“Ultimately, I don’t want to cut the people of Star Falls off from Club land. But access has to be limited. To that end, I want to open up much of the land one weekend a month to residents of Star Falls. You’ll have to show proof of residence, but you will be free to roam during that weekend.”

“So all that stuff about security and anonymity was just a bullshit excuse?” the same guy says.

“No,” I say. “During that weekend, members will know they might come across residents of Star Falls. They will be offered additional security, and we’ll have an increased staff presence generally outside of the main building.”

People start talking to each other.

“And that’s not all.” An image of Rosey’s smile comes into my head. I have to blink to push it away. She’d love this next bit. I wish she were here. I can almost feel the way her hand would smooth over my chest, the press of her lips against my cheek. I clear my throat and try to push her away. It’s getting more difficult, not less, to forget her.

“As you know, my family owned the orchard at the bottom of the mountain. At the moment, the border of the Colorado Club on the southeast is the border of my family’s farm. I’m going to change that. Most of the apple trees are still producing fruit, and I think it’s kind of a shame that those apples—which are delicious—are going to waste. I’m going to move the border of the Club so the land my family’s orchard stood on is excluded. And then the orchard will be run as a working farm again, the profits of which will be donated to Star Falls. It will create additional jobs, and you never know—Star Falls might get its own brand of cider.”

I glance around to see people’s reactions. My gaze settles on Bryan Tessay, arms folded, same scowl on his face he’s worn for the last thirty years. He used to be my father’s right-hand man until he lost his job after my father’s death.

“We’ll need your help,” I say to everyone, but looking at Bryan.

He nods. I know Bryan well enough to know that’s him giving me his stamp of approval.

I take a few minutes to steady my breathing and swallow past the lump in my throat. “I’m happy to take questions or chat about any other concerns.”

“Are you just saying this so you get more applications for all these jobs you have?” Sue Johnson says. “Someone told me you just want to recruit waitresses and bar staff.”