamity Creek for months, about how it was different here, how people were more accepting of everything, really. And I thought, if I’m going to start over, why not do it somewhere completely new?”
“I’m so proud of you,” Maya said fiercely. “That took incredible courage.”
“I don’t feel courageous. I feel terrified and exhausted and like I just blew up my entire life.”
“In a way you did blow up your life,” I said, and everyone looked at me. “But sometimes that’s exactly what you need to do. I spent years in a job I hated, in a city where I didn’t fit, trying to be what everyone expected. Moving here, starting fresh, it saved me. Sometimes destruction is the first step of building something better.”
Heidi smiled at me, watery but genuine. “Thank you, Geoff. That helps.”
We went back to the game, but the mood had shifted. It was more open now, more real. Everest talked about his own struggles with living authentically in a world that wanted to categorize him. Maya shared stories about her controlling mother and the guilt she’d felt about moving away. I talked about my life before here, about the subtle ways people had made me feel like I was never quite enough.
By the time we solved the mystery, it felt like we’d known each other for years instead of hours.
“So,” Maya said, gathering up the game pieces. “The obvious solution here is that Heidi stays in my apartment.”
Heidi’s eyes widened. “What? Maya, no. I can’t take your apartment.”
“You’re not taking it. I’m offering it.” Maya looked at me, and something passed between us. It started as a question, which I answered with my eyes and a nod. It was a confirmation of what we already knew. “I don’t want to live there, anyway.” She gestured around the cabin. “This is home. This, with Geoff, this is where I actually want to be.”
My heart did something complicated in my chest. We'd talked about her moving in officially, but she’d been hesitant, worried about moving too fast or being too dependent. Hearing her say it now, in front of other people, felt significant.
“Are you sure?” Heidi asked. “I don’t want to impose, or anything.”
“You’re not imposing. You’re putting your plan into action earlier than expected, but it’s the right time. The apartment is just sitting there. It’s furnished with your money, by the way. It’s in a good part of town, and honestly, it would make me feel better knowing you were there and not somewhere random.” Maya squeezed Heidi’s hand. “This way, we both get what we want. You get your freedom, and I get to stay with Geoff, if he’ll have me.”
The two women looked at each other, and then Heidi smiled. “I was going to get a job first. But right now, I can’t afford the rent.”
“Details.” Maya waved her hand. “Right now, let’s just focus on getting you settled.”
“I can help move your stuff,” Everest offered. “Got the truck, and I'm pretty good at heavy lifting.”
“Shocking, given your size,” I deadpanned, and he threw a couch pillow at me.
We spent the rest of the afternoon making plans. Heidi would stay in Maya’s apartment for now, and Maya would be with me. Where she belonged. Heidi didn’t have much with her in her car, only one suitcase of clothes and a bag of items too precious for her to leave behind. Whatever Maya had in shipping Heidi could use or get rid of as she saw fit. Everest would introduce her around town, help her find a job. Until she had a regular job, he offered her a job as a cashier in his store. Heidi was a graphic designer and marketer. I was sure a few local businesses could probably use her skills.
“We should do this regularly,” Maya said as the afternoon stretched into evening. “Game nights, I mean, not just at the shop. The four of us. It’s nice, having friends who get it.”
“Get what?” Heidi asked.
“All of it. The weirdness of starting over, the challenge of being different, the importance of finding your people.” Maya looked around at all of us. “I spent so long feeling like I didn’t fit anywhere. But here, with you guys, I finally feel like I found my place.”
“Game nights it is,” Everest agreed. “Weekly? Biweekly?”
“What about monthly to start,” I suggested. “Gives us something to look forward to without overwhelming anyone.”
“Monthly works,” Heidi said. "And maybe we could rotate locations? Maya’s place, well, now my place I guess, once I get settled?”
