view He stopped at an unpretentious, blue-painted cottage with a table and chairs visible on the side that faced the sea.

"This reminds me of Cape Cod, where as a child I spent summers with my family," Caydance said. "But it looks empty. Do you know the owner?"

From his pocket, Griff drew out a key ring. "I needed a place to get-away and study in peace, a place I could drive to on a road worth driving. Being able to get out of bed and walk down to the beach on Sunday morning was a dream that was not impossible. So, in the summer I sold my condo in the Tri-Valley and bought this cottage."

studio icon He put the key in the lock. There was a satisfactory unlocking sound as he turned the key.