Chapter One
When my cousin Brayden called me with the news, I thought it was a joke.
I was at home in my studio apartment, seated on my lumpy futon while balancing a bowl of instant ramen on my lap. With my free hand, I placed my phone beside me and turned on the speaker.
“Grandma left me her cabin?” I asked. “Are you sure?”
Out of all the grandkids, I’d been closest to her, but I didn’t trust Brayden. I’d spent too many years as the victim of his casual cruelty. He could be leading me on, getting me excited about inheriting Grandma’s property, only to laugh in my face.
“My dad was the executor of her estate,” Brayden said. “Not that there was much to divvy up. That crazy old hippie barely owned anything except that run-down cabin. I’m pissed she left it to you. Did you bribe her? Or was she so addled it was easy to coerce her into signing it over?”
Rage swelled up inside of me, making my voice shake. “I’m the only one who spent time with her. Remember when I asked you and Eden to drive up with me last October? You called Grandma’s place a shithole. Why do you care if I ended up with it?”
When he didn’t respond, I wondered if he’d hung up just to spite me. Then he let out a huff of disgust. “Could you be any more clueless, Maggie? The property around the cabin is worth a small fortune. I’d demolish that heap and sell off the land. It’d be the perfect spot for a mountain retreat. Rich suckers would pay a bundle for a place where they could get away and unplug.”
Like Brayden knew about unplugging? He worked in high-end real estate and spent most of his waking hours on the phone, making yet another “million-dollar deal.” Not that the rest of my family was much better. I’d suffered through countless holiday dinners listening to them one-up each other. All except me, the perpetually broke artist.
“Anyway, it’s yours,” Brayden said.
“I can just move in? Whenever I want?”
“Have at it. Considering what a dump you live in, maybe the cabin will be a step up.”
Ouch.But his words carried the sting of truth. The last time my mother had dropped by my apartment for a visit, she’d been so appalled that she suggested I move back home. Which is pretty humiliating when you’re twenty-seven years old.
“Is there any paperwork I need to fill out?” I asked.
“Nah, I think everything’s in the cabin. You have a key, right?”
“Yep.” I’d gone there so often that Grandma had given me one of my own.
“If you can’t handle the upkeep, let me know. I’d be glad to take the place off your hands. I’ve gotta run. Got a networking event tonight and I need to be on my A game.”
“Thanks, Brayden. And…um…have fun tonight.”
Have fun tonight.What was I—twelve? I hung up to the sound of his snarky laughter. If it wasn’t bad enough that he’d spent years belittling me, he’d also turned his twin sister, Eden, against me. When we’d been younger, Eden and I had often bonded at family gatherings, sneaking off to draw or play Barbies. Until Brayden had convinced her I was a complete loser.
Before I could sink into a black hole of bad memories, my dog, Farley, nudged my shoulder. He was a goofy yellow lab with the exuberance of a toddler on a sugar high. I stood and grabbed his leash from a hook by the door. “Want to go for a walk?”
As we left the apartment, I tried to process everything my cousin had told me. My grandmother—the person I’d loved most in the world—had left me her home.
Unlike the rest of the family, she’d never craved wealth or status. Twenty years ago, after the death of my grandfather, she’d left Fresno behind. Though she had plenty of money, she’d chosen to live a simple lifestyle in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
In the past, I’d gone up to her cabin whenever I craved a break from city life. Our weekends were spent gardening, baking, and reading, with occasional forays into the Sequoia National Forest to go hiking. After each visit, I’d drive back to Fresno with a heavy heart.
But could I afford to leave the city for good?
Even if my parents were wealthy, I was barely scraping by. All because I’d chosen to pursue a career as an artist rather than join the family company—North Investment Management. No thanks. Not only was art my true passion, but the company’s ethics were shady as hell.
Though I’d done a fair amount of freelance work—designing posters, ads, and book covers—my real dream was illustrating children’s books. Two years ago, I’d signed with an agent and received a contract for two picture books, but the advance had been paltry. No matter how many graphic design commissions I took on, paying my bills was always a struggle.
To supplement my income, I worked nights for my friend’s catering company, but I wouldn’t have that option up in the mountains. Even if moving to Grandma’s cabin meant I could live rent-free, I’d still have to cover my other costs, like groceries, vet bills, and health insurance.
At least I didn’t have to decide right away. Since I had two months left on my lease, I had time to figure out whether life in the Sierras was feasible.
With a yip of excitement, Farley jolted me out of my reverie. He tugged on the leash and dragged me toward a poodle he’d spotted across the street. When the dog’s owner glared at me, I reined in Farley and returned the woman’s scowl. So what if my dog was a tad overenthusiastic? He wasn’t hurting anyone.
I could almost hear Grandma’s voice in my head: If you were in the mountains, Farley would have so much freedom. He loves it there.
If she were still around, I could have asked her for advice. But even if she wasn’t here to offer me guidance, I knew how she’d respond. She’d tell me to go for it.
I wasn’t about to let her down.