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Angel trotted into the kitchen to lap up some water.
“This is the main gathering area, where everyone is welcome. However, because this main building is home to my father and me, plus staff, we ask you to respect the hours you pop in.” Astrid pointed to our left. “My father’s room is over there. There is a set of stairs leading to the basement and upstairs. Beyond the kitchen is the laundry room and another bedroom, as well as the stairs leading to the basement and upstairs. That bedroom belongs to Xavier. He’s Diego’s dad and our groundskeeper, as well as resident chef. You won’t meet my father or Xavier for a while. They’re on vacation.”
I nodded.
“The deck can be accessed from the breakfast nook and the great room. My dad’s room also has its own door for it, so just keep in mind which door you’re using when you’re out there.”
I chuckled. That would be an embarrassing mistake I’d like to avoid.
“Upstairs is just the loft and bedrooms for me, Diego, and Aya. Downstairs is the full communal space for everyone. There’s a gaming and recreation room with a bar for hanging out, along with the library and study, second laundry room, gym and sauna, and hot tub. You can access the pool out back from the basement, or by going around the house.”
My eyebrows spiked. This was an impressive house. “You are a licensed therapist and you own this place? How old are you?”
Astrid chuckled. “I’m twenty-nine. But I always tell people not to compare others’ accomplishments to their own. We all achieve our goals at different times. Mine are also rather deceptive. Yes, I worked hard to obtain my college degree and licensing, but when it comes to this place, my father and I inherited it from my grandparents. They ran the retreat before we came here. So, they gave me a head start running this place.”
I cocked my head. “What do you mean, before you came here?”
She smiled. “Pete and Randi weren’t my bio grandparents. My father and I came here as residents. We bonded and became a new family during that time.”
I tried to smile back, but found it difficult. While I was happy she found herself with a good family in the end, and seemed to be safe now, what horrible event had she suffered to need to come here to begin with? What had I again almost lost her to?
I needed to not think about that. “So, you have this place, and then smaller cabins for residents. And this is all afforded through donations?”
She nodded. “For the most part, yes. We have a few particularly generous donors who make sure we’re all comfortable. Plus, whatever townies donate, and what retreat residents give either during or after their stay here. Though, full disclosure, Diego and I do sometimes take clients who aren’t residents. We charge for those sessions, and that’s where we make some money to funnel into the retreat.”
Astrid showed me the communal downstairs. Just as the upstairs, all the rooms were well-furnished and comfortable. The view from the recreation room to the back of the house with the pool, landscaped lawn, and surrounding forest was idyllic. I could only assume the view from the deck above was even better.
“Where are the cabins?” I asked. I couldn’t see them from here.
Astrid pointed to the path in the yard that angled for the forest. “They’re spread out along the property. There are some that are in the forest, while we did some clearing around some others. You’ll have your pick, as we’ve got plenty of space right now.”
“How many residents are here?”
“Including you, four. You’ll see Carrie and Raeni the most. Sean likes to keep to himself. The retreat gives him a place to live where it’s quiet and close to nature. If you see him, he’ll probably be doing some gardening, or foraging in the woods.”
I nodded slowly. “I don’t suppose you’ve got a cabin with a lakefront view?”
Astrid laughed. “If we did, I’d be living there instead of the main house.”
It was good to hear she’d likely still love the lake house in Norway.
The sliding glass door slid open, and a tall, lean, but still broad-shouldered and muscled man around Astrid’s age with tousled dark hair walked in. Her face lit up upon seeing him, and my gut twisted.
I knew that look. It was the one she had upon seeing me before we admitted to any feelings we had for each other—the one she had for Baldur.
The man came up to us and draped his arm over her shoulder. The action, while innocuous to most, mixed with the way he looked at Astrid, came off as slightly possessive, as if he were staking a claim. When he spoke, I noted he had a voice that could easily charm a woman. “This our new resident?”
Astrid smiled up at him. “Diego, this is Tyr. Tyr, this is my best friend and our other resident therapist, Diego Santos Nilson.”
“Just call me Diego,” he said.
Best friend. Not lover, boyfriend, or any other romantic assumed title. I still had a chance, though it was clear I would have competition for her affection, and he already had a head start.
I pushed away all the feelings and offered my hand in an attempt to be cordial. I wouldn’t mess this up by causing issues with someone she called a friend. Diego reciprocated the handshake.
“I was about to show him a few of the cabins to see if any interest him,” Astrid said.
“That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about,” Diego said. “Carrie made a request that he take a look at some cabins that would require him to walk past hers.”
