Page 6

‘OK, me next.’ Naya cleared her throat; Scott smiled at her gratefully.

‘I started following Hannah about a year ago. Someone recommended her to me – suggested I start watching some of her videos, in case they could help me.’ She paused, looked at the others.

‘And she did – help me, that is. You remember when she made that series about how we shouldn’t always take medical diagnoses at face value – that there is so much that can be done to heal the mind and body when we work with the spirit? ’

Scott nodded; he’d watched all Hannah’s videos five times at least. ‘Western medicine gets so much wrong,’ he remembered Hannah saying.

‘What so-called doctors call disease – everything from dementia to cancer to schizophrenia to Covid – are simply energetic blockages, usually from negative emotions trapped within the body. Once you release these through deep energetic cleansing, you will achieve perfect health.’

‘Well, it was just what I needed to hear,’ Naya was saying. ‘Especially these last few months, when I’ve been having a hard time – with my kids, working long hours in my nursing job, parenting alone since I split up from their father.’

Her voice wobbled then, and she broke off.

Scott felt a pang of something in his chest; he rubbed at his breastbone until it went away.

‘I could feel myself slipping down into something... somewhere bad,’ she said.

‘But Hannah, everything she has taught me – she’s helped me so much.

The idea of having some one-on-one time with her – her making a dedicated programme just for me, helping me find ways to improve mine and my kids’ wellbeing – and in such a beautiful place, no expenses spared – well, it was too amazing to miss.

Even if...’ She tailed off again, looked down sadly.

‘Even if what?’ said Carly, her tone gentle.

Naya met her eyes. ‘Even if I’ve had to leave my young children behind with my mother for the week. That was hard – I’ve never left them for so long before. In fact, I’ve never left them at all.’

‘Oh, well, I understand that perfectly – it’s not stupid at all,’ said Ben.

Naya looked at him, eyes hopeful. ‘You have children too?’

‘Ah, no, not exactly,’ he said, looking embarrassed. ‘In fact, I’m sorry, it’s not the same at all – but I’ve had to leave my dog Blondie behind. She gets mad when I’m away!’

Naya laughed. ‘Well, then, it’s almost the same.

’ Her laugh faded then, and she looked away.

‘It feels extra hard, though, leaving my kids – they are autistic,’ she said softly.

‘I’m honestly not sure how they’ll manage without me for a week – even though I know my mother will take good care of them. ’ Scott heard her voice catch.

‘You didn’t leave them with their dad?’ asked Ben. It sounded blunt to Scott’s ears, though he’d been wondering the same thing.

A flash of anger passed across Naya’s lovely features, before she said tightly, ‘No, I’d never leave them with him.’

‘That must be tough for you,’ said Carly. ‘I’ve worked with parents of neurodivergent children in therapy, and it’s not easy – especially not when you’re doing it on your own.’

Naya gave a quick, grateful smile, then seemed to force herself to brighten. ‘All the more reason for me to be here – I’m sure Hannah will give me some ideas to help me support them, ease some of the things they struggle with. She seems to know how to deal with anything and everything.’

She turned to the person sitting next to her. ‘So, Ben, you next. What made you want to come here?’

Ben leaned back in his chair, shrugged. ‘Well, Hannah is something pretty special, I guess,’ he said.

‘And so is this place – I’ve always wanted to come to Costa Rica.

’ He paused, seemed to deliberate over something, then: ‘I gotta say, I don’t agree with everything she believes in – like some of the stuff about spirit guides is a little far out for me.

’ Scott bristled at that; why did Hannah want him here if he didn’t even believe in all of her teachings?

‘But I feel like I’ve been stuck on the same issues for so long – so when she said that thing about how we would leave here transformed?

’ Ben said. ‘That’s what I’ve been waiting for.

I can’t carry on the same way. I can’t change by myself, so.

.. yeah. I’m here hoping she can help me.

’ He looked at Mira. ‘So, how about you?’

