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Claudette stops to take a sip of water, and I do too. She and I are both out of breath from continuously walking uphill while Ade is completely unaffected.
Fit bastard.
Perhaps I should join him on those plank workouts. They’re clearly paying off.
No, what am I thinking? I’d rather watch.
His hands land on my shoulder to steady me when I sway a little.
“You okay, Sunshine?” he asks, his eyes studying me.
He’s holding on to me longer than is necessary, but I don’t mind when I really should.
“Yeah,” I reply, trying hard to ignore the swirling energy between us.
Since I told him I’m pregnant, he’s extra attentive and caring. It’s unnerving. But I also love it. I mean, who wouldn’t?
“Tell us more about Ian,” Ade says to Claudette to overcome the tension between us.
Screwing the lid back onto her bottle, she smiles ruefully.
“Ian is a wonderful man. Though his approach to life is something neither Miriam nor I agree with, but it works for him and it has helped many of his guests.
“He’s a firm believer that hardship builds character. It’s why he labored for years to create this retreat. At the time, he was in the midst of depression. He had lost his wife after she struggled for years with cancer. Building log cabins in hard terrain gave him focus and purpose.
“Once the first couple of houses were built Miriam moved in. She’s not into hardship lessons like her brother, but she’s not afraid of it either. She’s the driving force behind making‘Mountain Breath’a homier place. Everything artistic and pretty there is her doing.
“These days,‘Mountain Breath’is a long-term retreat for people with depression and anxiety who can’t cope with modern life. Ian and his team try to equip them with the tools to deal with anything life can throw at them, build resilience and mental and emotional stability.
“Many people have come and gone over the years. There are a few who stay on to help Ian and Miriam. Others live there for a season or two until they feel strong enough to face the world again.
“There’s also a psychologist and a holistic practitioner who is into every natural therapy you can think of. You name it, Tara will have studied it. She’s a qualified naturopath, homoeopath, kinesiologist and Reiki master. This woman is a sponge and a genuine lifelong learner. If she can’t sort you out, then I don’t know who could.”
We walk on as Claudette tells us about‘Mountain Breath’.I have to admit I’m curious to meet everyone now. They sound like genuinely nice people who care for their fellow humans. Maybe they can help Ade with his storm anxiety?
We pass a few heart markers along the way, reassuring Aiden and me that we’ll indeed reach our destination at some point. I just hope it will be soon. The sun is about to set, the air temperature dropping rapidly.
“How long have Miriam and you been friends?” I ask, when we stop once more for a little breather and a drink of water.
“We’ve been friends forever. We met in high school when her family moved to my area. She was my first lover,” Claudette mentions casually.
Aiden coughs, spitting out the water he was just drinking.
My mouth hangs open. Claudette had sex with Miriam?
But I don’t get any gay vibes from her. And she talked about Jasper being her twin flame. Is she bi?
Seeing my stunned expression, she chuckles. “I’m neither gay nor bi. Back then, I was experimenting. Miriam was forward, and I liked that. I enjoyed our first and only time together. It was freeing not to have to get myself off and be fully pleasured by someone. But I realized being with a girl wasn’t for me. So we became friends instead.”
Wow, she’s so casual about her experiences, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. I guess it is for some people… just not for me.
I love how Claudette is unapologetically herself. It’s something to aspire to.
“I told you before I was a rebellious teenager. Miriam was too which is why we bonded. But unlike me, she always had an underlying calmness about her. I’m not surprised she ended up in Ian’s camp. She leads the daily yoga and meditation session and looks after all the food.
“They’ve got a range of sourdough products that are in high demand with the shops and restaurants around here. They also sell handcrafted wooden bowls, cheese boards, and tree stump lamps.”
“Is that how they support themselves?” Aiden asks.
