I poured a glass of wine and handed it to him. “Your favorite.”
“Thanks.” He took a sip. “Ah, nice.”
I put out a small platter of olives and cheese. “To tide you over until dinner.” I knew he would have skipped lunch—he always did when he was close to the start of a trial—but I also knew that he needed time to unwind when he got home. The kids went back to their show, and Leo took a long swallow.
I decided to plunge in. “I noticed that there’s a meditation workshop at that recovery center this Saturday. Maybe it would help with the Grainger case if you spent a little time there to better understand what they do and how it helped him.”
He looked at me, his brow wrinkling. “What do you mean?”
“It’s nothing weird. Just a day to try to focus on what’s good in your life. You know, taking a look at the positive.”
He took another long swallow of wine and set the glass down. “You know I don’t go in for that kind of New Age thing. And weren’t we planning to take the kids to the beach?”
I shrugged. It was more important to me that he get better, and I could handle them on my own. “It’s only one day. I’ll take them to the beach, and we can all go back on Sunday.”
“I don’t know. Sounds like a waste of time. I already spoke with Fred’s counselor and got everything I needed from him. No need for me to waste more time going back there.”
“Maybe it would be a waste. But maybe not. The website says their techniques can help you to clear your mind and improve your focus and concentration. You’ve got a big case coming up. Every little thing helps.”
He was quiet, seeming to consider this. “You really think this kind of stuff works?”
“I think it can work. I know you’ve been feeling better, but can you honestly say you’re at a hundred percent? The worst that can happen is you waste your day, but it could be the thing that gets you all the way over the hump.”
He nodded. “I guess it can’t hurt.”
I was relieved that he was finally going to take a step toward health. Little did I know that it would be his first step out of my life and right into hers.
5
Piper
Piper was surprised and pleased to see Leo’s name on the roster for the meditation workshop—she hadn’t pegged him as someone who’d take the time for such things. She allowed herself a moment to wonder if he’d signed up because he felt the same attraction to her as she did to him, but then dismissed the thought. He’d been nothing but professional when he’d come to the center. Regardless, though she hadn’t even been planning to attend the workshop, she quickly cleared her schedule.
She made sure to dress more attractively this time, in navy knit pants that showed off her trim figure and a champagne-colored silk shirt revealing just the right amount of cleavage. She spritzed on some Wild Bluebell perfume and checked her makeup before leaving her office and heading to Studio One, where the workshop was being held.
She entered the studio to find fifteen chairs set up in a semi-circle, but no Leo, and she felt a pinch of disappointment. She hoped he hadn’t decided to skip it. Taking one of the empty chairs, she put a program down on the seat next to her, saving it in the hopes he would show up. She sat and took in the room, which she had redecorated with a mural of clouds on the ceilings and soothing sky-blue walls. The next few minutes crawled by as her eyes darted to the door every time it opened and a few more attendees straggled in. And then, finally, he entered, casually dressed in khakis and a white button-down shirt. He was even more attractive than she remembered.
She smiled at him and motioned for him to sit next to her, and he returned her smile and strode over, settling into the chair. For a moment his leg brushed hers, and she felt the heat of desire go through her, but she reluctantly turned her attention to the facilitator when he began to speak.
“Welcome, everyone. I’m Zodiac, your guide for today.” He put his hands together in a prayerful pose.
Leo looked at Piper, cocking a sardonic eyebrow. She shot him a look that said Behave.
As Zodiac explained a breathing technique, then prompted everyone to close their eyes and clear their minds, all Piper could think about was the man sitting next to her and how much she wanted to spend more time with him.
“Okay, everyone,” Zodiac said. “Mindfulness is more than just a—”
The ringing of a cell phone interrupted him, and he scanned the attendees to see who the culprit was.
Leo made a face, pulled the phone from his pocket, and silenced it. “Sorry.”
Zodiac nodded and cleared his throat. “As I said before . . . silence or, better yet, turn off your cell phones. They are a major obstacle to living in the now.” He stood and walked over to a woman across from Piper.
“You are not your thoughts,” he yelled. The woman jumped.
“Yes, that’s startling. But true. Your essence has nothing to do with what you’re thinking.” He tapped a finger to his temple. “Clear away the clutter. One way to do that is meditation. We’ll focus on the basics of that soon. But for now . . . sit and be in this moment. Look around you. How does it feel to just be?”
Leo shifted in his seat, and Piper, feeling his restlessness, had to resist looking at him. She did her best to concentrate on Zodiac and force her thoughts away from Leo.
An hour later, as they filed out of the studio for a ten-minute break, she turned to him. “So, what do you think?” she asked.
As they moved to a corner of the hallway, he gave her a measured look. “No offense, but it sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo to me.”
She put a hand on his arm. “It’s hard for everyone at first. It takes practice. But meditation can be very soothing.”
He held up a finger and pulled his phone from his pocket. “Do I get points for putting it on vibrate?” he joked before answering. Piper walked away to say hello to a few of the other attendees and give Leo some privacy. By the time the break was almost over, he was still on his phone.
He looked up as the sound of wind chimes came through the speakers on the wall, and ended the call. Piper walked back to him.
“Sorry. Work,” he said sheepishly.
“No worries. The next session is only thirty minutes,” Piper told him. “You game?”
“Why not?” He was quiet as they followed the group back into the studio. Piper found she couldn’t concentrate on the mantras the group was repeating, and the half hour passed slowly again. When the session was over, Leo rose from his chair.
“Sorry, Piper. All this is doing is making me think of everything I need to get done.”
She bit her lip. “You’re leaving?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry, this just isn’t for me.”
“I understand. Would you like to join me for some lunch here before you go? After all, you’ve already paid for it.”
He tilted his head. “Tell you what, tofu and green drinks are not really my thing. Why don’t you let me buy you lunch at the Spotted Horse? You do eat regular food, right?”
She laughed. “That I do. I’d love to. Let me just tell Zodiac that I’m leaving.”
He raised his eyebrows. “That’s a made-up name, right?”