Before Sera and Bri had parted after lunch, Sera had instructed her to come to the rear exit of the Packhouse, and they would head out together through the backyard. As she made her way towards their meeting spot, Bri inhaled the warm air of the late afternoon that was coming in through the open windows and felt peaceful. When she reached the doors and stepped outside, she froze.
Backyard wasn’t the right word for what she found.
Before her sprawled a vast, terraced patio built from warm stone and smooth cedar decking. It wrapped behind the Packhouse like a luxurious amphitheater. To one side were two fully outfitted outdoor kitchens with grilling stations, long counters of polished granite, and tall bar stools shaped like twisted vines. Nearby were several fire pit lounges, each pit sur
