Chapter 26 Rowan
Rowan
LET IT BE BY THE BEATLES
I’m tired to the bone. It's a deep, soul-level kind of tired. The kind where I want to go back to bed and not wake up until tomorrow morning. I must have one of hell of a super bug right now.
It’s been a few weeks since everything blew up with Finn and Sammy, and I swear I’m holding the whole world together with herbal tea and sarcasm.
My classes are shrinking, my energy is gone, and I can’t remember the last time I didn’t feel exhausted.
It takes everything in me to run my shop during the day and work on my plants at night.
Finn has been a lifesaver, helping me with all the plants and even unboxing new orders.
We're okay, but not great. And mostly it's just me.
I haven't felt good and he's been busy. Word spread through the neighboring towns as well as Wisteria Cove about Sammy.
He was fired and they're looking for a new mayor to step in.
Finn's been hired to do so many jobs and he's busier than ever.
When he's not working on a job, he's out at his wood shop at Remy's working on projects. It's a busy season.
This morning, I roll out my mat and wait for my students.
I light the candles, turn on soft music, and breathe in the scent of eucalyptus and lavender from the diffuser I have going in the corner.
Usually, the studio fills up fast with mats lined up.
Students chatter, and the room is full of that little hum of community that I love.
Today there's one person. Doris, a sweet older woman who usually falls asleep during meditation and calls it “nap yoga.” I usually let her nap there until she's ready to go home.
She smiles at me as she settles onto her mat. “Where is everyone, dear?”
“I have no idea,” I say, forcing a calm tone. “Maybe mercury’s in retrograde.”
She blinks. “Oh, is that contagious?”
I smile, but it feels thin. “No.”
We go through the poses. The room feels too big, too quiet. When class ends, she takes an extended nap. And when she does wake up, I watch her leave, my heart sinking.
By the time I finish cleaning up, the door opens, and my sisters stroll in. Ivy has a tray of coffees. Willa’s carrying muffins. They both stop short when they see how empty the shop is.
“Where is everyone?” Willa asks.
“That’s the million-dollar question,” I mutter.
Ivy looks around, frowning. “Your class is usually packed, and we set up a wait list. What happened?”
Willa looks perplexed. “Is something going on in town today? I haven't heard of anything.”
I toss my towel on the counter. “If I knew, I’d fix it. Maybe the universe decided I needed a break.”
My stomach twists because something’s off. “Do you think that something is going on with the Pilates studio?” I ask, looking up at my sisters who are drinking coffee and eating muffins.
Both stop talking and Willa narrows her eyes. “I smell a rat.
“Let’s go see,” Ivy says as she grabs her purse. “I’ll put a sign up that we’ll be back in fifteen.”
I grab my bag and we walk down Main Street, leaving Ivy to catch up. The sun is setting and tourists wander between the harbor and the Dairy Witch ice cream shop. Everything looks normal. Which makes the pit in my stomach feel worse. Something is going on, and I just can't figure out what it is.
And then I see it.
Across from the bakery, the brand-new Pilates studio is bursting at the seams. The windows are steamed up. Music pumps through the open door. The sign outside reads:
FREE CLASSES ALL WEEK! COME FIND YOUR BETTER BODY!
And underneath, a printed schedule. Every single time slot matches my yoga classes and more. They have around the clock classes for free.
I stop cold. The classes I was working on the other day when Jessica came to my shop to apologize to me. She must’ve seen the class schedule since it was right there on the desk. And it's online for anyone to see for that matter. She was never there to apologize.
And there they are, Marilyn, Vanessa, and Jessica, all standing by the counter, laughing with wine glasses in hand like they're celebrating something.
I edge closer, staying just outside the doorway.
“She only had one person this morning,” Marilyn says, snickering.
Vanessa giggles. “I almost feel bad. Almost.”
Jessica laughs with them. “Maybe she’s finally realizing she’s not cut out for business. I give her shop another month. Maybe we should make our own apothecary, too.”
My throat tightens at the betrayal.
Before I can react, Ivy’s suddenly beside me, having caught up. She hears the last part, and her jaw drops.
“Oh hell no,” she mutters, and before I can stop her, she pushes the door open and storms inside.
The class full of women on reformer machines turn their heads. Marilyn freezes and Vanessa almost drops her wine glass.
“Wow,” Ivy says, her voice shaking with anger. “You think tearing down my sister makes you successful? You’re pathetic.”
“Ivy,” Willa warns softly.
