2018
‘My point is, we need to do something,’ Zoe says, ‘and we need to do it soon.’
She is standing at the centre of the cramped living room she shares with Carl. He nods his agreement from their scruffy armchair. Holly and Joe, sitting next to each other on the sofa, both look anxiously at her. Zoe suggested this impromptu community meeting as she, Carl, Holly and Joe returned to the house after helping to assemble a new sweat lodge in the olive grove. Sofia surprised them this morning with a delivery of willow sticks, organic cotton blankets and a set of volcanic stones sourced from Sicily. Quinn thought building the new structure together would be a positive bonding activity.
As Zoe secured a thick blanket to the willow frame, she knew she’d never go in a sweat lodge again after what happened to Andreas. The others must have felt the same because everyone except Mel declined Quinn’s invitation to join her in the lodge for an inaugural session. As soon as Zoe realised the four of them could be alone, she invited Holly and Joe back to her room.
‘What are you suggesting?’ Joe glances at the door. ‘You’re making it sound ominous.’
‘Hear her out,’ Carl says. ‘She’s trying to find a solution for all of us.’
‘I think Sofia’s serious about her offer,’ Zoe says. ‘I know Quinn thinks she isn’t, but I disagree.’
‘But surely Andreas’ death put everything into perspective?’ Holly says. ‘Sofia’s been so upset about it?’
‘Has she?’ says Zoe. ‘This morning I saw her lying by the pool reading Crime and Punishment.’
‘What’s not to love about the great Russian writers?’ Carl says.
‘This isn’t a joke, Carl.’ Holly’s dark blue eyes gleam with the threat of tears.
‘Sweetheart.’ Joe takes one of her callused hands in his meaty one. ‘Let’s hear what Zoe’s got to say.’
‘Thank you, Joe.’ Zoe, her kimono wafting around her black leggings and vest top, sinks to the floor and kneels on the faded Turkish rug at the centre of the room. She checks the chopstick pins Sofia gave her are still holding her messy bun in place. She likes her new style. She intends to experiment more often.
Everyone is looking at her. Waiting for her performance to begin. She lets the moment stretch out. When she opens her mouth to speak, a knock at the door interrupts her. She and Carl exchange guilty glances. Joe and Holly press closer together on the sofa.
‘Come in,’ Zoe says. There’s no law against the four of them having a chat together. They could be talking about anything.
When the door opens, Zoe is not surprised to see Mel standing there.
‘I had a feeling something was going on.’ Mel steps into the room and closes the door behind her. Her face is flushed and shiny with sweat.
‘Where’s Quinn?’ Carl asks.
‘She’s settling in for a long session in the sweat lodge. I told her I needed to go for a rest.’ Mel folds her arms across her chest. ‘What are you up to?’
Zoe sighs. No point in lying. They need Mel on side to make this work. ‘I wanted to run an idea by everyone.’
‘But not by me?’ Mel says.
‘You chose to do the sweat lodge with Quinn.’
‘I didn’t realise there was another choice.’
‘We would have filled you in afterwards,’ Carl says.
‘I’m sure,’ Mel says. ‘What about Quinn? Would she have been invited?’
Zoe takes a deep breath. ‘I didn’t want her to be here.’
Mel frowns. ‘Why not?’
‘There are things we need to decide.’
Shock steals across Mel’s face.
‘No, not that,’ Joe says.
‘Not that,’ echoes Holly.
‘Jesus, Mel.’ Carl shakes his head. ‘This is Pure Heart. We’re all trying to be our best selves here.’
‘Quinn won’t like my idea,’ Zoe explains, ‘so I wanted to share it with you all first.’
‘Fine.’ Mel leans against the door. ‘Let’s hear it.’
‘Okay.’ Zoe clears her throat. ‘As you know, after Charles died, I suggested we apply for a commercial licence and turn this place into a spiritual retreat for paying guests. I still think we could make this idea work and create both a sustainable lifestyle for ourselves and a really beautiful experience for anyone who comes to stay here.’
Mel brings her hands together in a slow clap. ‘Thought your pitch out, haven’t you?’
‘At least she’s trying to do something positive.’ Carl leans forward in his chair. ‘Better than accusing innocent people of things they haven’t done.’
‘Aye, let her finish,’ Joe says.
‘Let’s ask Sofia to invest in Pure Heart,’ Zoe suggests. ‘For a fraction of what she’s offered us, we could get this place up and running. We could dedicate it to Eva. Make it a tribute to her.’
‘I think it’s a lovely idea,’ Holly says.
‘Sofia offered us money to kill Quinn,’ Mel reminds them. ‘How is this proposal going to satisfy her? What does she get out of it?’
‘Sofia wants Quinn to be punished for what she did,’ Zoe says, ‘but I don’t think she wants her dead.’
‘What kind of punishment?’ Joe asks warily.
‘I don’t know exactly.’ Zoe places her palms on her knees. ‘Quinn could step down as leader. Or… or maybe she’d have to leave us.’
‘You want to kick her out?’ Mel says.
‘I don’t want to,’ Zoe says, ‘but we need to offer Sofia something.’
‘Something in return for her money, you mean?’ Mel says.
‘None of us condone Sofia’s way of dealing with this,’ Zoe says, ‘but nor can we condone what Quinn did in the past. She lied to us about Eva.’
‘She did what she thought was best,’ Mel says.
Carl runs a hand through his silver hair. ‘We’re trying to be pragmatic. We can’t keep this place going without money.’
‘Why not set the place up without Sofia’s money?’ Mel says. ‘Get a licence but start small. While it’s getting off the ground, I’m sure we can find other ways to earn income.’
Shock flashes across Carl’s face. ‘Get jobs?’
Mel shrugs. ‘Why not?’
‘You want to take part in that bullshit capitalist society again?’ Carl says. ‘The way we live here is supposed to mean something. We’re supposed to be different.’
‘Quinn wouldn’t get a job and you know it,’ Zoe says. ‘She won’t embrace change.’
‘She might,’ says Mel, ‘if she realises there’s no other option.’
‘You really believe that?’ Joe asks.
Mel doesn’t reply.
‘I know you love this place, Mel,’ Zoe says. ‘It’s your home.’
‘It’s Quinn’s home too,’ Mel points out. ‘I can’t imagine this place without her.’
‘The good of the community comes before individual desires,’ Zoe says.
The third of Pure Heart’s rules. Zoe never realised how important it was, but now it makes sense. Why should Quinn be more important than Pure Heart’s future? They can’t sacrifice their community for one of Quinn’s unrealistic dreams. ‘We have to modernise,’ she insists. ‘Quinn’s attitude is holding us back.’
‘Spiritual tourism?’ Holly says. ‘Is that really what we’re about?’
‘What’s wrong with sharing what we have?’ Zoe says. ‘Sharing all the things we’ve learned.’ She rolls her eyes. ‘I mean how much more bloody work can we do on ourselves?’
‘I’m only just getting started,’ Mel says. ‘Quinn says discovering your true self is a life’s work.’
‘We’d still have plenty of time for our own development,’ Zoe says.
‘Maybe being with others will bring new energy to what we do here,’ Joe says.
Zoe nods at him, grateful for the support.
‘Sofia won’t go for it,’ Mel says. ‘She’s on a mission.’
‘We have to try,’ Carl says.
‘Let’s take a vote.’ Zoe glances round the room. ‘Everyone in favour of giving my proposal a shot?’
She raises her hand. Carl does the same. After a moment’s hesitation, Holly and Joe follow. Only Mel refuses to join in, arms still folded across her chest.
‘You’re deluding yourselves,’ she says. ‘All of you.’