10. A Little Relaxation Goes a Long Way
First it was the rain, then it was the wind that destroyed Hanna’s carefully laid plans.
Riding in a hot air balloon was simply impossible, the long-suffering Frenchman tried to explain to Hanna over the phone.
Rationally, she understood why he was cancelling their trip, but the high-speed train currently hurtling through her brain to come up with an alternative solution was threatening to jump the rails.
Plans changed, reservations were cancelled, it was the reality of working tours.
Usually, Hanna was able to replace the activity with an equivalent one.
There was no replacing a hot air balloon ride.
Apparently, when wind took one of them out of commission, it took them all.
Running a hand through her hair in frustration, Hanna replied to the man on the other end of the phone that of course she understood that he could not risk his crew’s safety, and of course she appreciated the offer of a credit to rebook the trip, but unless the wind was going to allow them to fly later in the day, a credit was pointless.
Typing a quick message to several of her contacts throughout Paris, all while listening to apologetic French through her earbuds, Hanna scrambled to find something else for the group to do during the day.
They had wine tasting later in the evening.
She just needed to fill the empty hours until then.
Several messages pinged while she paced the floor of her hotel room.
Nothing available on short notice, bonne chance!
Sorry, all booked today.
Maybe next week. Keep me in mind.
Clenching her jaw in frustration as she replied with pleasantries–every opportunity was one to build professional relationships–Hanna prayed for patience as the negative responses came through.
She had dealt with this before, but the idea of letting down Hazel and the others made it feel like a thousand bees were in her stomach.
Drawing a calming breath through her nose, Hanna finished putting on her makeup and touching up her ruffled hair while she called a few more contacts.
Yes, it was an incredibly last minute request. Yes, she understood that she was asking a lot.
Yes, Hanna would consider using their company in the future.
Heart beating rapidly in her chest, Hanna smiled broadly when a spa agreed to host their group with a private room and any services they requested.
It was a relatively new location on the spa scene, something Hanna could commiserate with, but their focus on sustainable products, quality services, and giving back to the community were all values that Hanna sought in her partnerships.
Their willingness to work with her on short notice–and their shrewd request for exclusivity going forward–impressed Hanna.
Add in the fact that they were the only contact to get back to her with availability, Hanna was relieved to finally have an option to present to her group.
“There has been a slight change of plans,” Hanna informed the group when they gathered in the lobby.
“We cannot go on the hot air balloon because of high-altitude winds.” As expected, this statement was met with a round of disappointed sighs and Hanna rushed to continue.
“But, I was able to book you a day at a wellness spa. We’ve packed a lot into the last few days, so I thought that a day of pampering and relaxation was just the thing to rejuvenate you.”
“A spa day,” Daphne said dreamily, “we have not had one of those in ages.”
“Speak for yourself,” Lillian said.
“I have a recurring appointment for a massage and facial every month.”
Daphne rolled her eyes at her friend.
“Okay, beauty queen. What I meant is that we have not gone to the spa as a group in…how long has it been?”
Hazel pursed her lips.
“Longer than it should be if we have to count. This is just what we need. Excellent job, Hanna.”
Preening at the praise, Hanna gave them a rundown of everything the spa offered, making notes of what they each expressed preferences on so that she could let the spa know.
“It sounds heavenly,” Mai agreed.
“After all this sightseeing, these old bones need a good soak.”
Hazel laughed.
“And we don’t even do this every day. If anyone deserves a day at the spa, it's Hanna.” She turned to address Hanna. “You are coming with us, right?”
Looking up from her notebook, Hanna gave a reassuring smile to the five sets of eyes staring at her. “I can if you want me to. Otherwise I will go to check you in, get you settled, and then pick you back up in time for dinner. Either way is fine with me.”
“You deserve pampering, too.” Hazel looped her arm through Hanna’s. “I insist. We will make a girl’s day out of it. Noah?” She gestured for him to shoo. “Find somewhere else to be today.”
“As you wish.” Noah winked at Hanna as he quoted the famous line. “Maybe I’ll buy a face mask and have my own spa day here.”
The thought of Noah with a goopy mix of product covering his face should not be attractive, but imagining him in an open robe, the lines of his face relaxed in bliss, was working for Hanna. He certainly could use something to relax the lines forming from all the frowning he did…though, that was a less common occurrence each day. Sure, Noah still looked like he was watching for something to go wrong, but more often than not Hanna saw him relax and enjoy the moment, keeping true to his word to trust her to plan the trip.
