With a sigh, Maileah joined her, although she felt like an intruder. The instructor, a willowy woman with silver-streaked hair, began the class with a series of deep breaths. Maileah fought to keep herself from fidgeting, yet she couldn’t stop her monkey mind from leaping ahead.
As they moved into the first poses, Maileah was surprised to see her grandmother flowing from one position to the next while she fought to keep up.
She flopped onto the mat after one set. Trained for explosive bursts of energy, her muscles protested against slow, controlled movements. Her calves burned during a downward-facing dog, and her heels were an embarrassing distance from the mat.
“Breathe into your stretch,” the instructor said.
Maileah realized she’d been holding her breath as if she were drowning. She exhaled sharply, earning a smile from Ella.
Halfway through the class, during a particularly challenging balance pose on one foot, Maileah wobbled, nearly toppling over. Beside her, Ella stood steady, her eyes closed in peaceful meditation, prayer, or gratitude—she couldn’t tell which, but Nana was a master.
How did she manage that?Yet, by the end of the class, Maileah’s limbs hummed with a different energy than she was used to. It wasn’t the adrenaline rush of her usual sports but a strange, oddly appealing calmness.
When the class was over, they left the pavilion and started for the parking area.
Maileah rubbed her shoulder. “You’re so good at yoga. How long did it take you to get that way?”
“Years of practice, dear,” Ella replied. “Working in the ER was demanding, and I had to find a way to calm my mind. Your body and mind will adapt, and your physical and mental balance will improve. I was quite stiff in the beginning.”
Maileah chewed her lip. “I’m glad I tried it, but I don’t have much time to devote to it.”
Ella smoothed a hand over her shoulder. “Even though you’re busy, you should take time for yourself. With consistency, you can accomplish more than you might imagine.”
A part of Maileah understood that advice. “I went for a bike ride yesterday, and I felt great afterward. Then I went shopping at Beach Babes and bought some new clothes. I told myself that would motivate me to create work for myself. Babe mentioned that she has a guest cottage available. I felt pretty good about it until I told Junie.”
“And that’s what your fight was about.” Ella nodded in thought. “Do you feel like you’re in competition with her?”
“Sort of,” Maileah admitted. “It started when we were kids, and Dad made me feel like we had to compete for hislove. Junie didn’t, and she gravitated toward Mom, so that left me with Dad, dancing as fast as I could to get his attention.”
“I noticed that,” Ella said softly.
Maileah recalled her memories. “He jogged, so I ran marathons; he skied, so I attacked the expert slopes; he climbed walls at the gym, so I scaled real cliffs.” She shook her head. “Maybe I’m doing the same thing to win Junie’s acceptance.”
“Your sister is only concerned about you.”
“But she makes it sound like I’m incapable of good judgment.” Maileah’s cheeks blazed with heat. “In hindsight, she has a point. But I’m clear on what I want now.”
“Maybe you want to prove it to yourself more than Junie.”
Maileah saw the truth in that. “I guess that’s why I took it out on her. I fell short of my expectations. Maybe I’m a little envious, too.”
Ella stopped beside her runabout golf cart and tucked her bag inside. “She’s probably feeling as low as you are about your argument.”
“I’ll fix that.” Feeling grateful for her grandmother’s advice, Maileah hugged her. “Thanks for this.”
“Anytime, sweetheart. You have such energy and focus when you’re working on a task that interests you. What you perceive as disadvantages might be your superpowers. I believe you’re on the verge of a breakthrough.”
“I like the thought of that.” Maileah took her bike from a rack near her grandmother’s golf cart. “Would you like to go to Jo’s for breakfast?”
“I’ll meet you there. I have a little time before my volunteer shift at the hospital.” Ella swung into the cart.
Maileah pulled her shoulders back, standing straighter. Whether that was due to the exercise or her grandmother’s advice, she couldn’t tell.
Yet, she felt a glimmer of hope. She might have missed out on Babe’s guest cottage, but there would be another place forher. And she had solid skills she knew could help small business owners. She could do this.
She cycled to Cuppa Jo’s and waited for her grandmother. When Ella arrived, Maileah opened the door. The bell above the door chimed as they entered, and the aroma of coffee and fresh-baked muffins greeted them.
Ella stopped to say hello to several people, including Officer Blumenthal. “Officer Blue, it’s good to see you.”
