Chapter 39: The Second Cabin

"Close your eyes," said Hyunjin, "and keep them closed until I say."

It was the second week of December, with the tour leaving on the first of January, eighteen days away.

Missy stood on the cliff path in her thick green coat, with his gloved hand over her face.

"I'm closing them."

"They're not closed. I can feel your eyelashes."

"They're closed now."

"Good. Walk."

She walked.

The path was packed snow and sea wind.

She knew every step of it, down to the place where the fence leaned.

They passed the cabin, her husband's boathouse, and she heard the sea slap the stones below.

They passed the lighthouse.

Then Hyunjin stopped her and took his hand away.

"Open."

She opened her eyes.

At the foot of the lighthouse stood the old keeper's house, which had been empty all her life.

The windows were new glass, the door was painted dark green, and woodsmoke curled from the chimney.

On the porch stood the other four, in a row, in their winter coats, looking nervous.

"We bought it," Jisung blurted.

"Jisung," said Minho.

"I wasn't supposed to say it first."

"You weren't supposed to say it at all."

Missy looked from one to the next.

"You bought a house."

"The historical society was selling," said Felix. "Nobody wanted the roof."

"It took the regulars three weekends," Chan said. "The teacher brought a ladder and refused to let anyone hold it for her."

"I did not need help," called the teacher.

She sat on a camp stool on the lighthouse path with her thermos.

Missy turned round, stunned.

Half the town stood in the snow behind her, with hammers and casserole dishes, pretending to be there by accident.

"The deed has six names on it," Chan said. His voice was low and quick. "Yours is first. It's alphabetical by nothing. It's just first."

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