“I can recommend some activities–” Hanna started to say.
“I’m alright, Hanna. Go relax. My grandmother is right, you deserve to enjoy yourself too. Somehow I found a way to entertain myself before you came along with your spreadsheets. I can manage scheduling one afternoon’s worth of time on my own.” He said it with a note of pride and admiration, no judgement in his playful tone.
“Well,” Hanna teased, “if you think it is that easy, do not forget to turn on your location sharing so that I can find you when you get lost.”
His gaze sparked with delight. “Worried about me? All you had to do was ask if you wanted my location so badly. I’ll share mine if you share yours.”
Was it hotter in the lobby than she remembered? Heat sizzled up her body at Noah’s flirtatious tone. The urge to respond in kind was too strong and Hanna found her body and mouth moving without conscious thought.
Tossing her hair over one shoulder playfully, Hanna spun around. “I only share my location with friends when I am going on a date, or with family, and since you are neither…” She gave him a quick once over. “I guess you will just have to live with the mystery of where I am.”
She was proud of her ability to leave Noah speechless. And was it her imagination or was he fighting back a smile? Even as these thoughts ran through her mind, Hanna forgot to look where she was going and nearly barreled into Hazel when she turned around. Four heads with varying degrees of gray hair were turned towards Hanna and Noah, watching their exchange like it was the Olympic tennis finals. Which, for Daphne, was ironic since she actually had participated in that competition.
Mai, Hazel, and Daphne did not attempt to hide the expectant looks on their faces, smug with satisfaction that their machinations were playing out the way they wanted. Hanna half expected them to retract their invitation for her to join them and insist that she tour Noah around the city, or invite Noah along and conveniently disappear so that they were alone together. Lillian was ignoring them, scrolling through something on her phone.
“Oh, look!” Lillian shoved her phone into her friends’ faces. “The spa offers a CBD massage. They say it’s good for arthritis.”
Mai grabbed the phone from Lililan and held it at arm’s length, peering down at the screen. “Hmm, sounds less fun and more expensive than getting high. I have some gummies in my bag that I can get.”
“You’ve been holding out on us, Mai,” Hazel jokingly scolded her. “Some friend you are.”
Ushering the group outside with a goodbye to Noah, who hid a laugh behind a cough at Hanna’s flicker of panic over the aforementioned gummies, Hanna commented on some of the other services the spa offered. Like a lavender steam room that was also good for joint pain relief.
The spa was everything the website and online photos promised it would be. Their shoes clacked against the smooth floor, the polished tiles gleaming in the soft overhead lighting. To the left of the doors were two cream loveseats, inviting guests to sink into their plush comfort while they filled out the waiver and service interest forms. A few steps in was a long white desk, a clear vase with vibrantly hued dahlias adding a splash of color against the sand colored walls. An older Frenchwoman greeted them and Hanna recognized her voice from the phone call earlier.
Sophie owned the spa with her sister, a fact that ignited a round of questions from the group of female entrepreneurs. Skin glowing without an ounce of makeup, she appeared years younger than the wrinkles and abundance of gray hair suggested. Settling the group onto the couches with cups of herbal tea, Sophie explained the variety of services available to them.
“Oh, we should do the group facials,” Daphne said as she looked at the others for agreement. Their enthusiasm was infectious and Hanna found herself smiling and nodding along with whatever services they picked.
The ethereal music floating through the air around them, combined with the aromatic oils, teased her senses into a state of relaxation that almost had her missing the mention of group seaweed wraps. Hanna had to draw the line at being around her guests naked.
You are forgetting the one guest you would very much like to see naked, her brain supplied unhelpfully. Flashes of Noah’s shirtless arms and glimpses of his chest through a partially unbuttoned shirt scrolled through her mind like a personal dating app.
Swipe right for pectorals, left for biceps.
Hanna switched from tea to sparkling water in an attempt to cool off. A laughable attempt since they were heading into the steam room first, but Hanna needed to banish thoughts of Noah if she was going to spend the day with his grandmother.
“So, Hanna, you live near Los Angeles, right? You and Noah should get dinner together when we return.” Hazel’s voice carried over the door from her changing room.
Hanna was in the middle of putting on her black, one-piece swimsuit and stumbled, bracing against the bamboo locker to stop from sprawling onto the floor.
