Begin Again (9 page)

“Move to all fours. Spinal waves will stretch your muscles. Hunch your back like an angry cat.” They did. “Now drop your belly like a cow and inhale.”

“Hmm, most days I feel like the cat,” Ana joked.

“Hush, no talking, big sister.”

They continued the more sedate poses until they
were sufficiently warmed up. Then Sofia said, “Next are standing poses. We’ll start with a sequence: downward dog, then go to triangle pose, reverse triangle and half-moon. We’ll hold each one at least a minute.”

Paulina stood, her feet hip distance apart. Then she bent over in a jackknife-like pose, with her hands at the other end of the mat. She stretched her calves until she could straighten
them and get the right slope to her back. Ana did the pose expertly—she’d probably been practicing at home—but Nia had trouble shifting her weight for her legs to hold her up. They finished that routine, then sat on the mats
.

Since Paulina liked challenging herself, she asked, “Sofia, can we do headstands?”

Nia groaned at the request and flopped on her back spread eagled, or in yoga-ease,
savasana
. “I’m not doing headstands. We’re too old for that.” At their askance expression, she added. “I’m going right into
savasana
, and don’t try to stop me.”

“Chicken,” Ana quipped, and Sofia threw a pillow at her.

Sofia set up Paulina and Ana on blankets and helped them situate themselves. Ana didn’t need a spotter and got up alone in seconds. Sofia stood by as Paulina kicked off and
went up with some assistance from her sister. She braced her legs against the wall to get her balance, then eased them away to fully straighten her legs, pointing her toes toward the ceiling. “Yes!” she said and kept the pose for a minute. So did Ana.

All four then relaxed in
savasana
and let the mellow music from the CD player wash over them. At the end, they gathered their stuff and left
the studio
.

“I can’t do breakfast today,” Ana said as she stepped outside. “I have a meeting at work.

Sorry.”

Sofia kissed her cheek. “We’ll miss you.”

One of the best places in Queens to eat breakfast was a diner within walking distance called Ham and Eggs. They snagged a spot by the open window. Since the weather was warming up, they got to watch people walking by.

After
they were served coffee and had ordered, Sofia asked, “How’s Ana? She seemed hyper today.”

“I think she’s okay.” Paulina was thoughtful. “But sometimes she has a lot of nervous energy. Since the divorce, I guess.”

“I could give her lessons to calm herself more regularly.”

“That would be great,” Nia put in. “If she’ll let you.”

Paulina took a bead on her sister. “What’s new, Sof?”

“Let’s see. The first quarter of the year has been profitable. I’ve had to hire two more teachers for the second.”

“Wow.” Nia grasped her fingers. “And here you were worried you wouldn’t be able to take over.”

When Sofia had been diagnosed with leukemia, she’d turned to yoga instead of dance. At eighteen she’d become an instructor, and after seven years at the same studio, the woman
who owned it had been ready to sell. With signatures from Magdalena and Luke and with the money Sofia had saved, she’d managed a down payment and a mortgage.

Paulina added “You don’t have enough self-confidence, honey.”

“I’m getting there.” She winked at Nia. “You’re my role model, Paulie.”

Paulina knew the family thought she had the self-esteem of a prince, which was mostly true,
though with Adam sometimes…

Sofia didn’t notice her train of thought had trailed off and went on, “I might be teaching some yoga classes at our old high school. It’ll open up a whole new income stream.”

Nia’s brows raised. “Seriously? They do that now?”

“Yeah. Physical education has lots of extras. Life skills that kids can keep up later. Not many play basketball after they graduate.”

“Except Paulie.”

“Yeah, Donnie and I had fun with that.”

Grasping her hand, Nia said, “And now you play with Luke.”

“Yep.”

The waitress came, and Sofia ordered egg whites and fruit. Paulina had a breakfast plate with pancakes, eggs and bacon. Nia wanted coffee and grapefruit. Paulina often thought how what each of them ate was symbolic of their personalities.

“Any news with
you two?” Sofia asked, biting into an orange slice. The girl was delicate, with the straightest hair of any of them, surrounding her like a cloak, bigger eyes, too, and full, pouty lips
.

