Page 46 of No Such Thing as Serendipity
I kept my eyes squeezed shut since I suspected Dana wouldn’t play by the rules. The uncomfortable sensation of someone watching me might have been paranoia, but I wouldn’t take any chances. I breathed in and out with Robyn, pushing aside my thoughts.
“Okay, you can open your eyes,” Robyn said. “I need a brave volunteer to go first.”
“Can you tell us the question first?” Katlynn asked.
“Today’s question is easy. I’d like you to share the reason you’re here at the retreat.” Robyn glanced around the circle. “Anyone want to volunteer?”
After a few beats of no one responding, Annie said, “I’m willing to be a guinea pig.”
“Thank you,” Robyn said. “It’s always hard to go first. It takes courage.”
Annie gave Robyn a huge smile before she began. “I lost my Danny—my husband—eighteen months ago. Heart attack. A widow maker. He never made it to the hospital.”
“I’m so sorry,” Robyn said. “How long were you married?”
“A month shy of twenty-five years.” She let out a half snort. “I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive him for not making it until we hit that magic number.” She looked around the circle. “Not really, but that’s what I tell everyone. We were supposed to go to Europe for our twenty-fifth, but I couldn’t bring myself to go without him.”
“You came here instead?” Dana asked.
I felt Robyn stiffen beside me and then lean forward as if she were about to speak, but Annie laughed before Robyn could respond.
“Don’t sound so shocked.” Her gaze locked on Dana. “I loved that man with all my heart and soul. I don’t know how to do life without him. I’ve been surrounded by men my whole life, except for my mama. Four brothers and three sons. Perhaps that’s the appeal of coming here. A little feminine energy to heal me.” Annie glanced at me and then at Emma. “My biggest regret is not having a daughter or a sister.”
Dana’s eyes softened as Annie spoke.
“Thank you for sharing,” Robyn said. “Grief work is complex and a deeply personal process. I believe you’ve met Gayle?”
Annie nodded.
“She has extensive experience with grief, so you might want to connect with her,” Robyn said. “Of course, I’m always available, too.”
“Thank you.” Tears welled in Annie’s eyes.
“And sometimes, it’s your fellow participants that bring the most comfort and healing,” Robyn said.
We all nodded and offered encouragement to Annie.
“Okay, next.” Annie waved her arm. “You’re gonna have me blubbering like a fool, and I ain’t ready for that on day two.”
Robyn smiled. “Who wants to take Annie off the hot seat?”
Emma and Katlynn’s hands shot up. Emma waved her hand to the floor, offering it to Kathlynn.
“I’m afraid I don’t have a very interesting story,” Katlynn began. “I attend three or four retreats a year, so I’ve been all over the world. Bali. Costa Rica. New Zealand. Peru. You name it. This year, I’m focusing on more unknown retreats.”
“The pressure’s on.” Robyn chuckled. “I hope you enjoy it here. Is there anything else you’d like to add?”
As soon as Katlynn shook her head, Helena said, “Can I go next?”
“Certainly,” Robyn said.
“After a three-year battle trying to figure out what was wrong with me, last year, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. While I thought I managed it well, apparently, my girlfriend didn’t. She left me when I discovered she’d been cheating on me for two years. The kicker is she blamed it on me, saying with my body breaking down, I couldn’t please her like I once did.”
Ouch.I hoped my reaction didn’t show on my face. While I focused on keeping a sympathetic expression instead of a look of horror, Robyn responded. Helena must have been satisfied with the answer because she gave Robyn a genuine smile and thanked her.
When Robyn asked for the next volunteer, Emma waved her hand.
“You’re up, Emma,” Robyn said.
