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Chapter One
‘Okay, everyone, that’s it for today.Namaste.’
‘Namaste!’ came the collective response.
The bubble of peaceful serenity, enhanced by the waft of soft music, early morning birdsong, and the scent of lavender oil, was immediately punctured by a burst of high-pitched chatter and the gathering together of yoga mats and water bottles as Rachel’s firstal frescoyoga session came to an end.
‘Thanks for hosting us today, Suzie. I think it’s been a huge success,’ said Rachel, who had barely broken a sweat during what Suzie considered to have been a more strenuous class than she had been expecting and – judging by the glowing cheeks of her friends Poppy, Chloe, and Beckie – she wasn’t the only one. ‘The glamping site is the perfect place for an outdoor exercise class. What do you think about making it a weekly thing?’
Suzie took a quick glug from her water bottle to give herself an extra few seconds to decide whether she wanted to put herself through the same physical torment every week until the weather prevented them from using the decking area outside the tepee that she had called home for the last year. However, when she saw the hope in Rachel’s eyes, she realised there was only one response to her friend’s enquiry.
‘Sounds great, Rach.’
‘Fantastic. Okay, I’ll just go and say goodbye to my regulars.’
Suzie watched Rachel head towards a group of lithe, slender women, her stride controlled and graceful, perfectly showcasing the advantages of practicing yoga, Pilates and tai chi on a regular basis. Her “regulars” had clearly received the memo on appropriate attire – brightly coloured Lycra vest tops and figure-hugging leggings – their glossy hair secured into high ponytails that swung like a pendulums as they hung on Rachel’s every word while exuding health and vitality from every pore. Suzie experienced a sharp twinge of guilt when she glanced down at her own choice of outfit for the early morning workout: a pair of drawstring trousers and a frayed tee-shirt that had seen better days. She knew she had let the side down, and not just in the sartorial stakes; out of the four of them, she had struggled the most with her downward dog pose, although Chloe had been a close second.
‘Hi, guys,’ said Holly, joining them from a sunny spot on the patio outside a very attractive log cabin where she’d been a spectator to their morning of torture, having told them that someone had to prevent Suzie’s dachshund, Archie, as well as her own beloved springer spaniel, Ariel, and her boyfriend’s westie, Max, from disrupting the proceedings. ‘So, did you have fun?’
‘I did,’ said Suzie, tucking her short, pink-streaked hair behind her ears before taking Archie’s leash from Holly. ‘Although, if that’s a beginner’s session, then I dread to think what an intermediate class is like, not to mention advanced! I’m relieved Rachel’s regulars came over, otherwise she might have been sorely disappointed with the calibre of her newest recruits. I thought Jules was going to have a coronary when he saw Rachel demonstrate a firefly pose!’
Poppy laughed. ‘Did you hear Elspeth snoring at the end? She looked so confused when I nudged her awake before Rachel caught her. I think she thought she was still asleep in that gorgeous shepherd’s hut she lives in.’
‘I had fun, too,’ said Beckie, stretching her arms above her head. ‘It’s been great to get away from the bistro for a couple of hours. I certainly feel like I have more energy, ready to face whatever the day might throw at me. You’ll have to join us next week, Holls. I’m sure Oscar won’t mind looking after Ariel and Max for a couple of hours.’
‘Not going to happen, Beckie.’ Holly grinned. ‘What about you, Chloe?’
‘Erm, yes, count me in. Oh, look, there’s Elspeth. She promised to let me have a peek inside her shepherd’s hut before I left. Catch you later.’
Chloe dashed off to where the fifty-something woman was waiting for her, the tiny mirrors sewn into her long flowing skirt glinting in the late September sunshine. They embraced before Elspeth led her to a peppermint-and-cream painted hut-on-wheels with a tiny wraparound veranda that played host to a set of table and chairs and several ceramic pots filled with a variety of herbs.
Suzie loved Elspeth’s quirky home,andJules’ fabulous – and much more spacious – yurt, but she wouldn’t trade either of them for her beloved tepee. She tightened the cord around the waist of her loose cotton trousers – it wouldn’t be the first time they had unexpectedly fallen to her knees – and made a spur-of-the-moment decision.
‘Fancy a cup of chamomile tea before you head off?’
‘Actually, is it okay if I take a rain-check?’ said Poppy, hooking the handles of her gym bag over her shoulder. ‘I need to make another couple of batches of my red velvet muffins, and I’d also like to try out a gluten-free recipe that one of Rachel’s yoga friends has just emailed me. See you later, Beckie?’
‘Sure. Tell Aunt Kath I’ll be there in time for the lunchtime rush.’
‘Will do.’
As Poppy’s little red Mini disappeared from the car park, Rachel re-joined them.
‘Where’s Poppy gone?’
‘Back to the Boathouse Bistro,’ said Holly, hooking her arm through Rachel’s, her charm bracelet clinking softly at her wrist. Suzie was thrilled to see that the tiny silver westie she had made from the last of her silver clay had pride of place. ‘Come on, Rach, Suzie’s just offered to make Beckie and I a pot of her famous chamomile tea.’
Suzie cringed when she saw her friend’s hesitation and her heart sank. She knew exactly what Rachel was going to say, but that didn’t make it any easier to hear.
‘Are you sure we can all fit inside?’
She glanced across to her conical canvas home; a place where she had found solace since arriving in Blossomwood Bay with only a rucksack of belongings to her name. She would always be grateful to Rory, the owner of the farm, who, ten years previously, had allowed an old school friend who had fallen on hard times to pitch his tent in one of his fields, a generous gesture that had been the catalyst for the eclectic mix of homes that had appeared since then.
Rory’s friend had chosen his pitch well. Surrounded by wildflower meadows, the glamping site enjoyed the most spectacular view of the Devonshire countryside and the sparkling sea beyond. Over to her left was a stretch of woodland that Archie loved exploring on their evening walks, and to her right, a large paddock that was home to the six retired racehorses Rory had rescued from an uncertain future. As far as Suzie was concerned, it was paradise; a safe haven where she had found friendship and support when she had needed it most, for which she would be eternally grateful.
However, she knew it wasn’t thetypeof home she had chosen that had caused Rachel to hesitate, but what it contained. Tepees might look small, but, in normal circumstances, there was more than enough room for a solo occupant – and her faithful dachshund – to live a comfortable life. A helix of discomfort started to wind its way through her chest, and she regretted her impulsive invitation.
What was she thinking?
