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“I know,” he replied in a low voice. “Nice job.”
He held open the door to the main building, and she walked past him. The truth was, she hadn’t been thinking of their facade when she’d pulled away. She’d simply reacted on instinct; it had been five years since he’d tried to hold her hand, and the men she’d dated after him hadn’t been interested in public displays of affection. Ainsley simply wasn’t used to casual physical contact.
But part of her wished she hadn’t rejected his touch. Her skin tingled where they’d made contact. The sensation was a nice distraction from her nerves, and his gesture was a timely reminder that they were in this together.
Still, she probably shouldn’t look to Santiago for reassurance. They were supposed to be splitting up. Her awkwardness and discomfort would help make them appear like a genuine couple in trouble. If she was too comfortable, too relaxed in his presence people would wonder why they were ending things.
She paused at the entrance, glancing around the foyer of the building. The air was cool and smelled of flowers, thanks to a large bouquet sitting on a table to the right. The walls were painted a soft green that paired nicely with hardwood floors the color of honey. She heard the soothing sounds of running water and spied a fountain just past the hospitality desk that was located straight ahead.
She felt the warmth of Santiago’s body at her back, but he was careful not to touch her. Good, she thought, trying not to be disappointed. Her brain knew there couldn’t be anything between them again, but that kiss in her office had convinced her body there was still hope. As a result, she felt conflicted, her baser wants at war with her logical self. This week would be an exhausting struggle, but she knew which side had to win.
“Do you see anyone here?” he said softly.
“No,” she replied, glancing around as though an employee might jump out from behind the flowers. “Maybe we just sign in?”
They approached the tall desk together, their footsteps tapping on the floor and echoing slightly in the otherwise quiet room. Just as they reached the counter, a young man stepped forward from a room off to the left that they hadn’t seen from the front door.
“Hello, and welcome to The Marriage Institute.” He smiled politely, revealing straight, white teeth. “My name is Brett. You must be Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez.” It was the pseudonym Santiago had chosen for this retreat, not wanting anyone to make the connection between him and his sister Gabriela.
Ainsley frowned slightly, taken aback by this young man’s familiarity. “How did you know that?”
He nodded in her direction. “You’re the last ones to arrive for this week’s retreat.”
“Are we late?” Santiago asked. “I was told we should get here at five.”
Brett chuckled. “Not to worry. Everything is fine. Please, let’s get you checked in.” He gestured to the tall counter and motioned for them to follow him over.
Ainsley let Santiago take care of the details. There was something about this young man that seemed off to her, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what, exactly, bothered her. He was pleasant and polite, and he looked like a model employee in his pressed khaki pants and light blue oxford shirt. Even his hair was on its best behavior, with none of the golden strands out of place. Why, then, did he make her uncomfortable?
“All right, Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez. We’re all set. Allow me to show you to your cabin.”
They walked out of the main lodge, back onto the path. “Do you have any luggage?” Brett asked.
“Just two bags,” Santiago replied.
“Let me help you with them.”
Ainsley hung back, allowing Brett to carry her bag. She didn’t want to get close to him, didn’t want to risk touching him.
The path split close to the main building, with one path branching off to the left. Brett led them down this walk, which took them deeper into the trees.
Ainsley looked around as they walked, trying to get a sense of the layout of the place. She knew from her online research there were five cabins arranged behind the main building, and she’d seen another small building on the map that wasn’t identified. Storage? she’d wondered. Or something else?
Now that she was seeing the compound in person, she was surprised at how spread out everything was. The map had made it look like the cabins were close to each other, but she realized that wasn’t
the case at all. There were at least fifty yards between each cabin, and as they moved deeper into the trees, the main building seemed to recede into the distance.
“Here we are,” Brett said cheerfully. He walked up the porch steps and unlocked the door, gesturing for them to precede him inside. Ainsley stepped onto the porch and cast a last look around before stepping inside—their cabin appeared to be the farthest away from the main building.
Brett placed her bag on the floor by the door. “Welcome to your home for the week,” he said. “As you can see, there is a small kitchen area, which we’ve outfitted with a coffee maker and a teakettle. We’ve stocked the fridge with cream, but we ask that you enjoy your meals at the main house.” He smiled at each of them in turn, as though this was a perfectly natural request.
“There are two bedrooms and two bathrooms,” he continued, gesturing to the hallway off the main room. “One set on each side of the cabin. Each bedroom is large enough for two people. We understand you each might need your space during this time, but we encourage you to come together as often as possible to discuss your feelings and process the important work you’ll be doing during your sessions.”
Okay, this was getting a little too weird. Ainsley had never before had someone suggest how she should spend her time, and she didn’t appreciate Brett’s thoughts on the matter of her bed.
“Finally,” he continued, “you’ll find we have some amenities at the main cabin, such as an exercise room and a sauna. The main cabin is open from six in the morning to eleven at night every day, and we serve meals at eight thirty, noon and six. Follow the path from your cabin, and you’ll have no trouble making your way back.”
“What about the Woodses?” Santiago asked. “When will we meet them?”
