Page 101 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

She glanced at the lodge and then back at my arm. Finally, she linked hers through mine. We walked to the building without speaking. My heart soared, having Robyn close to me.

CHAPTER 29

Leave it to Emmato choose another intense class. This one was called silent conversation, and the room was full. There were at least a hundred people in attendance.

Vera did a plug for the retreat before she introduced Robyn. When Robyn took the stage, she welcomed all the outside participants and greeted those of us she knew.

“I’m thrilled that so many showed up today. Many of you know about this program, but bear with me while I explain it to those who don’t. I’ll try to be brief.”

I couldn’t help but admire how natural Robyn was on stage. She gracefully moved around and talked so effortlessly that I’d bet everyone thought she was talking to them. She explained that for the next hour and a half, she’d invite volunteers up to have a silent conversation with someone else in the audience.

“Words are forbidden,” Robyn said. “I know, some might think it’s ridiculous, but understand, sometimes words get in the way. We’re so busy formulating our responses we miss what theother person is trying to say. In a wordless conversation, we’re forced to focus. We’re more open to the other person’s message.”

Robyn moved to the edge of the stage and sat down. “With so many participants, everyone won’t get an opportunity today.”

Someone behind me called out, “Bummer.” The sarcasm was thick in her voice.

Robyn laughed. “I bet some of you just took an enormous sigh of relief. Of course, this is voluntary. We’re not here to make anyone uncomfortable. In case you don’t get the opportunity, observing is just as powerful. One might say even more so.”

“You know the warning label that says don’t try this at home?” Robyn paused and looked around the crowd. “Well, I’m telling you to try this at home. It can be an amazing tool to help you communicate with your loved ones.” She pointed toward the back of the room. “My contact information is on the table. Please, reach out to me and let me know how you incorporate it into your own communications.”

“Now,” Robyn said as she stood. “Vera and I will demonstrate how this is done before we call up our first participants.”

Vera walked to the center of the stage. It only took a few seconds to determine Robyn was asking for a raise. I could tell by Vera’s reaction, she was privy to what Robyn was doing.

After they’d finished and Vera had turned down Robyn’s request, Robyn smiled at the audience. “Of course, that wasn’t a real interaction, or Vera would have gladly given me a raise.”

Everyone laughed.

“The point is, were you surprised how easy you followed the conversation?” Robyn asked.

I nodded and glanced at Emma, who was nodding along with me.

“All right then, I need some volunteers.”

The number of hands that shot up shocked me.

The first half hour, I watched mesmerized. My gaze shifted between the participants and Robyn, who helped facilitate the discussions. I was impressed by her intense concentration and the skillful way she inserted herself just long enough for the pair to move forward.

I’d seen plenty of women command a boardroom, but this might have been the sexiest thing I’d ever witnessed.Fuck.I needed to get my libido in check, so I focused harder on the participants. My attention kept drifting back to Robyn, no matter how hard I tried not to.

I’d been so entranced by what was happening on the stage, I’d not realized that Robyn had chosen Katlynn and Helena to join her.

Katlynn bound up the stairs with a confident aura, while apprehension showed in Helena’s cautious ascent.

Robyn welcomed them with a hug before she turned the stage over to Katlynn.

I nudged Emma. “What’s she going to do?”

Emma shook her head and shrugged. “I don’t know, but poor Helena looks terrified.”

I nodded before focusing my full attention on our friends.

Katlynn placed both hands over her own chest and pushed against it. Then she did an exaggerated shrug before she lifted her hands to shoulder level and shrugged again.

Coupled with her expression, I interpreted she was trying to convey confusion. Helena must have picked up her meaning because she nodded.

Katlynn put her hands over her chest again, lifted them off, and then put them against her chest. She repeated the movement several times, signifying what I believed was a beating heart.