“So, you’re not going to be coming here anymore?” she asked, trying to filter the anxiety out of her voice.

“Yeah, that’s right,” Micah said, as he dug his spade into the soil to pry up another beet. “It’s exciting, what we have planned, Karina. Eight acres of beautiful land we’ve cleared and improved with soil amendments and fertilizer. There’s a well on the property we’ve hooked up to an efficient drip irrigation system, and we’re ready to start planting our first crops. At full production, we’ll have even more than we need, so we can donate to food banks.”

She laughed. “A well? Where is this place, anyway? Out in the countryside?”

Micah shook his head. “Rancho Paraiso, less than twenty miles from here,” he said. “Paradise Ranch, as named by the early Mexican settlers. Today, it’s a super-wealthy community with massive homes on huge lots, all geared toward maximum privacy.”

Karina took a deep breath. “Actually, I . . . I’ll be here over Thanksgiving,” she said, her heart thumping loudly in her chest. She held up a beet plant by its greens. “And I make a mean roasted beet salad.”

“You know, it’s okay to feel that way,” Micah said.

Karina looked at him, wondering at his meaning.

Micah continued. “To not want to go home to your family. It’s okay. Thanksgiving is a loaded holiday. So many expectations about how you’re supposed to feel, how everything’s supposed to look, who’s around the table.” He put an arm around her shoulders. “You can join our family this year.”

27 | Karina

November 2014

The community of Rancho Paraiso featured single-lane roads winding through gently rolling hills surrounded with thick foliage. Every so often, there was a driveway leading to an imposing gate marked with pillars, but no houses were visible from the road. Eventually, Karina came upon the right address and followed a long gravel driveway, bordered on both sides by lemon trees. At the top, a roundabout with a tiered fountain sat in front of a sprawling two-story house with a four-door garage, where several cars were parked.

Stepping out of her car, Karina tugged at the hem of the sweaterdress she’d chosen to wear with her favorite tall boots and approached the house’s towering front doors, thick slabs of wood against which her knuckles barely made a sound. The door swung wide open to reveal Micah, more dressed up than usual in a collarless long-sleeve white shirt and dark blue jeans. Karina held out the bunch of sunflowers she’d brought.

“Karina.” Micah opened his arms wide and took a few steps backwards to allow her to enter. Behind him was an enormous picture window with a striking vista of the pool and gardens, with rolling hills in the distance. “Welcome to the Sanctuary, our little piece of heaven.” He took the bouquet with an appreciative bow and led her into the house. “Come on in.”

They entered the largest kitchen Karina had ever seen, with an expansive island around the perimeter and a dozen people who were all working but greeted her warmly. Ericka wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and came over to give her a hug before returning to her green beans.