Love's Retreat
Jess glanced over at the sleeping Nora. She looked so peaceful. Why was it that her best friend, and frequent traveling companion, could never stay awake for more than fifty miles? The audio book had long ago become uninteresting and was now just white noise keeping Jess company on the long drive.
Brightwoods Retreat for Healing and Enlightenment. Jess shook her head. She’d allowed Nora to drag her to many things in their friendship but this topped the cake. Of course she had no choice, Roommate Rule 37 stated: Due to the inability of these two parties to choose who will decide social activities, a system of alternating selections will be used. Beginning alphabetically, each party will be responsible for deciding where and what an activity will be. After any given demand on the free time of the other, the second party is allowed one alternative suggestion and one opt-out per month. Participation in these activities must be non-pooty and uncomplaining. Penalty for any non-compliance will be punishable by a non-stop viewing of no less than three seasons of Little House on the Prairie. All of which meant that because Jess needed Nora to accompany her to an aunt’s birthday party two weeks ago, she was now on her way to Brightwoods Retreat for a long weekend of “Creative Enlightenment”. Jess sighed.
Nora was a very good artist, Jess could not argue that. But while workshops are a great way to expand an artist’s abilities, writers…not so much. Jess really preferred quiet, personal environments to create her stories. From the brochure, this was not going to be lectures on query letters or finding agents or upcoming trends in fiction. Those were things Jess could use. These sessions were going to “Lead the creative mind to new enlightened directions and open the consciousness to the wonders of the world’s abundance”. Jess sighed again.
Following a brightly painted wood sign, Jess turned down a dirt road. The bumping woke Nora. “Are we there?”
“Close. Did you sleep well?”
“Wonderfully, thank you.” Apparently Nora did not catch the sarcastic tone from her friend. She checked her face and hair in the visor mirror. “Isn’t this a great way to get away from the city and the jobs?” Nora knew very well that Jess didn’t want to be here and was putting the best spin on it she could.
“Yes, green is always better, thank you.” Jess was required to agree, but she still focused on hitting every rut in the road she could.
The narrow road opened into a gravel parking lot. There were several other cars parked in neat rows. Jess took the next space and gratefully got out of the car. She stretched her weary legs. Nora, well rested, unloaded her bags and headed to the lobby.
“Are you going to stand there much longer?”
Jess turned around and saw that she was standing in the way of a green convertible. She tried to think of a cutting remark but the handsome, smiling face of the driver left her mouth open and silent. She smiled apologetically and stepped closer to her car. Blinking herself back to full consciousness, Jess turned, pulled her bags from the back seat, and joined Nora in the lobby.
Nora led the way to their cabin. The sight of the cabins encircling what was sure to be the “tribal meeting grounds for mutual bonding and marshmallow roasting” did not brighten Jess’s mood. They were small and rustic-looking, with faded wood siding, small windows, and colorful shell wind chimes. Only when she entered “Sequoia” did her spirits perk up. Everything in the cozy space made Jess feel snuggled and warm. She felt her icy attitude melt just a little bit.
A deep gong rang. The two friends dropped off their bags and headed to the lodge for the evening meal.
Meals were to be a communal affair, with large tables and a buffet. Jess expected this and was unperturbed when Nora brought two men to their table along with her plate of vegetarian lasagna.
Jess recognized them as the passengers of the convertible. She judged them both to be slightly older than her. The blonde was cute with an academic appearance of button shirt, clean-shaven face, and glasses. The other would make hearts swoon with mussed black hair, neatly trimmed beard and dark brown eyes. Either one would make this event a great deal more palatable.
“Jess, this is Ryan and Alex.” Nora placed herself strategically two seats away forcing one to sit next to Jess. “Alex is a photographer and Ryan is a writer, like you.” Nora indicated the in-between seat to Ryan (the beautiful blonde) and welcomed Alex (the dark, penetrating eyes) next to her. She immediately turned all her attention to Alex and began to inquire about his preferred styles of lighting.
Ryan was happy to focus his attention on Jess. “Do you think these sessions are going to be a disappointment?” His smile was warm and genuine. “By this time I would hope I could form a coherent plot.”