As the skies darkened, Kate locked her bike to a nearby rack and walked through the front door of Sunny’s yoga studio. Dubbed simply “The Studio,” it always reminded her of Sunny herself. Clean lines, classic, and welcoming. Cream-colored plaster walls with simple molding surrounded wide-plank honeyed oak floors. Abundant skylights normally flooded the place with lots of sunlight. But today, between the early hour and the approaching storm, soft lighting did the heavy lifting. The place held the bare minimum of furniture. And the few existing pieces looked like pricey antiques. Pared down and elegant, but with a definite energy. Exuberance.
Early on a Saturday morning, just one of the studios was open. And Sunny was leading this class herself. Kate peered through the glass. She was stunned. There were more than twenty students. Some of the faces were sort of familiar—people she’d seen around town but didn’t really know yet. Most were total strangers. But a few, like Bridget O’Hanlon and Rosie Armand, she actually recognized.
She was glad she’d baked an extra dozen. The pastry chef’s motto: Too many is perfect; one short is disaster.
Sunny, clad in a dusty-rose leotard and matching stirrup tights, rolled gracefully up from her chocolate-colored mat, stretched, and waved from the front of the class.
Kate returned the gesture, feeling suddenly shy. She set down the trays on the large pine cabinet, already laden with butter, and jars of jam and marmalade, along with an assortment of small china plates, teacups, and silverware. On top of the hutch, someone had placed an industrial-sized warming urn. Which, judging from the scent, held an ocean of hot green tea.
“So how is it going for the big reopening?” Sunny asked, shutting the classroom door quietly behind her. “Are you girls all ready?”
“As ready as we’ll ever be,” Kate said. “We’re just hoping people show up. It’s been kind of a rough week. Especially for Sam.”
“Posh! The crowd in Coral Cay loves any excuse for a party. They’ll turn up. Wait until our Pirate Festival later this summer. You’ll see what I mean. I just hope that old fool knows how lucky he is to have you. And he’d better be paying you well.”
“Right now, honestly, I’d settle for a good turnout.”
“Well, I called a few old friends of mine on the mainland. Teachers and such. Spread the word. And I know for a fact that Bridget and Andy have been telling all the tourists about it. So you might get a few from the resort crowd, too. Even better because they don’t come with the baggage of knowing Sam Hepplewhite. That man’s no murderer, but he can be a damned fool.”
Kate smiled.
“Why don’t you join us for snacks this morning? I have a student I’d love for you to meet. Glen. A photographer. He lives on the mainland, but he’s a regular at my Saturday classes. Single. And very flexible,” she finished with a wink.
“Next Saturday for sure,” Kate promised. “But Maxi’s holding down the fort right now with Peter, so I have to get back. Fingers crossed, they might actually need me.”
“They will, and you’ll do fine.” She stopped and cocked her head, studying Kate for a split second. “A little piece of unsolicited advice? This day will go by in a blink,” she said, snapping her fingers. “Stop worrying and enjoy it. Soak it in—it’s a celebration. And nice choice on the bike, by the way. Best way to get around the island.”
Kate had to smile as she pedaled back to the Cookie House. Nothing got past Sunny. But she definitely wasn’t ready for a fix-up. Not yet.
Although she had gotten a glimpse of Glen through the window. Sunny was right. He was cute. Or “yummy,” as Sunny would put it.
But the other thing Sunny mentioned kept swirling through Kate’s mind. Could she just let go and enjoy? Her entire adult life it always felt like she had absolutely no margin for error. So she’d planned everything. With contingency plans, and double contingency plans, just in case. The first time she hadn’t, she’d ended up on Main Street with no money, no job, and a smoking car.
But she’d survived. And thrived. And found her way.
A clap of thunder heralded a flash of lightning off in the distance. A storm was coming. And if the darkening sky was any indication, it would be a doozy.
Scary but exhilarating. Kind of like her life lately.
Kate shifted into high gear and stood on the pedals, pumping furiously to reach the bakery before the deluge started. She’d had more fun in the past few weeks than she had since she ended things with Evan. Possibly even before.
So maybe she could keep living in the moment. For one more day, at least.