“That was my mother. She and Polina are walking down from the main camp. They want to see me, Henry, Katarina, and Blackjack. She said it’s important, but it’s not an emergency.”
Doc didn’t look up from what he was writing. “Go. We’ve got the packets. You won’t be useful in this room for the next two hours anyway.”
When Katarina stood, I stood with her and followed her out. She stopped in the doorway. “Doc, call me if anything changes.”
“Roger that.”
Katarina waitedfor me at the foot of the boathouse stairs. When I reached for her hand, she put it in mine. Henry and Lyra came out behind us, and the four of us walked to meet Anna and Polina, who stood on the path that led to the shore.
“Babushka, what did you want to talk to us about?”
“Not talk, show.Come, it isn’t far.”
She and Anna turned onto a narrower trail that ran north through the pines.
“This is what you said you wanted to show me? And Blackjack?” Katarina said as we followed.
“Yes,” Polina said over her shoulder. “Come. It is cold, and I am old.”
A few minutes later, the pines opened to a meadow.
Polina and Anna stopped at its edge. “This is what I wanted you to see.”
“What is it?” Katarina asked.
“This is where your grandfather and I wanted to build our own camp. We meant for it to be larger than the ones behind the lodge. Big enough for the great-grandchildren we prayed we’d have.”
“It’s beautiful,” Katarina said, turning in a circle. “And the view of the lake is brilliant.”
Polina smiled. “It is the best view on the property.”
I agreed.
“We planned to call it Orenda.”
“Orenda,” Katarina repeated. “What does it mean?”
“It’s a spiritual life force. A new beginning.”
“It’s perfect, Babushka,” said Katarina.
“Mikhail and I met with an architect and were getting ready to break ground. He died before we could begin.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I have mourned him for many years, my darling granddaughter. Now, it is time to look to the future. Come.” She motioned for both of us to step closer to her. When we did, she took each of our hands in one of hers, then brought them together. “The two of you are going to build a camp on this ground.”
“Grandmother—”
Polina squeezed our hands and shook her head. “You will, and here is why. I knew I would marry Mikhail the night I first met him. I spoke no Russian, his English was limited, and yet neither of us doubted we were meant to be together. As he often said, ‘The soul knows.’”
“That’s beautiful,” Katarina whispered.
“It is also true. Your soul knows. You may not realize it yet, but I see it.” Her gaze met mine. “You will take care of my Katarina, Bishop.”
“I will.”
“And you.” Polina released our hands and cupped Katarina’s cheek. “You will let him.”