Mira smiled. ‘Yes, I loved what she said about leaving here transformed too,’ she said.

‘In my video, I talked about what a hard time I’ve been having over the past year or so.

About how I’d never travelled outside of Europe, let alone somewhere like Costa Rica.

I told her it would be the chance of a lifetime for me, and I’d be open to doing whatever exploration – whatever work – she wanted me to do. And I am – I really am.’

Mira’s voice was so gentle, but the passion in her dark eyes, and on her quietly pretty, delicate features, burned through. ‘Wow,’ said Scott. ‘She’s made quite an impact on us, hasn’t she? Same for you as well, Carly?’

‘She changed my life,’ said Carly. A shadow passed over her face then, her bright expression faltering.

‘I went through something – something hard – a couple of years back. Things with my ex-girlfriend... they didn’t end well at all.

But following Hannah, listening to her – it’s what’s kept me going.

’ She smiled. ‘And I’m a therapist; I’ve worked with so many people who are struggling with their mental health.

’ She sighed. ‘Hannah has such a unique take on dealing with things like depression and anxiety. So, everything I learn from her, I can pass on to my clients as well. I can spread Hannah’s message. ’

Ben shifted in his chair. ‘You could spread it more easily if she was actually here to teach us, though, right?’ he said, his tone harsh.

Scott was starting to get riled up; irritated by Ben’s negativity. ‘I’m sure she’d be here if she could,’ he snapped. ‘You’ve seen the weather outside – it wouldn’t be safe for her to try and travel back here now, in that.’

Ben arched an eyebrow. ‘Well, sure, but everyone knew the storm was coming – so why did she head out in it right before we were due to arrive?’

‘I’m sure she had good reason,’ said Carly.

Ben opened his mouth, looked like he was about to protest some more, but was interrupted by Paola’s brisk tone from the kitchen area, where she’d been perched on a high stool.

‘I will try to call Hannah again,’ she said, tapping her phone, holding it to her ear; then a moment later, ‘It is still turned off.’

‘What?’ said Ben. ‘Isn’t that weird? Why would she turn her phone off?’

Paola shrugged. ‘It must be the storm – or maybe she didn’t take her charger. All right, she will be back first thing tomorrow morning, then. In the meantime, you can enjoy the relaxing treatments we have prepared for you, and make the most of Hannah’s beautiful home.’

‘I’m not sure,’ said Mira slowly. ‘I was looking forward to getting the one-on-one time with Hannah. It seems a shame to miss even these few hours with her, to be honest.’

‘But she’ll be here when we wake up tomorrow, won’t she?

’ said Scott. ‘And maybe there’ll be something good to come out of being here, just for the first night, without her.

You know, for our own... exploration.

Our healing? And I mean, look at this place.

I still feel like I’m dreaming, being here. ’

‘Me too,’ said Naya. ‘I mean, I’m really excited to see Hannah – she’s the main reason I’m here – but this house is amazing, Paola – you’ve done an amazing job for all of us.

And Costa Rica is a wonderful country, it’s paradise here.

’ She paused, took a sip of water – she was the only one not drinking wine, Scott noticed.

‘Exactly,’ said Carly. ‘We can relax, enjoy ourselves, make the best of it without her. We need to think positive, not grumble about what’s gone wrong.’

Mira looked startled for a second; then she sighed. ‘You know what, you’re right. This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. We’re so lucky to be here – think of all the thousands of people who applied, and she picked us. I promise I’ll stop complaining now and start enjoying myself.’

‘Yes, you will all enjoy yourself. I will make sure everything is perfect,’ said Paola. ‘Now – Luisa will show you around, you will have a relaxing treatment with our personal masseur this evening, and you will all sleep well – then Hannah will be back in the morning.’

She took a moment to look around the group in turn.

‘Everything is going to be wonderful,’ she said.

Scott knew she was right. This retreat – Hannah – all of it was going to be wonderful.

So why, then, did Paola sound like she was trying to convince herself?