But she’s not done. “You’ve been trying to sabotage her from the start. You’re jealous because she built something real. And you—” she points at Jessica “—you should be ashamed. She trusted you. You're a snake.”
Jessica looks away instantly, refusing to meet any of our stares.
And somehow, that hits harder than anything she’s actually done.
Coward. That’s all I think now when I see her.
Not bold enough to own her actions or say this to my face.
She’s loud when she’s whispering behind backs, but silent when the truth stands in front of her. Pathetic.
This is the girl I once loved like a sister and defended, protected, carried through every storm. And she can’t even look me in the face.
Marilyn opens her mouth to argue, but I step forward, calm and quiet now.
“Low,” I say. “That’s low, even for all of you.”
Vanessa smirks. “It’s called business, Rowan.”
“No,” I say, staring her down. “It’s called insecurity.”
The room goes silent.
“I've always encouraged you, supported you, and cheered you all on.
I teach different classes, and I've told you more than once that there's room for more than one type of fitness studio in this town.
This is absolutely ignorant behavior. And you know what?
I'm not worried about it. Karma will take care of this for me.
You are all building a business on ugliness and treating other people poorly.
And these people taking your classes can see and feel that.
You're not fooling anyone. I wish you all the best of luck. "
Willa and Ivy glare at them, and I turn to them. “Let’s go.”
We walk out, heads high, though my stomach is still in knots.
Back at the apothecary, I head straight to the counter, grab a pen, paper, and a Mason jar.
Ivy watches, arms crossed. “What are you doing?”
“Witch justice,” I mutter, writing each of their names carefully: Marilyn. Vanessa. Jessica.
I fold the papers away from my body and drop them into the jar, fill it with vinegar and water, screw on the lid, and stick it in the freezer.
“May their intentions freeze solid,” I whisper.
Ivy grins, proud. “That’s my sister.”
A few minutes later, she disappears next door to Willa’s. When they both come back, Willa’s got that dangerous sparkle in her eye.
“This is retaliation for Sammy,” she says. “I’d bet my best wand on it.”
“Probably.” I sigh, rubbing my temples.
Willa leans against the counter. “You know what the best revenge is?”
“What?”
“Being happy,” she says simply. “Doing what you love, better than ever. Let them rot in their own bitterness.”
I sigh. “What's that saying? Low hanging fruit will drop on its own?”
Willa nods her head. “Yep. All those people enjoying their free classes will be able to see that they're mean girls and not want to go there. Not to mention most of them overheard them talking about us today and then saw us come in there. Word travels fast in a small meddling town like Wisteria Cove.”
“We’ll help you plan some new fun classes,” Ivy adds. “Candlelight yoga. Yoga with goats out at the farm. Yoga and wine. Something that makes people want to come back and is fun.”
I smile weakly. “Yoga and wine sounds about right.”
My stomach rolls in protest and I close my eyes as nausea rolls through my stomach and chest.
“Are you okay?” Ivy asks.
I wave her off. “Yeah, I'm fine. I need to eat something, I think. Been too busy to eat today.”
Willa grins. “And next time Jessica tries to apologize, don’t you dare accept it. Some people aren’t meant to be friends. Some people are meant to teach you what betrayal feels like, so you never forget it.”
“I'll definitely lose her number. She was never my friend.” I look between them, my heart softening. “Thanks.”
They both hug me. Ivy squeezes my shoulder. “You’re still the best thing this town’s got. Don't you forget it.”
I nod, but I still feel tired to the bone. There’s a deep ache sitting under my ribs.
As they head out, I close up the apothecary and look toward the freezer. The jar gleams in the soft light.
“Good luck,” I murmur.
Then I turn off the lights, lock the door, and tell myself I’ll feel better tomorrow.
The rain starts soft at first, the kind of steady whisper that makes the leaves tremble and the summer air smell like new beginnings.
By the time I make it out to the greenhouse, it’s pouring down rain and it's warm, relentless, and beautiful. The roof on the greenhouse hums with it, and the path between the rows of planters has turned to shallow puddles.
I should go home. It’s late, and Finn’s working out-of-town tonight. His house is dark when I pass it on my way here, the porch lights off, his truck gone.
But instead of curling up with tea and pretending everything’s fine, I’m here, soaked to the skin, hands buried in dirt, trying to harvest my herbs.
I took a nap earlier and woke up wide awake. I knew the garden would give me some clarity if I worked through it.