He studied her for a few moments, as if he was trying to decide something. Then he sat up. “Sero, I’m going to share something with you, because I trust you. I can trust you, right?”

“Of course,” she said.

He nodded. “Put your clothes on.”

She followed him through the quiet house, out the back door and down a few stone steps to an exterior door she hadn’t noticed before. He drew a key from his pocket to unlock it and led her into a brightly lit basement. It was a cavernous space separated into a few rooms, empty but for two folding rectangular tables, the kind her parents had kept in the garage for backyard parties. On each table were a dozen potted plants. Sero took a few steps closer, examining the distinctive leaves. “Is that . . . ?”

Micah smiled. “The purest, organic medical-grade marijuana.”

She looked at him, unsure if he was serious. “That’s your income idea?”

“What you see there, fully grown and harvested, will go for about twenty thousand dollars. Imagine if we converted this entire space into a grow farm?” He spread his arms wide. “It could be ten, twenty times that. The previous owners used this as a wine cellar, so it already has its own temperature and humidity controls.”

“Don’t . . . don’t you need a license for that?” Sero felt her heart beat quickly and leaned against one of the support pillars. “Yes.” Micah pointed at her with his index finger, as if she’d landed on an important point. “Yes, we do, and we’ll have one. It’s in process.” He put his hands in his pockets. “So, what do you think?”

She hesitated, unsure what to say or think. “I . . . suppose it’s a good idea . . . if it’s legal?”

“Well, it is legal in California now.” Micah plucked a leaf from one of the plants and rubbed it between his fingertips. “These are absolutely top-grade premium seedlings from a reputable source. I got them in December. Should be flowering soon. But, Sero, you can’t say anything about this. I trust you, but no one else knows.”

She nodded. As they returned to his bedroom, the secret and the fact he had entrusted her with it filled her with pleasure.

* * *

The next evening, after mulling over the idea all day as she worked outside, she went to Micah with the questions that had been edging into her mind.

“Tell me again why you like this idea? Aren’t you worried about the risks?”

“Well, first off, it’s no riskier than growing and selling any other crop, now that it’s legal,” Micah said. “Growers and dispensaries are licensed, product is tested at independent labs, everyone pays taxes—a totally legitimate industry.

“Second, it’s a lot more profitable than any other crop. That vision we have, of building a zero-impact community that can be replicated as a model around the world? Well, fueling a big dream costs money. We have to fund those solar panels, drill another well on the property, all of it.” Micah tilted his head and smiled. “And that is where your expertise comes in. Hydroponics and low water usage.”