After a couple of weeks, Ericka began fasting on Wednesdays as well. Some people in the house joined her and others did not. While Serotina had come to appreciate the feeling of discipline and cleansing she had on Sundays, she found a second fasting day too difficult to endure. On Wednesdays, she ate breakfast furtively and felt guilty whenever she did so in front of Ericka, who remained cheerful as she worked hard all day.

* * *

At the end of April, Sero noticed that about a quarter of the cannabis plants in the flowering room had developed mold on their leaves. She tried to nurse the damaged plants back to health by pruning them, but when that proved ineffective, she isolated them to stop the mold from spreading to the other plants. Climbing the steps out of the basement, she wondered how she was going to break the news to Micah that they needed to procure new plants, mature ones, which would be costly, if they wanted to fulfill their existing orders on time.

Walking through the house to look for him, she heard the sound of a guitar strumming from the living room. She followed it, picking up the distinct tenor of Micah’s deep voice, and the undertones of someone else’s. Something made her walk quietly toward the room and approach from the side where she wouldn’t be seen. Her stomach fell as she saw Micah sitting behind Cerise, holding a guitar on her knee, her hair falling into her face. His left hand was on top of hers, instructing her where to put her fingers on the fingerboard. She’d heard a rumor that Cerise might be invited to move into the Sanctuary but had brushed it off since no consensus vote had come up yet. The only open space in the house was in Sero’s room, which for the past four months had been hers alone. But now, as she watched Micah brush Cerise’s hair from her eye, she wondered if she’d missed something. Cerise giggled when she managed to play a chord. Sero backed away quietly from the living room and returned to the basement.

During the next morning’s meditation session, she reflected on the scene with Micah and Cerise. Why had it bothered her so? He was just showing her how to play the guitar. Micah was a kind-hearted, generous soul. That’s why everyone loved him. That’s why she loved him. And he loved everyone. He told them all that, individually and collectively, all the time. She chided herself for her own small-mindedness.

* * *

“We need to talk about who’s moving in next.” Justin opened up the group circle discussion. They were in the living room, sitting on the large leather sectional and the floor. “Cameron’s been waiting since Thanksgiving, man.”

“There are some concerns about Cameron,” Micah said gently. He stood up and began walking around the perimeter of the circle, hands clasped behind his back. “Cerise and Daphne are moving in this Friday. They’ll be joining Sero in the theater, so we’ll need everyone to help get them situated and prepare a welcome meal.”