“The boys’ coach asked Nia out. And a guy in the softball league I play in did, too.”

“Did you go?”

“No. I was going to, but couldn’t make myself do it. I guess I’m not ready to date.”

Sofia reached
out and grasped Nia’s hand. “I’m sorry, Nia, but I understand.”

“Thanks, sis. Paulie pushes me because
she’s
dating.”

Sofia’s eyes got even bigger. “Seriously?”

“We’ve had one date. And I got to know him through the music hall before that. I asked Nia not to say anything, but it’s okay to share now.”

“Why wouldn’t you want me to know?”

“I wasn’t sure if dating him would even
get off the ground.” She gave Sofia a kind smile. “You tend to worry about me even more than Nia and Ana.”

Sofia took in a breath and let it out slowly. “Yeah, I guess. Because of the past.” When her sister had had leukemia at sixteen, Paulina had been the one to donate bone marrow that saved her life. Usually, donors were required to be eighteen, but Sofia had been really sick and so the
hospital officials allowed Paulina to do it at fourteen.

Paulina cocked her head. “I thought we weren’t going to feel guilt or resentment over this, sweetie.”

“We’re not.” Sofia’s smile was genuine. “I know I would have done it for you. Though I do have a right to be grateful. Now, tell me about the guy.”

“I’m seeing him again Friday. I like him.”

“But? There’s caution in your
tone.”

“Because I’m uncomfortable with him sometimes. We’re different.” She thought of her down-to-earth husband. “He’s nothing like Donnie.”

“It’s not that serious, is it?” Nia asked. “Just a few dates.”

“Oh, it’s not. But…let’s just see how it all shakes out.”

They said good-bye to their sister, and when they reached the site, they went into the office. Nia got to work on the
computer and Paulina changed clothes and went out to the site. The guys were putting in the beams in the basement of the music hall, and would start on the frame soon. Inhaling the scent of the wood, she nodded. Now this was her wheelhouse. Here she felt comfortable
.

She helped the workers move some lumber until noon, and by then the effects of the stretching this morning had diminished. She
was sore, so she went to the back and lay out flat on the picnic table, staring up at the sky. Again, she thought of how much she liked the setting, pictured the stage already built and thought about the sculpture garden
.

Then her thoughts took a personal turn. She remembered Adam drawing her to him, kissing her here and how she’d forgotten her name in the process. Then her mind traveled to
the night on her front porch and how she’d longed for his kiss, his touch and much, much more. God, her hormones were getting the better of her. The thought made her happy, so she took out her phone and texted Adam. Her fingers flew on the tiny keyboard
.

Meet me at the music hall site at six o’clock on Friday. Wear really casual clothes. Looking forward to it.

In minutes, her phone chimed.

Looking forward it, too. Actually, that’s an understatement, lady. I’ve been waiting all week long. Did you think about me?

Yep.

And?

I’ve been waiting, Adam. For a long time
. Paulina let the cryptic remark stand. She knew what she meant, even if he didn’t.

Adam stood on the manicured green and examined the distance from his ball to the hole.

The soft breeze
from the trees surrounding the course soothed him
.

Behind him, his dad said, “This is an easy one, kiddo.”

“For you, maybe. Putting’s always my downfall.”

Cheerfully, his father nodded. “You’ll beat me if you make this putt, you know.” Adam grinned, took a practice stroke then hit the ball.

It missed the hole.

His father laughed out loud as Adam tapped his ball in and retrieved
it. “You did that on purpose, Pops.”

Drew Armstrong winked. “Maybe. Do you have time for lunch?”

“Yes. I have an appointment at two, but there’s plenty of time since we started so early.” They headed for the clubhouse.

Taking an outside table on the patio of the Ocean View Golf Course on Long Island, where they both belonged, his father ordered a beer but Adam went for ice water.

His dad studied him. “So, tell me why you left your phone on and took texts when we played. We usually turn them off. Got a deal going?”

He didn’t know
what
he had going with Paulina. “Remember we talked about the female builder, Paulina Ludzecky?”

“Yes, of course. You said she wasn’t on your mind.”

“She is now. A lot.”

“So you’re seeing her?”

“Um-hum. We have a date on
Friday. The texts were from her, giving me the place and time.”

