“This is Rosemarie from Far Away Retreats, you put in a request for open retreats in the coming weeks?”
“Oh yes, hi. I saw that everything is booked until end of the year, and I asked to be waitlisted for anything that opens.”
“Well, you’re in luck, we had a last minute cancellation for our Soul-Finder retreat.”
“Oh,” I didn’t have a chance to pull up the details on that one, I’d put in for so many of them desperate for a getaway.
“I think this one checks all your boxes, what do you think? I can arrange for a flight this Saturday.”
Two days.
“Oh that’s amazing. Um, it’s last minute but, it’s not like I’m doing anything else. So yes. Count me in.”
“Super. It’s a minimum of eight days, and you can extend your stay if you’d like, and we offer half price for extensions.”
My stomach bubbled. “That sounds perfect. Please send me the details.”
“Sending it right now. Once your deposit clears, we’ll send your itinerary.”
“Thank you so much, I really need this.”
“We look forward to having you.”
27
One week earlier - (Three days post Harper in his office)
Myhandsshookoverthe keyboard of my laptop at Finnigan’s. I ran them over my face again and took a swig of my third glass of ice water.
Fucking numbers were blurry.
Finn approached me. “It’s officially noon, you want a real drink?”
My friend had been gracious enough to open early for me while he did inventory and other shit that bar owners did in the early hours of the day. I told him I’d make it worth his while. I don’t think he imagined I’d hand him a grand, but when I did, he didn’t fight me on it.
There was no other place I could go to get some work done. No place I could concentrate. If there were such a place in the universe.
“No thanks. These numbers are blurry enough without alcohol in my system.”
“Bet the lighting in here isn’t helping.” He hinted without flat-out asking me why I wasn’t going to my office.
“I’m good,” I murmured, rubbing my eyes, and slipping my glasses back on.
“Didn’t realize you wore those.”
“I’m usually in contacts.”
“Prescription could be wearing out, maybe you need to get your eyes checked again.”
I squinted at the screen, trying to make sense of the charts in front of me. “My eyes are fine. I just keep seeing something else…”
Finn scoffed. “Dollar signs.”
“A face.”
Finn nodded and left me alone for an hour or so. Then moved a dish over to me.
“I didn’t order anything.”
