Page 32 of No Such Thing as Serendipity
“Fine. Don’t come crying to me when you wake up with a tree in your bed.”
Emma held up her hand as if taking an oath. “I promise I won’t cry to you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Where do we park?” With the villas arranged in a square, I’d assumed the parking was in the middle, but the road veered north.
“Um, follow the road.”
Leave it to Emma to state the obvious.
The road snaked through the forest, so we could no longer see the villas. I strained to peer through the dense foliage, but the vegetation blocked my view. Engulfed by trees, the villas seemed miles away, despite being nearby.
"I just figured they'd centralize the parking. In the middle."
“No. That would ruin the allure.” Emma pulled a pamphlet from her bag and shoved it toward me. “The square is for all the activities.”
I glanced down. There were several pictures, each depicting myriad activities. “Jesus. All that’s in the center of the villas?”
“Duh, that’s where our programs will be, except for the ones in the main lodge.”
“Outside?” My voice must have risen two octaves.
“Well, yeah. Where did you imagine we would do things?”
“In a swanky temperature-controlled spa.”
“I never said this was a spa. It’s a retreat.”
“What’s the difference?”
Emma grinned. “You’ll find out.”
I groaned as I drove north. A weathered sign directed us to turn left for parking. The short lane opened into a parking lot behind the villa across the square from ours. The parking lot,half the size of the lodge parking, wasn’t in any better repair. I was used to resorts with immaculate grounds, so this place was throwing me. Another thing not to say to Emma.
“Looks like we have to lug our luggage across the square,” I said. Few cars dotted the lot, so I pulled into a spot closest to a walkway. “We’re here.” I kept a neutral tone since I couldn’t muster putting excitement in my voice. I thought I was being gracious.
Emma supplied the enthusiasm as she clapped and bounced in her seat. “This is going to be so amazing.”
Yeah, amazing.
We grabbed our carry-ons, deciding we would come back for our luggage once we got a feel for the place. Emma motioned to a sign, showing Gratitude Grotto to the left and Lovingkindness Lodge to the right. “Which way?”
I shrugged and didn’t hide my grin. “I thought you were making all the decisions.”
She gave me a side eye and marched toward the path to the right.
“Lovingkindness Lodge it is,” I said as I followed her.
The walk through the trees took only a few minutes, not as long as I’d feared. We came out between Harmony House and Gratitude Grotto. Our villa sat on the opposite side of the square. Not that I could distinguish it from the others since all four villas were identical.
Upon reaching the end of the path, my eyes widened as the square came into view. It was as if we’d stepped into another world. Unlike the rest of Blissful Breeze, the grounds were immaculately tended, whereas the rest of the resort, to use Emma’s phrasing, was primitive.
A large fountain, at least twenty feet tall, stood in the center of the square. Even from this distance, about twenty-five yards away, I heard water splashing down the sides.
Emma elbowed me. “See, there’s your water.”
“Did we pass through a portal to another time or place?”
“What do you mean?”
