Page 58 of Lone Wolf in Lights
But then she was gone.
As the hum of the Christmas craft support group faded as they left the café, Eli tried to refocus on his screen, to lose himself in the mundane task of responding to emails. But the words blurred, his hand shaking.
The chime of the door signaled someone’s arrival. Betty, with her gentle demeanor and knowing eyes, stepped back into the café, her hands patting down her jacket pockets. “Oh, fiddlesticks,” she muttered under her breath, scanning the area until her gaze landed on the forgotten gloves resting on the counter.
Eli watched as she retrieved them. Then, unexpectedly, her path veered toward him. “Eli, dear, I don’t suppose you could do me a favor?” she asked.
“Of course, Betty,” he said. “What do you need?”
“Could you give me a ride the day after tomorrow? Around 10:00 in the morning? I’ll meet you here.” She clasped her gloves to her chest, a hopeful tilt to her head.
“Sure, I can do that. But where to?” Eli asked, his curiosity piqued, not just by her request but also by the twinkle of mischief he thought he saw dancing in her eyes.
“Just a little errand in town. I’ll explain everything on the way,” she assured him, her smile mischievous.
“All right. I will see you then,” Eli said, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that Betty’s simple request wasn’t all what it seemed to be.
Eighteen
Willow was awakened the next day to Charly and Aubrey jumping on her bed with aplan.Which led her to exiting the car after a thirty-minute drive, her breath frosted in the crisp air. Charly and Aubrey flanked her, their smiles bright under the farm’s twinkling Christmas lights. The trio approached the barn, a rustic haven transformed into a cozy retreat for this morning’s unconventional festivity: Christmas goat yoga.
“Isn’t this exciting?” Aubrey beamed.
Charly nodded. “It’s going to be so much fun, and these goats are supposed to be total stress relievers,” she chimed, a soothing lilt to her voice that often calmed Willow’s stormiest days.
The scent of pine and a hint of lavender greeted them as they entered, the space alive with the low hum of conversation and the occasional bleat of a goat. Overhead heaters radiated warmth, inviting them deeper into the heart of the barn where mats were laid out in neat rows. Soft Christmas music melded with the sound of laughter, creating an atmosphere that was at once festive and serene.
“This place is legit adorable,” Willow said, her gaze sweeping over the space. Twinkling lights adorned the wooden beams above, and the air was subtly infused with essential oils that promised relaxation. Yet, despite the allure, Willow felt an undercurrent of apprehension, a tightness in her chest that had little to do with the playful antics of the goats milling about.
As Charly and Aubrey chatted with a few regulars from The Naked Moose, Willow took a deep breath, trying to let the peaceful ambience seep into her bones. She settled onto a mat, catching sight of a couple laughing softly together as a kid goat nibbled at the edge of their mat. Eli’s face flashed in her mind—the curve of his smile, the depth of his eyes—and Willow’s heart squeezed painfully—confusingly.
“Hey, you okay?” Aubrey’s voice broken through her thoughts, as she dropped down onto the mat next to her.
“Y-yeah, just...taking it all in,” Willow managed, forcing a smile that didn’t feel honest.
“Remember to breathe,” Charly added gently, taking the mat on the other side of Willow. “This is about healing, about being present. Let the rest fade away, even if just for this morning.”
Nodding, Willow exhaled slowly, trying to silence her mind.
The yoga instructor’s serene voice soon flowed through the space, a soothing balm against the backdrop of twinkling Christmas lights strung around the barn. “Let’s transition into Child’s Pose,” she coaxed, and the group followed her lead, their movements a harmonious dance of limbs and breath.
“Remember,” she continued, her tone infused with warmth, “each pose is a conversation between mind, body and spirit. Listen to what they’re telling you.”
Willow eased onto her feet, pressing the palms of her hands against the soft mat as she surrendered to the stretch. She felt her heartbeat slow, her muscles relax, and for a fleeting moment, the world outside the gentle stretches ceased to exist.
“Willow, your goat is doing the Downward Dog better than you,” Aubrey quipped, breaking the silence with her infectious laughter.
Startled out of the relaxation, Willow lifted her head to see a small goat mimicking her pose with an almost comical seriousness. The sight was so absurd, so unexpected, that Willow couldn’t help but join in the laughter.
“Looks like you’ve got yourself a yoga buddy,” Charly chimed in, amusement lighting up her eyes as she smoothly transitioned into the next pose.
Willow chuckled, feeling the tiny hooves as the goat jumped onto her back. “Does that mean I’m done for the day?” she asked with a smirk. The small creature bleated in response, content to remain perched on its newfound human platform.
“Let’s move into Warrior II,” the instructor directed, her voice rhythmic and soothing like a gentle stream.
Feeling the peace of the stretches, Willow rose, the goat hopping off with graceful agility. She spread her legs wide, arms extended, feeling the strength and resilience of her own body.
Charly and Aubrey mirrored her stance, their breaths synchronized in the collective effort. But the goats, emboldened by the open energy, saw an opportunity for play. One particularly spirited kid bounded toward Charly, nudging her leg with its soft head, causing her to wobble and let out a surprised yelp, which only encouraged the animal further.
