I woke at dawn and sat up from a dream that hadn’t been about people and places, but about an emotion happier than sorrow, yet not completely sad. Papa, my mother, my sister—not one would be present for Perrin’s wedding day. Even Esme would be absent. She was at the CREIA, helping her mother move into one of the remodeled bunkers and managing the construction of a new wing.
Outside, I walked over to the spare cabin, passing Ms. Hardin and her morning stretch group. She was holding a warrior position, arms overhead, averting her eyes away from me. I didn’t speak to her often, but had learned that she was taking care of Gareth’s baby while he was in the city helping the others. His wife, Elizabeth, had hemorrhaged during childbirth, sacrificing her own life to bring a healthy boy named Eli
