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makes it popular
with the kayakers, but other than that, not a lot of visitors. Those are the
many reasons that make Cypress a great neighboring island for the Retreat. If
you know what I mean?” He looked at my sideways.
    “Privacy,”
I said thoughtfully.
    “The
much smaller Sinclair Island over to your right is mostly privately owned with
only a handful of residents. There’s a 45 foot public dock on the East shore,
but it’s not a popular destination among tourists either.”
    My
eyes darted back and forth between the two islands searching for any traces of
humanity, but I couldn’t find any – only vibrant green wilderness. Scouring the
rocky beach line and steep terrain, I was disappointed not to spot any wildlife
as we cruised by. We passed the islands and continued north away from the tip
of Cypress.
    After
awhile Jason pointed off in the distance at a much smaller island and
pronounced, “Towhead Island. Your home, and mine, for the next week – and
anytime you need it to be from this day forward.”
    My
heart pounded with excitement as we drew closer to Towhead. The realization
that we would be on our own private island was finally dawning on me, and my
anticipation for adventure and solitude was building. I needed this week of
isolation away from the real world. For a short time, I wanted to forget about
my life and my future and live in the moment. I snuck a glance at Jason and
admired his tall, masculine build…I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather do that
with than him.
    As we
pulled closer to Towhead’s long dock, I noticed several light-colored,
dome-shaped buildings scattered around the island, nestled behind green foliage
and under evergreen trees.
    “What
are those strange little bubbles hidden in the woods?” I asked curiously.
    He gave
me a funny look. “You’ve grown up in the Pacific Northwest and you don’t know
what a yurt looks like?”
    “Ohh,
of course,” I said and slapped my forehead. “Weather tight and spacious, their
circular structure, wooden frame, and durable fabric cover make them much
stronger than tents.”
    “Umm…”
he said raising one eyebrow, “sounds like you just read that straight out of a
book.”
    Heat
rose to my cheeks, and I felt compelled to defend myself. “Sorry if I read a
lot. And for your information, certain things just stick with me, kind of like
selective photographic memory.”
    “Whoa!
I wasn’t trying to slam you.” He held his hands in the air defensively. “I
thought it was a great description. You’re just so different.”I raised my
eyebrows. “In a good way.”
    I gave
him a funny look and turned to study Towhead. “Well, I do know yurts are hot
commodities at campgrounds. I’m not sure how I’ve never seen one until now.”
    “There
are several around the island. It’s awesome because they are all eco-friendly
and use solar power. Each one can sleep up to eight.”
    As we
moored the boat, he told me the reasons behind having so many yurts on the
island. Apparently, there were huge gatherings of Guardians that took place in
different cities all during the year. At those get-togethers, they shared news
and discussed official Guardian business, but more importantly, they offered a
way for the younger generations of Guardians to make connections, socialize,
and possibly meet a future mate. Not only was this Retreat set up as a safe
haven, but it also hosted gatherings on a regular basis. The remote location
and ability to house large numbers of people made it ideal for both purposes.
    When
we stepped onto the dock, Jason grabbed my suitcases. “Hey, where did you get
those?” I asked astonished.
    “Got
them from Max this morning when he picked up Jessica and Laci at the Harbor.”
    As I
slipped on my backpack, I turned slightly and read the name on our boat. I
gasped loudly when I saw ALEXANDRIA written in big fancy letters across the back of the yacht. Looking at Jason in
disbelief, I muttered something