I've always found monster stories the hardest to resolve.

Not that I typically offer much resolution in any of my stories, but the monster ones are the hardest to wrap up.

But I think I left the in a cozy place, though it was a bit messy getting her to her happy ending.

And stay tuned after the story for what's on the horizon for this podcast.

All right.

Here's Thea, Part 5, The Conclusion.

Thea suspected there was about a 50-50 chance that she'd actually find her car in the driveway,

but she laughed out loud when she

opened the door and saw it sitting right there waiting for her. The people of Beresboro really

seemed to have it all figured out. She was a little jealous of their deep connections and their

effortless way of living in community with one another. Living in a vacation town, especially one on an

island, was a blast growing up.

She enjoyed an influx of summer people, the return of camp friends, and then the natural

ebb that came in autumn, the quiet season, and the cozy isolation of winter.

She did still have friends on island, but most people her age had moved away.

Living there year-round was just too expensive.

If Thea hadn't been able to rent her apartment from family friends who were sympathetic to her

financial constraints, she wouldn't have been able to afford living independently. She'd be in

her old childhood bedroom sharing the house with her dad and grandmother, which would have made them

overjoyed, and her smothered.

Working at the hotel did come with perks, though.

Combed meals and drinks, invitations to summer parties, free rides around town from concierge.

...