Karina nodded. She had just witnessed something remarkable transpire. Such honesty and self-revelation were foreign to her, and perhaps this was why she found herself so intrigued by it.

August turned his head to exhale. “Three cigarettes a week is still better than the pack and a half I used to smoke every day. At this rate, I’ll be weaned completely by summer. I never liked to smoke in the summer anyway.”

“Ah,” Karina said, “so you’re more of a seasonal smoker?” She smiled at August. It was a relief to discuss something light after the emotional intensity of group circle. “By the way, you were really great at the Music Salon last night.”

August smiled and shook his head. “You know, Micah is like a musical genius. He plays four instruments totally by ear. He doesn’t like people to know this, but he went to Juilliard for a few years before he moved out here.”

“He did? Why wouldn’t he want people to know that?” Karina asked.

August shrugged. “You know, Micah doesn’t believe in labels. They get in the way of your authentic self. It’s one of the reasons he started the Sanctuary, where we can all just be our best selves. Without all the crap out there.” He nodded out to the horizon, encompassing the world outside their property.

33 | The Olanders

February 2015

Keith entered the hotel ballroom shortly before the event was to begin and saw the event planner rushing from table to table, adjusting centerpieces. He couldn’t help but notice her shapely figure in the snug black dress as she leaned over.

“Oh!” She stopped bustling when she noticed him and came over, breathless. “Everything looks good. The AV guys were here an hour ago and we double-checked all the equipment. The laptop’s hooked up to the screen and . . . what else?” She glanced around the room, decorated with platinum tablecloths, elegant white and green floral arrangements and strategically placed up lights that created a soft, sophisticated glow. Large commercial cameras on tripods stood in the corners of the room, and glittering silver stars hung from the ceiling. Lining the entrance to the ballroom was a replica of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with a star emblazoned with the name of each person on the company’s management team.

“Looks great,” Keith said. Brittany . . . Brandy . . . What was the girl’s name? He’d only spoken with her a dozen times over the past few months as she organized this closing dinner for one of the firm’s top clients. Vida had become the number one player in video editing software with its acquisition of a competitor, a transaction Keith had led and closed.

“Brianna?” one of the hotel’s catering staff called out. “Do you want the cupcake tower set up before guests arrive or after dinner?”

Brianna. That was it.

* * *

Hours later, after two glasses of champagne and an earthy burgundy, Keith stood at the podium and praised Vida’s CEO and management team for their visionary leadership and shrewd business acumen. After he showed a short film that satirized Vida’s laborious acquisition process and generated much laughter and applause, the CEO replaced Keith at the podium.