Mai laughed. “Subtle, Hazel. Do you already have their wedding colors picked out too?”
“Burgundy and sage. Somewhere outdoors, nothing too formal.” She said it so matter of fact that Hanna was nearly convinced the wedding was happening.
Face the same shade as the color Hazel picked out for her imaginary wedding, Hanna busied herself grabbing towels for the group as they made their way into the steam room. Lavender scented clouds filled the room, obscuring their vision, moisture beading along their skin like dew. Hanna was grateful the lack of visibility hid the growing panic at having her personal life be the focal point of their conversation.
Lillian, of all people, took pity on her. “They are young, Hazel. Let them figure it out on their own.” Hanna sighed in relief. “Besides, you did not even ask if she was single.”
Her relief was short-lived. Dating–not that she and Noah were dating–was difficult enough without an audience. Living away from her own family for so long, Hanna forgot how many “nice, single men” were conveniently thrown in her path like they were produce at a market. It was nice, though, to have people who cared enough to invest actively, if not obtrusively, in her life.
Inquiring eyes turned towards Hanna. Guests asked her this question all the time, usually followed with a line of inquiry on other aspects of her personal life. They spent so much time with her, it was expected that guests would eventually ask about the person sharing glimpses of the world with them. For the most part, she kept the information surface level, preferring to steer the focus back on her guests, learning about their lives and interests. It kept her heart safe from getting too attached when she had to say goodbye at the end of the tour.
“No,” she answered the question honestly. “I am not dating anyone right now. With as much travel as I do, it is difficult finding someone willing to work around my schedule. I also want to focus on my business right now, getting it off the ground and operating smoothly so that I can dedicate more time to a partner when I do find one.”
Daphne hummed in agreement. “Smart woman. Focusing on yourself is important, it gives you time to build a life for yourself so that you are never dependent on someone else for your security. I remember the waves I caused when I announced that I was not quitting tennis after getting married. Everyone expected me to slow down and focus on popping out babies, and I almost let them convince me that was my path in life. But, everyone’s path is different, and you have to figure it out on your own.” Daphne gave Hanna a nod.
“Despite the progress women have made, there are still people who want to tear us down and keep us under their boots,” she continued. “We might make comments about you and Noah, Lord knows the two of you would be adorable together, but what we really want is for you to be happy. Even before we met you, I felt like we knew you based on Hazel’s stories. You remind me of a younger version of us, driven, passionate, and so damn smart that I look forward to seeing you trailblaze through the business world. When one woman succeeds, we all succeed.”
“Straighten each other’s crowns, right?” Mai settled her hand over Hanna’s on the bench.
The humid air was only a small reason why Hanna was glowing from the inside out. Tours were often isolating, she worked alone, planned alone, and rarely heard from guests again unless they specifically requested her for another tour. Maybe it was because this was Hanna’s first tour with her own company, maybe it was the size of the group that lent an air of connection, or maybe it was just who these women were that gave Hanna a sense of community for the first time in years. These highly successful women treated her as an equal, welcoming her into their group as if their age difference was just a number. Meddlesome as they were, Hanna knew that their questions came from a place of genuine support and care. It made her feel like she could open up to them, show them pieces of the real Hanna, just like she was doing with Noah, and that they would still accept her.
Hazel’s age-worn hand settled over Hanna’s free hand. “I keep pushing you and my grandson together because I want you to find happiness outside your work, and I think you and Noah could give each other that. You are an amazing woman: tenacious, spirited, and can do anything you set your mind to. I know you can be happy on your own, but the right person helps you flourish and supports your interests outside the relationship, growing together. My own marriage was arranged by our families, but we learned to care for each other and Marcel became my loudest champion when I opened the business. I do not think there is anything wrong with wanting the same for two of my favorite people.”
Misty eyed, Hanna beamed at each of the women. “Thank you. There are not a lot of people who find value in what I do, they treat this job like I get an endless vacation. Meddling aside…” She gave Hazel a sidelong glance, to which the older woman shrugged. “It means a lot to know that you care enough to want success for both my professional and personal lives.”
“Good,” Hazel said definitively. “Though I have known you long enough that I am a little insulted you did not reach out to me for advice when you were putting together your business plan.”
Chagrined, Hanna gave a self-deprecating laugh. “I thought it would be inappropriate to reach out looking for free advice.”
“It is called networking.”