‘Welcome, everyone. Thank you for joining this morning. We will start with some simple breathing exercises. Please close your eyes,’ Viola said, reading from a notepad and smiling at us one by one.
I sat cross-legged and slowed my breathing to a virtual stop. In for eight and out for eight, concentrating on extending each breath as I inhaled and exhaled. It was the only thing that had helped with the panic attacks after Josh had died. I was so good at it I was convinced I could be a professional free diver – for sixteen seconds at a time. We sat quietly, the music gently lilting alongside our breathing, as we relaxed as one.
‘Please stand up,’ Viola instructed, still reading out loud. ‘Pushing the soles of your feet into the mat and stretching down to touch the ground. Hold on to your ankles if you can.’ I could and I did and, as I looked through my legs to Dawn who was touching her knees behind me, I noticed a sixth member of the class had joined at the back. A man. I could only see the back of his head as he was also holding on to his ankles, but he had a strong physique, nice legs and beefy arms. This was quite the turn-up for the books. Maybe there’d be someone to play with, after all.
‘And release,’ Viola said, as we all stood up and faced forward. I was itching to turn round and check out the new guest, but I didn’t want to be too obvious, so I kept breathing and stretching, and standing like a tree, biding my time. With every new position I’d get the same back-of-the-head view. It was like trying to solve a jigsaw of a man without any pieces of his face.
‘And into downward dog,’ Viola said softly, as I swooped towards the floor, pushing up on all fours, to look between my legs, again. The blood rushed to my head and my ponytail tickled the mat, as I leant into my hands and feet. I could feel myself turning puce as I concentrated, staring at Mr Mystery’s Lego hair. I decided to stay in position a little longer this time and get a quick look before the next move. The suspense was killing me.
‘Now stretch all the way back into child’s pose,’ Viola instructed. I stayed staunchly in downward dog, as he shifted his position, then as he adjusted himself and looked up, I nearly collapsed in a heap. It was Tony. Our eyes met through my legs, and he gave me a wave. He had a perfect view of my arse.What the hell…?
‘And when you’re ready, move into warrior pose.’
I repositioned myself into a warrior woman, looking left, under the guise of stretching out my neck. Why was he still here? I couldn’t decide if I was shocked or flattered. He must have pretended to leave and then hung around waiting for me downstairs. How bizarre to join a private yoga class! Where had he got his outfit from? He even had a sweatband!
‘Allow your thoughts to drift… empty your mind…’ Viola whispered. I glared at him, through Dawn, who glanced behind her, trying to work out what was going on. Tony smiled in return, acknowledging me with a wink. I huffed my way through the rest of the class, imagining all the things I was going to say to him once we were done. Viola finished with a short meditation, giving us each a blanket to cover ourselves with. My mind raced as she chanted, and it felt like the incantation went on forever before she finally clashed together a tiny pair of cymbals and blew out her candle.
‘Namaste,’ she said, bowing her head low.
‘Namaste,’ we all chanted back.
Right. Now my zen was fully restored, I was going to totally lose my shit. I smiled at Viola as I rolled up my mat, watching Tony as he did the same. Un-bloody-believable. The audacity.
‘The class was good for you, Abi?’ Viola asked.
‘Fabulous, thank you.’
‘I’ll be here every day,’ she said, as Dawn jumped up with a question about her chakras.
I marched to the back of the class, my cheeks burning, as I remembered the feeling of Tony’s arms around me in the night. But, no – how dare he stay uninvited and join something as intimate as a yoga session without asking!
‘Hey! This is a surprise,’ I said, keeping my voice low, so we couldn’t be overheard. ‘What are you still doing here?’
‘Well, this is a coincidence,’ he said, smiling. ‘Fancy seeing you in my yoga class!’
I frowned. This was the problem with one-night stands. You had to hope they weren’t stalkers or serial killers based on a few hours of chat. I hoped he wasn’t fixating on me. ‘How can this be your yoga class? Look, I’m sorry if I’ve given you the wrong impression, but I’m uncomfortable with you still being here – waiting for me like this.’
‘Nothing to apologise for,’ he replied. ‘I’m not waiting for you.’
‘I just want to be super clear that this isn’t happening,’ I said, my hands on my hips. ‘In case you’re thinking… anything.’
‘Anything?’ Tony said, with a bemused smile. ‘Anything at all?’
‘I’m not really the romantic type,’ I said, tapping my necklace three times. It was a lie, but better than the truth.
‘Tony!’ Viola cried, as he looked up and smiled. She ran straight into his arms, kissing him hard on both cheeks and hugging him tight, as I watched in confusion. ‘Come stai?’
‘Zia!’ he replied, delighted, spinning Viola around. ‘See you later,’ he mouthed over her shoulder, while I tried to work out what was happening.
They started talking in Italian, so I left them to it. Serendipity my arse. I followed the others into the breakfast room, where Paolo was poised and ready, his frying pan already hissing.
‘Ciao, Abi, one of my pancakes for you?’ he asked.
‘Sorry Paolo, I’m keeping it simple this morning,’ I said, taking a nectarine from the buffet.
‘Per favore?’ he begged, looking lost. He was whisking a huge bowl of batter and had nowhere to put it. The others were already sitting two by two out on the pool deck, so I was his last hope.
‘Umm, OK then, maybe just the one.’ The Nutella was making me anxious. ‘But can I have it plain, with lemon juice – no cream or sugar?’ It was hard enough navigating the cheese and wine situation out here. I didn’t want to start adding chocolate spread to my morning routine.
