Chapter48
Our Own Way
Dash’s POV
“I have to get going,” I told Zinnie on Saturday night, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “I put the dresses I’d like you and Melitta to wear tonight out on the bed.”
The bed I’d like to join you in later. No more limiting myself to forehead and cheek kisses.
“And, um, what exactly is happening tonight? I know you told me but I forgot. Pregnancy brain followed by nursing brain and all that.”
Little lying sneak.
“I’d love to remind you, but unfortunately, I don’t have time.”
Her lips pursed in annoyance, and she glanced at the duffel bag I was holding in my hands.
“Can I look in the bag?”
“If I had time you could, but I don’t, so you can’t.”
“Dash! I deserve a hint. I’m your wife.”
Oh, this is serious if she was playing the wife card. She looked so exasperated that I pretended to give in.
“You know, you’re right. Zinnie. Here’s a hint: we’re all meeting at Peace Lake tonight. See you
there.”
Then I rushed out the door, her screech of frustration ringing in my ears.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I got there just as Branch and Flint pulled up, followed by Izan. Sunny was bringing Mist, and Aggie was bringing Zinnia and Melitta.
“Hey, guys,” I greeted them. “Ready to get to work?”
They were. As more and more men arrived, some with trailers laden with what we needed, there were tables being set up, quilts being thrown down, grills being started, coolers being placed,
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garden torches lit. The air was charged, and the laughter and joking was good natured and
constant.
Working together.
This was something I’d been coming to appreciate more and more here. Zinnie and I had lived with constant one–upmanship, even at the hospital where I worked. Someone was always trying to make their reputation, be better, know more, show you up.
When I drove out of the gates of Serenity every weekday morning, I could feel myself tensing. When I drove back through them, I exhaled, as if I’d been holding my breath all day. My wife knew what she was talking about, and so did the people who named this place Serenity. It moved at a different pace and made me think of small villages hundreds of years ago. Neighbors pitched in and helped, everybody knew each other and there was a sense of community.
On the commune, not only did everyone know each other, they all worked to support Serenity and one another. If you were used to one way of life, the more cut–throat kind, this way of life was like discovering pure air. For a second, that thought was overwhelming, so I stopped setting the torches into the ground and just watched the men moving around, intent, hardworking but
lighthearted.
“It’s a totally different way of life,” Izan said from beside me. “Mist made me see things differently. I never thought I’d quit working in my family’s restaurant, but I drew my line in the sand, and when it was crossed, I followed through and found something I really wanted to do. All because Mist made me see how different life could be.”
“Did you ever regret it? Leaving your family’s restaurant?”
“No. Not once. I always figured I’d work with my family and live near them, but instead, I work somewhere else and live near Mist’s family. You know, I wouldn’t live anywhere else now, with Moonbeam constantly trying to give me stones and crystals to increase my virility, as she refers to it, so I can get Mist pregnant.”
Grinning, I shook my head. “Everybody knows your business here and I have to admit, I kind of
like it.”
“Yeah, this place is weird like that. Shit you thought you’d hate is just a normal part of the community.”
“I like it,” I said.
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“Glad to hear it. Mist loves Zinnia, and she’d be inconsolable if you guys left the commune.”
“We’re staying. I suspect we’ll build a house when our two year trial period ends or even add on to our existing house.”
“You’ll have plenty of help for that. We have construction workers here, drywallers, electricians, plumbers, roofers. You name it, and we have it.”
“Look forward to it.”
We finished setting up the torches and went over to see if there was anything else needed. Everything was right on the schedule Branch had set up, and everyone gathered around him for
final instructions.
“They should be here in about twenty minutes. Anyone need a reminder of the schedule? No? OK, in ten minutes, let’s have the men helping with the parking get in place and in the meantime, let’s get the food out of the coolers and set out so we can feed the ladies and children after the festivities. The high school boys should be ready to go over to the grills right after and help replenish the food as needed.”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.