His father frowned. “What about Elyssa, son?”

“What about her?”

“Doesn’t she think you’re exclusive?”

“We never discussed that. I like her, but most of the time, our relationship seems to be a convenience. Socially and sexually, I guess. For us both, I assumed.”

“I’d make sure she understands what you just told
me. I don’t have that impression, and sometimes, you don’t see how women feel about you.”

“I didn’t with Bethany. Since then I’ve kept my relationships…”

“Superficial?”

“Maybe.”

“Is it serious with the Ludzecky woman?”

“I doubt it will last. I’m worried about how different we are, but God, Dad, I like being with her. But I don’t know if we can fit into each other’s lives. She’s
got twins, is committed to her family and…” He trailed off. “I don’t know why I’m going on like this. We’ve only been together a few times.”

“Doesn’t take long when you’re attracted to someone.”

“Says the man who courted my mother for a month, then whisked her off to England for a wedding.”

“Ah, those were the days. But I knew right away. We had everything in common.”

“Hence my
apprehension.” He shook his head. “Let’s table this. I don’t want to dwell on her. I just want to enjoy our lunch.”

“Fine. But first let me say that you’re thirty-seven years old. You like this woman. See what happens. But first, give some thought to what’s going on with Elyssa, too. Clarify it with her when you have a better handle on your feelings for Paulina.”

Adam supposed his father
was right. He probably hadn’t thought about his situation with Elyssa because he didn’t want to be serious about Paulina.

And that startled him. He hadn’t known he was thinking along those lines. Problem was, he wasn’t sure if he had a choice in the matter.

Pulling up in her truck at the music hall site, Paulina shut off the engine and marveled at the silence on the grounds. Usually saws buzzed and rattled, carpenters shouted and hammering filled up the space. Now it was like watching a baby sleep.

Show me your baby
, she’d said to Adam. They might be different in a lot of important ways, but they saw the building
process in the same way
.

Exiting her car, she headed for the trailer, got out some lawn chairs and blankets they kept there and brought them to the backyard of the building site. She returned to her vehicle and popped the trunk, removed a large picnic basket and wine and beer stowed in a cooler. Balancing them in each hand, she walked around the foundation to the picnic table out back. As
it was only five thirty, the sky was sunny and birds chirped from the nearby trees—the trees where Adam had kissed her senseless. She set the bounty on the bench and opened the picnic basket. Tucked in here were some things she may or may not need.

First, she spread out a deep blue tablecloth. Then white napkins and silverware. Last was the food she’d brought. She sniffed the fried chicken,
the corn on the cob, the buttery pirogues her mother insisted she take and keep warm in a heated bag. The wine was red. Magdalena had told her which kind to buy and said it didn’t need to be chilled. Last, she set out a plate and arranged the magic cookie bars she’d made for dessert. Unable to stop herself, she cut off the end of one and popped it into her mouth. The taste of coconut, chocolate
and butterscotch was almost orgasmic.

Just as she had that thought, a car drove up in front of the site, and she could see that Adam had come alone, without Joe. She watched as he stopped and stood staring at the building site. A rush of warmth went through her. She’d bet this man was thinking the same thing as she when she saw it in its slumberous mode. Suddenly, she wasn’t so worried about
tonight.

He turned his head, saw her and made his way back. After glancing at the table, a slow smile spread across his face. “A picnic. How…refreshing. I can’t remember the last time I went on one.”

“No?” They picnicked with the boys and
Matka
routinely. “You’re missing out.”

Turning to her, he grasped her shoulders and smiled again. Then he kissed her, firmly on the lips. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“I like the blouse.” He tugged briefly on the strings that gathered at her neck. She’d paired it with a denim skirt that flared at her knees. The outfit was one of her favorites because it was comfortable.

“Thanks.” She scanned him. “Nice jeans. The blue of the shirt highlights your eyes.”

“That was the intent.”

“Seriously? You think about those things when you buy clothes?”

Kissing her nose, he grinned at her. “Most people do.” He motioned to the food. “What gave you this idea?”

“The nights have been warm lately.” She leaned into him. “And a formal dinner didn’t work out so well last time.”