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“We have another announcement,” I said, motioning for everyone to take a seat. Press and Zin remained standing like I was.
Zin cleared his throat. “As we anticipated, all charges have been dropped against Addison.” His eyes met Brix’s, who stood.
“I have another announcement.”
His mother gasped. “Is Addy pregnant already?”
He shook his head and laughed when everyone else did. “No, Mama, but when she is, I’ll be sure to let you know so you can be the one to make that announcement.”
“Go ahead, Brix,” I said. “Tell us your news.”
“Addison and I have decided to rebuild the diner.” He looked between Addy’s mother and his. “That’s if we can talk the two of you into managing it for us.”
Their reaction was the one of joy I’d expected it to be when Brix told me his idea when we last spoke.
Kick and Snapper disappeared into Press’ kitchen and returned with a tub filled with bottles of sparkling wine, which they proceeded to open.
“I’m really happy for you,” I said, coming to stand next to Brix by the windows that looked out over the Pacific Ocean.
“Thanks. I never dreamed life could be this good.”
“I wanted to give you an update on the prosecutor wanting to question Peg and Addy.”
“Right. I’d forgotten all about that.”
“That’s what I was going to say—you can forget about it. She changed her mind.”
“I don’t care enough to ask why.”
“You’ll never change, Brix, and that doesn’t bother me in the least.” I gripped his shoulder. “I’m heading out, but I’ll catch up with you later this week.”
On my way out, I motioned to Zin, who walked me to the door. “Remember, not a word to him about Luisa Reeve or our impending departure to Alamos.”
“Roger that.”
“He has enough on his mind right now, and there’s no reason for him to get involved in this. Tryst and I discussed it and are in agreement.”
“As am I. If you asked, my guess is everyone in this room would also agree—including Brix.”
Beau Barrett usedthe Cessna he and Press owned jointly to travel back and forth from Napa Valley, and regularly utilized their five-hundred-acre mile of shoreline as a landing strip. With the aircraft’s maximum travel speed of six hundred miles per hour, we would land in Alamos, Mexico, in a little over ninety minutes.
On board, along with Sera and me, were Tryst, Snapper, and Kick. Press and Beau were piloting and would remain in Alamos with us. Sera’s mother was also on board, but so far, she hadn’t made eye contact with me. While I didn’t understand it, I knew how hard her daughter missing must be and gave her a wide berth.
We’d agreed Zin, Cru, and my brother would remain in Paso Robles unless there was a reason we needed them to join us in Alamos. Conversely, if it appeared Press or Beau weren’t essential in Mexico, one or both would return to the States.
While I was busy with Brix and Addy’s homecoming, Sera had made arrangements with the DA’s office to take a leave of absence. Cooley was well aware of her missing sister, and while he hadn’t been of any assistance himself, I doubted he would turn down her request for time off. As far as what else she told him, I hadn’t asked and didn’t want to know.
I’d toldSera we’d be staying on Tryst’s ranch, however there was no real way to describe the place in advance of our arrival. Anything I could say would never do the place justice.
“Welcome to El Lugar de Curación, or in English, the Healing Place,” Tryst announced when the plane’s wheels hit the ranch’s airstrip.
In addition to the main residence, there were several guest casitas on the property as well as a temple, a building specifically constructed for meditation and yoga, along with outbuildings normally associated with a working ranch.
“You’ll be staying in the sunrise casita with your mom,” I told Sera when a man driving a multirow golf cart pulled up and loaded our luggage onto the back platform.
Press and Beau would be sharing another casita, as would Snapper and Kick. Since I was on my own, I’d be staying at the main house with Tryst.
“You said the port where Varilla is rumored to be is only a couple of hours from here?” Sera asked.
