Page 12 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

Emma grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the front desk. “Hello!” Emma called as she dragged me along. When we reached the rough wood counter, she said, “I’m Emma, and this is my sister, Blake.”

The woman glanced at a spreadsheet on her desk. “Emma Fulton and Blake Saunders?”

“That’s us,” Emma responded.

“Perfect.” The woman gave us a warm smile. “And my name’s Vera Voss.”

“Oh.” Emma put her hands together against her chest. “You own Blissful Breeze.”

“That I do. Been here since the late eighties.”

I glanced at the furniture, which appeared to have been around for as long as Vera. It was another thing I needed to keep to myself.

“Let’s see which villa you’re assigned. Tranquility Terrace.” She pulled out a map and circled a building. “It’s here. Facing north, which means you’ll get the south sun all day. Not that you’ll be in your rooms much.”

She put her finger on the map, and her wrinkled hands gave away her age. Despite the white hair, I’d assumed she was younger.

She tapped on the center of the map. “As you can see, we have a square between the villas. That’s where we conduct a lot of our activities. Also where everyone from the four houses can get together and socialize. There’s a firepit, a grill, and cornhole.”

What the hell is cornhole?

Before I could ask, Emma said, “This is going to be so perfect. Are any of our housemates here yet?”

Vera took a brief glance at her spreadsheet and said, “Uh, it looks like one has already arrived.” Something told me Vera didn’t have to check the spreadsheet. “There are only six staying in your villa, so you should have plenty of room.”

Finally. I’d count it as a win.

“Oh,” Emma said. “I thought there were twelve.”

Vera glanced at her spreadsheet and fiddled with the corner. “Uh, not this time.” She looked up at me and smiled. “You’re a quiet one.”

I returned her smile. “No choice with Emma around.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “Ignore her.”

“Now, now, girls.” Vera shot us both a motherly look. “What are your goals?” Vera asked me.

“Well, I’d like to find a private equity company that values my skill set. And—” I broke into my elevator speech. The one I’d been rehearsing for when the headhunters came courting.

Emma elbowed me. “I think she meant your goals for the retreat.”

“Oh.” By the heat radiating up my neck, my face reddened. “I, well, I’m…”

Vera patted my hand. “It’s okay, dear. Everyone doesn’t know why they’re here when they first arrive. It comes to them as they go through the experience.”

“Like serendipity,” Emma added.

“Exactly!” Vera frowned. “I’d wanted to name one Serendipity, but all I came up with was Serendipity Shack, and that doesn’t sound appealing, does it?”

Emma was about to respond when the screen door rattled open.

“Back again?” Vera said, glancing over our shoulders.

The dog mom from earlier walked our way. I thought she’d left.

“I came back when I realized I didn’t get my itinerary,” the woman said.

Vera smiled, picked up a packet, and waved it. She turned to us and said, “Ladies, I’d like to introduce you to one of our instructors, Robyn Tremaine.”

“We met outside,” Emma said. Then she introduced herself and me to Robyn.

Once we finished the greetings, Robyn said, “They had to help me catch my naughty dog.”

Vera laughed. “Millie’s an angel.”

“Tell that to the ducks,” Robyn said.

“Millie is enamored with those birds,” Vera said to us. “She’s so adorable.”

“You need to stop enabling her.” Robyn looked at us and shook her head. “They’re losing their patience with her. One pecked her on the nose today. You should have seen the look of confusion on her little pug face.”

“At least they aren’t chickens,” Emma said.

Robyn tilted her head with a puzzled expression on her face.

“Sharper beaks,” Emma said.

“Ouch. You’re right.” Robyn smiled. “Or geese.”

“Ugh,” Vera said. “Those things are just mean.”

I couldn’t believe I was in the middle of a conversation about pugs and birds. There was nothing I could contribute, so I leaned against the counter and listened.

When the topic shifted to swans, I zoned out and studied the lodge. With repairs and modernization, the place could be special. I imagined how it looked in its heyday and what improvements could spruce it up.

My attention was drawn back to the conversation when I noticed flies buzzing around Robyn’s face. Each time she shooed them away, they returned.

“Do you have a flyswatter?” I asked.

Vera’s eyes widened, but Robyn spoke. “I don’t want to harm them. Where did they all come from, anyway?”

Emma raised her hand and drew her shoulders in. “It was my fault. I put my fingers through the screen.”

“Nonsense,” Vera said. “The hole was already there.”

Robyn nodded. “She’s right. With this many flies, they didn’t just get in. Vera, do you have any duct tape? I could patch the screen.”

Vera crinkled her nose. “That would look hideous. Make us look low class.”

“And all these flies don’t?” Robyn waved her hand as more flies dive bombed her.

Vera laughed. “I think they like the way you smell.”

“Ew, what are you trying to tell me? Aren’t they attracted to decaying things? And manure?”

“No...well, maybe, but I thought they liked sweet things, too.”

“Maybe it’s your hairspray,” Emma said.

“Nope, I don’t have any on.” Robyn ran her hand through her tousled hair. “This mop is all natural.”

“Really?” Emma smiled. “I love how carefree it looks.”

“Thanks,” Robyn said.

Emma was right about Robyn’s natural look. Robyn’s vibe said she didn’t strive for perfection, which was a foreign concept, considering the women I’d dated. Still the look suited her. Right. Because I knew her so well.

Robyn picked up the packet Vera had laid on the counter. “I better let you ladies finish checking in.” She smiled. “I’ll see you around.”

“You will,” Vera said. “Robyn is one of our most beloved facilitators.”

Robyn let out a half snort. “Don’t listen to her. She’s just sucking up, hoping I’ll teach more classes.”

“Well, now that you—” Vera said.

“Oh, no.” Robyn held up her hand and walked backward toward the door. “I’ve got to return to the store.” She nodded at us. “It was nice meeting you both.”

We responded in kind, and then she was gone.

“She’s a sweetheart.” Affection glimmered in Vera’s eyes. “She’s helped me out of several jams over the years. Always willing to pitch in whenever she can.”

“She sounds like a gem.” Emma shot me a glance when she said it.

“Look at me, going on and on.” Vera smiled. “I know you gals are itching to check out your accommodations, not listen to me.” Vera winked at us. “You’ll have plenty of time to listen to me ramble during our programs.”

Vera clapped her hands together. “I almost forgot.” She opened a drawer and pulled out two folders. “Your welcome packets. It’s got all the offerings for the next four weeks.”

I took the thick packet and shot a glance at Emma, who pretended to ignore me as she gushed at Vera, but I suspected Emma would confiscate it as soon as we left the lodge.