“Don’t answer that,” he says quietly. “I know I was.”
We walk in silence for a few steps.
“It’s not about you,” I say finally. “I just can’t believe mindfulness fixes a slipped disc.”
“I don’t claim it does. Some pain is psychological, some isn’t. We treat both.”
“You mean actual physical therapy?”
“Yes.”
That makes me pause. “Oh.”
“Give it a chance,” he says. “You might be surprised.”
“I’m only staying one night.”
“Right. Let’s get some food into you first.”
We reach the dining room.
It’s more of a hall—open, warm, wood and stone, with the soft light of dusk filtering in, and silhouettes of trees visible beyond the structure. Bells chime somewhere overhead, and a fountain trickles through an archway, the sound low, constant, and somehow comforting.
About two dozen people sit around a long table.
I spot Luke immediately. He winks and gestures to the empty seat beside him. I glare at him, ready to ignore it, but there’s nowhere else to sit, so I make my way over to him.
Fine.
“You made it,” he says with that infuriatingly charming smile.
“Don’t talk to me, traitor. You were supposed to bring me food, not sic my ex on me.”
“In my defense, he caught me in the act. Then convinced me you’d be better off eating with us.” He sighs dramatically. “I tried to resist. Truly. But his cult-leader charm is devastating.”
“Idiot,” I mutter, though I can’t quite suppress a smile.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Reid watching us. I ignore him.
“Besides,” Luke adds, “this gives you a chance to see how crazy we all are.”
I glance around.
They don’t look crazy.
If I have to be honest, they look… normal. Relaxed. Happy.
Several conversations are all going on at once in a low hum. People talking to whoever is to their left or to their right. The occasional sound of laughter, the toss of a head. One man picks up a jug and pours water for the person next to him and then for himself. It all seems very natural.
And then I spot her.
Bertha.
She lights up when she sees me, gets up from her seat, and hurries over, all smiles.
“Sierra! What a lovely surprise!”
I stand to hug her. “After your recommendation, I had to come.”