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Chapter 12
Jasmine
Jasmine turned her face towards the bright sun, soaking in its warmth.
“Now bend forward and hug your legs.” Mia guided the small group of ladies through the yoga poses.
Jasmine tried to empty her mind and focus on her breathing. The sound of the waves rushing on the beach helped. She needed this time to herself. To connect to her body rather than living in her head.
“That’s it. Now move to your knees and get into Child’s Pose. Tuck yourself together.” Mia’s soothing voice melded with the wind and waves and distant caw of seagulls.
Jasmine relaxed into the pose. Inhale. Exhale. In with light. Out with stress.
Mia directed them into a few more stretching positions before the final resting pose, Savasana. Jasmine’s body relaxed onto the mat. Her eyes closed as she deepened her breaths. Sunlight kissed her exposed skin, color bursting behind her eyelids.
“How did that feel?” Mia asked.
“I’m ready for a nap now,” Remy joked.
Jasmine opened her eyes and eased up to sitting.
“You’re always ready for sleep,” Belle teased.
Remy chuckled. “That’s because I have two very active children at home.”
The girls laughed together.
“So, Jaz, how goes it at the inn?” Remy asked, playing with one of her long braids.
Jasmine stood, picking up her mat and shaking the sand off. “Great. Everything is just fantastic.” Everything at the inn was okay. It was her life that was falling apart at the seams while she barely held on.
Remy glanced at Mia, sharing some sort of unspoken message. Jasmine rolled up her mat as the other ladies joined her.
“I heard from Betty Lou, you and Z went to get ice cream last night,” Belle pressed.
“Does no one in this small town have anything better to do than gossip about who I am seen with?” Jasmine snapped.
“Whoa. Down, girl,” Remy said, holding up her hand.
“We love you, Jasmine. We care about you. But we know you like to keep things to yourself.” Mia stepped forward, offering a kind smile.
“You and your brother have that in common,” Belle joked.
“Both brothers. Must be a family trait.” Remy smiled.
A pang of hurt sliced through her chest. Because we had to.
“We just want you to know that it’s okay to talk to us. We’re here for you. No matter what.” Mia pulled her into a hug.
Jasmine relaxed into her friend’s embrace. “I know you are.”
But I’m done being a burden.
Mia smiled as she released her. “Alright, well. I’d better get to the studio for my next class. See you guys soon.” She picked up her mat and waved.
“Me too. My mother has the baby so I can run some errands before I head into the bakery.” Remy gave Jasmine a quick hug before she followed her sister-in-law.
Belle hung back until the other two had disappeared around the front of the inn. “Can we talk?”
