Page 43 of No Such Thing as Serendipity
I flopped onto my bed and stretched out spread eagled.What a day.It started out with pug yoga, but it didn’t end there. Emma had chosen vegetable art for our next class, where we made sculptures out of vegetables. None of our villa mates were there, so we’d met more women from the other houses.
I’d proudly mentioned to Emma that I hadn’t hit on any of them. She’d rolled her eyes, knowing none of the women weremy type since they were all over forty-five. Still, I’d take it as an accomplishment.
After lunch, we joined a drumming circle, which turned out to be more fun than I’d anticipated. Over twenty people participated in the class held at the lodge. Many came from outside our retreat group, which turned out for the best since the larger group created a powerful sound that couldn’t be achieved with a smaller number.
We’d ended the first day of programs with a nature walk disguised as a treasure hunt. They’d paired us, and we were given a list of items to find on the walk. It appealed to my competitive nature, so I wasn’t happy coming in second. Despite Emma pointing out the other group had the advantage of knowing about nature, while we relied on Google.
Unlike last night, when we’d eaten as a group, tonight’s meal was served in each villa with only our villa mates. After dinner, our housemates dispersed, going outside to chat around the firepit with other women.
I’d stayed in my room. By her expression, I knew Emma consideredorderingme to join the festivities. Instead, she complimented me on how well I’d done the first day. She said she’d give me a bye tonight, but it wasn’t acceptable to retire to my room every evening.
I stretched out on my bed, enjoying how loose the muscles in my shoulder still felt. Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I reached for my cellphone. Was it a betrayal to Emma?No.She’d not explicitly given me orders not to check my email, or had she? I pushed those thoughts from my mind as I pressed my thumb against the screen.
Holy shit.I had another dozen emails. Since Fortitude had released the news of the buyout, my inbox had been flooded. Some were follow-ups to the ones I’d gotten earlier, but there were at least five new companies vying for my attention. Wouldthey wait for me to answer in a month? Some maybe, but what if I missed a golden opportunity because of this experiment? I’d never forgive myself, so I opened the first email.
An hour later, I’d answered nine of the messages, expressing my interest. I glanced at the clock. It was only eight. I’d make it up to Emma and join the others. Besides, Dana or Noelle might be lurking somewhere around the fire.
CHAPTER 14
It was the startof the second day of scheduled activities at the retreat, and my villa mates were sitting around the kitchen table having breakfast. Emma had warned me to eat light, so I sadly passed on the pancakes. Instead, I ate half a grapefruit and oatmeal.
“We don’t get to do pug yoga today?” I hoped the disappointment didn’t show in my voice.
“Afraid not,” Emma answered.
“I had so much fun,” Helena said with a smile.
She was attractive when she smiled. It was her unpleasant expression that made me think otherwise. Last night around the fire, Helena had confided in us about her recent fibromyalgia diagnosis. That explained a lot since I knew pain changed people. Auntie Bess’s pain-filled face flashed across my mind, but I pushed it aside.
“How is your fibro doing?” Emma asked.
I stiffened. It was so casual, as if she were asking Helena what she ate for dinner. Helena didn’t seem bothered by the question, though, and launched into her answer. How did Emma grow so comfortable with someone so fast?
While Helena and Emma continued their conversation, Dana leaned over toward me. “Are you going to tai chi this morning? I’d love to see your moves.”
That might have been the worst pickup line I’d ever heard. No doubt Dana was hot, but her flirtation was lacking. Like me, she seemed driven, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise there was nothing subtle about her intentions. Efficient, I supposed, but Emma was still saying no. I smiled to myself. As if Emma could turn off my libido once it heated up. Besides, I was already checking my emails when I shouldn’t, so what would it hurt if I had a clandestine rendezvous when she wasn’t watching?
As we were cleaning up breakfast, Emma lost her grip on the coffeepot and spilled it down her front. Everyone rushed to help clean up, except Dana, who’d already left. We shooed them off, not wanting to make everyone late.
Besides, I had ulterior motives. Without the others around, I could make my appeal to Emma again. Perhaps I should assert myself and insist I make my own choices from now on. Hadn’t we been playing this stupid game long enough? I glanced at Emma while sopping up the last of the coffee from the floor. Would she really leave if I didn’t play by the rules?
Yes.I let out a loud sigh. Sweet little Emma had a stubborn streak a mile long.
Emma glanced over at me. “Stop huffing. You’ll have fun if you let yourself.”
“We’ll see.”
“You never would have chosen pug yoga, but you had fun.”
“Maybe.” I didn’t plan on admitting anything readily.
“I’d be happy to tell you more if I wasn’t protecting myself from an argument.”
“Oh, come on, I’m not that bad.”
“You always try to wear me down with your relentless reasoning, and I don’t have the strength for it here.”
Her words were like a bucket of cold water dumped over my head. Did I exhaust my sister?
