Home to Harmony Read Free Page A

clear.
    Christine was a pro at finessing difficult clients, but here with her mother in the Harmony House kitchen, she felt herself shrinking into her childhood self, like Alice in Wonderland eating the cake that made her very small.
    “If that travel article brings more folks out, we’ll have more hands,” Bogie said.
    “There was an article?” Christine asked.
    “It was about out-of-the-way travel spots. It said we’re the oldest continuously inhabited commune in the western U.S. We got a couple of hikers from Tucson due to the story.”
    “Harmony House is the oldest?” That fact fired up Christine’s professional instincts. “We could market that in ads, up your census, then raise your rates.” It was a relief to talk about something she knew how to do.
    “We don’t have rates, ” Aurora said. “We ask for a contribution to cover food and laundry services and whatnot.”
    “What about your cash flow? Is it predictable?” Christine’s mind was spinning with the key questions she’d ask a client.
    “This is a commune,” David said. “It’s about living off what you produce and being sustainable. It’s not about cash.”
    Thank you, Brigitte. “Even Harmony House needs income.” She pointed at the Parsons Foods bag on the counter. “I doubt the grocery story lets them barter.”
    “They do buy our eggs and goat cheese,” Bogie said.
    David made an impatient sound. “Just because your job is getting people to buy crap they don’t need, doesn’t mean the rest of us want to live that way.” He was showing off for Aurora and Bogie, she could tell.
    “It was my evil capitalist job that paid for your cell phone, laptop and Xbox,” she said, hoping he would joke back.
    “Whatever, Christine.”
    She winced. Calling her by her first name was another Brigitte brainstorm: We’re all peers on this planet. But Christine was not about to object at the moment. She had to pick her battles or they’d be in a never-ending war.
    “Hell, we all start where we are and do what we can, right, Crystal?” Aurora said, surprising Christine with her kindness. Maybe her mother’s brush with death had softened her a little. “Your boss is cool with you taking off the summer?”
    “I’ve brought projects to do from here.” If the commune work tied her up too much, she’d have to dip into savings, but that would be fine. Within a year, she intended to leave Vance Advertising and open her own agency. “The main thing is for you to get your strength back.”
    Her mother bristled. “I am not an—”
    “Invalid, yeah. That’s what you said.”
    “And I mean it,” her mother said sharply. Except the emotion that flashed in her eyes wasn’t anger. It was fear. A chill climbed Christine’s spine. She’d never seen Aurora afraid and it made the world tilt on its axis. Aurora was clearly weaker than she wanted to be. Oh, dear.
    “How about we get you settled in now and tomorrow Aurora can show you around the clay works?” Bogie said, evidently trying to smooth the moment.
    “That sounds great,” Christine said before her mother could object. “So I’ll stay in my old room and put David in the spare one next door?” Christine and Aurora had lived in the old boarding house owners’ quarters at the back of the building.
    “The spare’s got furniture at the moment,” Bogie said. “We could move it if you like.”
    “Nonsense,” Aurora said. “David can pick one of the empty rooms on the far end of the second floor. Once you’ve picked it, grab a key.” She nodded at a rack by the kitchen door.
    “Okay. Cool.”
    He’d be too far away from her, but seeing the delight on David’s face, Christine wouldn’t object.
    “We never used to lock a door,” Bogie said, shaking his head sadly. “People insist these days. Your room’s open, Crystal. I figured you’d want to stay there.”
    Outside, David barreled up the stairs to pick out his room. Christine grinned at his eagerness. Of course,