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“I wasn’tonthe news.”
“No, sorry, I meant from around the neighborhood, really. I recognized you, just now. It’s a terrible thing.” She shuddered. “I’m really sorry. I’ve had weird tragic stuff in my life, too—I know how it feels.”
Sadie’s stomach did a flip. “Who are you? What do you want?”
“Sorry. I’m just someone who cares.”
Someone who cares?Sadie stood. “I should be going.”
“Look, you can absolutely tell me if I’m out of line,” the woman said hurriedly. “But I think I might be able to help you get past this.”
“I doubt it.” Sadie reached for her bag. “Thanks, though.”
“Are you grasping for something you can’t find? Do you need things that you just can’t get? I went through some trouble a while ago. I lived in LA, too, once upon a time, but I had to leave abruptly. And for a while, I was at my wit’s end. But then I found this community. Of women. We live together, work together, but we’re all a little…broken,I think? Like, we’ve been through stuff. I’ve been there for a little while now, and I have to say, it’s wonderful.”
Sadie blinked at this woman. And this had to do with herwhy?
“Halcyon is women-only. Well, and children, too, but no adult men. I have a baby, and I have tons of help.” She leaned in closer. “It is agame-changer.”
The woman had an open, expectant face, but her eyes were gleaming in a way Sadie didn’t trust. “Good for you,” Sadie said diplomatically.
“We’re tasked with finding other women who might benefit from the community—and who might fit into the lifestyle. You’re from Washington State, right? You participated in 4-H club, county fairs? So you know what it’s like to farm.”
Sadie’s heart seized. “How did you know that?”
The woman raised her palms. “Here I come, barging into your life while you’re grieving. I’m sorry. It’s just—I thought this sort of thing might help you. Joining us for a weekend, I mean. Do you ever just wish you could get away? Have time to really think, really breathe? Do you ever think, if you just had the space and time, everything would be better and you’d know what you wanted?”
“Really, I’m not interested.” Sadie was relieved. This was just some hippie following her around, trying to recruit her for her cult.
“No problem!” the woman said brightly. “Totally get it. Just—in case you change your mind, here.” She slipped Sadie a piece of paper with some scrawl, including her name. “It really is a healing place—and, no pressure, but highly difficult to get into. And wehave interesting initiatives for women. Including a fertility collective.”
“A what?”
“We contribute money to an IVF fund. Most women there are mothers, but some people who move in are still trying. We want to facilitate that process. This one woman, Melissa? She’s had two children through the fund. We’re all helping to raise these kids. It’s a godsend, especially for women who want more than anything to be mothers.” She smiled. “Do you have kids?”
Sadie couldn’t keep her hands from trembling. “I have to go.”
“It might be good for you to escape!” the woman called after her. “Because of what you did?”
Sadie turned slowly. “Whatdid you say?”
The woman smiled guilelessly. “It’s a really good escape. For mothers and kids.”
The coffee shop bustled. Someone clinked a spoon against a ceramic mug. Sadie’s brain was just playing tricks. That was all.
“Good luck,” she mumbled to the woman, walking backward out the door. It was only when she was outside that she looked at the card.Rhiannon Cook,she’d written.Halcyon Ranch.And then a phone number.
What-fucking-ever.
21
Lenna
October
Present day
“What?”Lenna whispers.
