Rita took a deep breath and shook her head. ‘Let’s do some yoga, shall we?’
Rita felt a sense of relief when Paul didn’t walk into the barn the morning after their unexpected encounter. It wasn’t that she regretted what had happened; she didn’t. But the uncertainty of how they’d both react upon seeing each other again made her hesitant. And the thought of anyone else discovering what they had done was something she wanted to avoid. Imagine that in her first online retreat reviews.Great stay, the owner is a complete harlot. Just give her a glass of wine, a can of beer and place her under a starry sky and she’s all yours.
Annie, Michael and Lola were already sprawled across the floor of the barn, their yoga mats unfurled as the moist sea breeze gently ruffled their edges. The rain wasn’t strong enough to have to shut the barn doors – in fact, it felt lovely to have a warm breeze flowing through their space of tranquillity.
Teo, dressed in relaxed linen trousers and a loose white vest, moved with the quiet confidence of someone completely at home in his own body. Maybe because somebody had been completely at home with his, the night before, Rita cheekily thought.
‘Buenos días, everyone.’ He rolled his shoulders. ‘I hope you enjoyed your time on the beach last night. This morning, I welcome you to Hatha yoga. Today, we go slow. We breathe. We stretch. We feel amazing,sí?’
‘As long as old blue eyes himself here doesn’t keep breaking into song,’ Annie announced, putting one hand into her tight yoga top and rearranging her huge breasts. ‘If I hear “Fly Me to the Moon” one more time, well…’ Rita was sure she was actually directing her comments with affection towards Michael. ‘He nearly got a croissant through his flap this morning.’
Lola screwed her face up. ‘Please tell me that’s not a euphemism.’ Everyone laughed.
Michael woke up. ‘Let this poor old bastard feel happy for one minute, at least, can you? Last night was the first time I’ve enjoyed myself for a long time.’
Lola giggled. ‘And at least it was in tune.’
‘Thank you, Lola,’ Michael replied, looking to Annie, who smothered him in baby air kisses.
Teo continued, his voice warm and steady. ‘In Hatha, we balance, sun and moon, strength and softness. No need to rush. This is not a race. We are not on our horses,’ he added with a wink toward Rita, who was at the back about to join in, and smiled back warmly in return.
He stepped onto his own mat. ‘So… we start simple. Sit tall. Close your eyes. Inhale… exhale… forget the to-do list, forget the phone, forget the singing.’
Teo smiled to himself as he stood up and looked around at everybody doing as they were told, serene looks on their faces.
‘This place,’ he whispered when he was alongside Rita, ‘is almost better than the racetrack.’
Michael and Lola walked out of the barn, shaking out limbs and laughing about who would be the most sore tomorrow. An unlikely friendship, Rita thought, especially considering how much the young woman had despised the filter-free lawyer at first. Annie lingered by the door, rubbing her shoulder with a thoughtful expression. ‘Hey, Rita?’
Rita stopped from tidying away the yoga mats. ‘You all right, Annie?’
‘I’m great, thanks. I just wondered, if it’s not too much trouble, would you… maybe show me where the Reformer Studio is one day? I think I’d like to try it properly. Get a bit fitter, you know.’ Her big personality seemed smaller somehow.
Rita smiled. ‘Of course I will. I’ve been avoiding doing a full session, actually. We’ll go together.’
THIRTY-ONE
Rita jumped at the gentle tap on the kitchen window, turned off the iron and went to the front door. Zenya smiled as she bustled through the kitchen doorway, a basket of freshly picked herbs and vegetables tucked under one arm.
‘I thought I’d put together a special menu tonight.’ Rita noted her flawless skin tanned from the glorious weather they had been having prior to today’s rain. Her salt-stiff plaits were knotted with lavender stems. ‘The guests have been here a whole week now; feels like they deserve something a bit more celebratory. Something fresh, seasonal, and from the garden. If that’s OK with you, of course.’ She laid the basket on the kitchen table, spilling out glossy courgettes, ruby-red tomatoes, fragrant basil and a handful of wild berries.
‘Great idea. I’m not offering alcohol on a whim. We can use up the leftover elderflower fizz. I need to keep eye on our profits.’
‘They’ll probably be knackered after last night anyway. I saw Paul creeping back up with his head torch on way after the others.’
‘Oh, did you?’ Rita replied breezily.
‘You like him, don’t you?’ Zenya smiled, catching Rita’s eye knowingly. Rita flushed and busied herself at the sink.
Zenya switched topics, ‘I’m thinking a roasted veg tart like I didat Hilda’s the other night, and for pudding, a raspberry crumble topped with coconut cream. Light, tasty and perfect for this time of year.’
‘You’re amazing, Zenya, that’s what you are.’ Rita wiped her hands on a tea towel.
‘I wish to be,’ Zenya replied coyly, her cheeks now colouring. ‘Being around you… it’s like having the big sister I always hoped for. Someone strong and kind who doesn’t pretend to have it all figured out but just keeps going anyway.’ Rita swallowed as Zenya’s voice softened. ‘I never really had that. A person who makes you feel like you matter. So, thank you, Rita. For letting me in.’
‘I’m glad,’ Rita whispered, herself welling up. She folded the ironing board. ‘You’d better text the rabble and see how many want to come down and eat.’
Later that evening, Rita was just getting ready to head over to the Snack Shack when she heard the crunch of tyres on the gravel courtyard. She looked out of her bedroom window expecting to see Teo back from the harbour in the Land Rover. But bold as brass in the trailer behind Jago’s tractor, standing squarely and smugly atop a bale of hay, was Camilla.
