I grinned and turned to see Theo shaking his head. Even with access to barbers and hairdressers–among a thousand other things I had to get used to–he kept his hair long. He said it was because Savannah liked it, but I wasn’t sure that was the only factor. “You already know she did. Maybe if you didn’t keep her up all night, she wouldn’t need to nap in the middle of the day.”

Theo rolled his eyes. “I’m not the only one keeping her up. Besides, she spent last night in Luther’s bed, not mine.”

Luther looked up from the rosebush he was shaping. “What am I being blamed for now?”

“Keeping Savannah up,” Theo responded. “She’s passed out on Felix’s lap, and she said she’d come to my meeting with me today.”

His addiction meeting. One that came with sponsors and lots of steps and little badges. It was one of the new facets of modern life I found fascinating. In 1907, alcoholics just died. Apparently in 2022, they helped them recover.

Luther and Theo had told me things that had been invented since I had been trapped in the house, but being told and actually seeing them were two completely different things. Cars, for one. I had seen them driving up to the house. I knew how they worked. But being inside one, a moving thing that wasn’t alive…I wasn’t sure I would ever get used to that. Anytime I had to ride in one with Savannah or one of the men, I would cling to the side, keeping my eyes closed until I arrived.

Don’t even get me started on those damn smartphones…mine was still off, unless Savannah wasn’t with me. Just in case.

I’d learn everything about modern life, though. Learn it all to see Savannah every morning when I woke up, and kiss her goodnight every evening. The woman in question rolled over in my lap, looking up at me with a smile. “Hi,” she whispered, rubbing her eyes.

God, she made me feel alive like never before. Maybe it was just a fluke from being the first woman to step in the house. Maybe it was something more. I wasn’t about to question it. “Hi,” I murmured. I shuffled down so I was lying next to her, pressing a kiss to her perfect mouth.

She moaned, leaning into me. Savannah always woke up needing sex, and who was I to deny her? Not like any of us ever would. And here in our garden, we were as secluded as possible.

“Roll over, darling. Let me take care of you.” I pushed her gently, and she rolled onto her back without complaint.