“You sure you want to deliver this stuff today?” Undine asked as she surveyed the pile of gear in Audrey’s living room.

“No time like the present. The locks haven’t been fixed yet at the Baldwin cabin, so I can slip them inside, no problem. And I might as well record the site damage while I’m there. It’ll nag at me while I’m on leave if I don’t.”

Undine sighed. “I hear that. Luke and I were on vacation in New Zealand, and I woke up in the middle of the night because of an unfinished project—and it wasn’t even my responsibility.”

She nodded. “Been there. I want every piece of this behind me, and since Xavier won’t be here for a few more days, I might as well get this done. Besides, it’ll be good for me to go back and face the place. Get it over with.”

“Will you be alone?”

She shook her head. “There’ll be others around at the lodge—contractors are putting together bids for repairs, and some of the inholding landowners are returning.”

“Will George be there?”

“Possibly. He was planning to move back to his cabin as soon as the all clear came.”

“I’m sure it won’t be the same for him with Jeb gone.”

“Yeah. I think he wants to get back in the woodshop. To create again. He told me after Jeb’s memorial that art was how he learned to cope with what he’d had to do in Vietnam.” Jeb’s coping mechanism had been more…defensive. “I can’t even imagine what he’s processing right now.”

Undine gave her a squeeze.

“I don’t grieve for a single mercenary who died during the op, but I feel for George and Xavier and everyone who played a part in the killing, even in self-defense. And it feels worse for George. Xavier—and Luke—they joined the SEALs intentionally. They fought to get on the teams and worked hard to stay there. They went on ops in which they knew they’d have to kill. George was nineteen when he was drafted into the army. He didn’t choose the job, it was forced on him. He then spent fifty years moving on and building a life that centered on a love of art and nature, and then all at once, his most sacred places—his forest and his workshop—were under attack, and he had to kill again to protect his world. I’m in awe of what he did for us. Thankful. I hope the shop helps him heal and doesn’t trigger remorse or pain.”

“I hope you see him there today.” Undine picked up a sleeping bag and backpack. “Let’s get these loaded in your SUV. Maybe you can get to the park in time for tea with George.”

Chapter Forty-Four