Fragile Sanctuary

The next day at Bloom & Berry nursery, Rhodes has breakfast with Biscuit, determined to maintain her routine. Trace, now the town sheriff, stops by and expresses concern: He heard about the panic attack and worries that renovating her family’s old house is impacting her mental health. Later, Duncan offers his guesthouse for her safety, but she declines. He confirms that he hired Thea, her new coworker, and notes she requested cash payment.

Felix Hernandez—the boy she kissed in the prologue, just before the fire—stops by and says he is glad she is restoring the house, which affirms her decision. Rhodes insists she is handling her grief and feels ready to face her past.

Later that week, Anson supervises work at the Victorian and clashes with a crew member, Owen. Another worker, Silas Arnett, backs Anson. Drawn by Rhodes’s laughter, Anson finds her playing with Biscuit. She teases him about avoiding color, and he admits it reminds him of what he lost.

Rhodes persuades him to help plant pink poppies. Their easy banter turns intimate when he touches her face, and he abruptly leaves, taking the flowers with him. That night, he researches the first fire and finds a pattern of unsolved arsons at places Rhodes frequented at the time. He begins to suspect the fire was deliberately set.

At the nursery, Rhodes and Thea move soil. Davis shows up and possessively confronts Rhodes about Anson. Thea steps in, and Rhodes ends things with Davis, who threatens that she will regret it. After he leaves, Thea warns Rhodes to be careful and reacts with anxiety when Rhodes mentions that her brother is the sheriff.

Rhodes tells Thea about her family’s death and her adoption by the Colsons. Shep arrives unexpectedly and startles them. Thea turns cold and dismissive toward him, which confuses Shep.

Anson confronts Owen about his poor work ethic. When Shep arrives, Anson questions him about where Rhodes spent time during the earlier unsolved fires, confirming her connection to those locations. Anson asks Shep to quietly obtain the official fire reports from Trace. By the end of the day, Owen apologizes.

Later, Anson finds Rhodes and Biscuit playing in a sprinkler. Biscuit shakes the water out of his fur, drenching Anson. When Anson playfully confronts Rhodes in mock anger, she turns the hose on him. He tackles her, and the playful tussle shifts into a charged moment. He pulls back and warns her to be careful.

Rhodes invites the soaked Anson into her guest cottage. He notes the impersonal decor, and when Rhodes considers adding personal touches, anxiety nearly triggers a panic attack. They make tacos and share a meal. He reveals that he is in recovery from alcohol use disorder, and she admits she initially coped with the loss of her family by pretending they never existed. Their attraction spikes, but he stops it, stating he doesn’t do relationships, and leaves.

Later that night, Rhodes wakes from a nightmare to the real smell of smoke. She runs outside to see flames engulfing the Victorian again.

Unable to sleep, Anson gets Shep’s call about the fire and races to the site. He finds Rhodes in shock and stays with her until Nora and Lolli arrive. The fire chief confirms arson. Trace remains wary but lets Anson examine the scene due to his expertise in fire restoration.

In the house’s library, Anson finds a concealed cache of old newspaper clippings about the original fire, marked to fixate on Rhodes’s survival. He also finds a defaced family photo with a handwritten message suggesting she did not deserve to survive.

Before dawn, the Colson family gathers at the guesthouse to support Rhodes. Anson, Trace, and Shep arrive with updates. Trace confirms arson but hesitates to share the specific threat. Anson argues that Rhodes needs the full truth, and she agrees.

Trace reveals the hidden clippings and the message targeting her. The family reacts with shock and fear. Anson states that Rhodes cannot stay alone, and Trace agrees to arrange a security system.

The Colson siblings organize a sleepover at the cottage so Rhodes is not alone. Outside, Shep quietly warns Rhodes that Anson’s past is dark. Morning brings a noisy family breakfast. Anson watches the scene with visible pain and slips out.

Rhodes follows him. She takes his hand and offers to share his burden. He refuses, saying isolation is the only way he avoids tainting others with his pain.

Shep and Anson recommend installing a security system in the guest cottage where Rhodes is living. Rhodes argues about the intrusion but ultimately agrees. After she goes inside, Shep pushes Anson to consult officially on the case. Anson refuses to reveal his FBI background to Trace but agrees to help unofficially.

Thinking of his late sister, Greta, Anson asks Shep for all fire reports from the year of the first incident. He now seriously considers that the original fire was arson and the perpetrator has returned.

Later that morning, Rhodes insists on going to work. Before she leaves, her foster sister Arden arrives with Silas and a box of abandoned kittens, and Rhodes agrees to take them in. At the nursery, Duncan confirms that Trace asked him to watch out for her.

While walking the grounds, Rhodes gets a text from Davis warning her that restoring the house is a mistake. She remembers his opposition to the project and suspects he may be involved in the arson.