Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
Life Makeover Principle #10:
Have PATIENCE. Nature never rushes yet accomplishes everything it desires.
‘Bring your awareness back to your body, wiggle your toes, take a deep breath, and when you’re ready, open your eyes.’ The meditation instructor’s soothing, deep voice displaced the silence. Miranda didn’t want to move. She’d finally grown used to this thing called ‘relaxation’, and the high she felt was almost as good as chocolate. Almost . Not that she’d be eating any chocolate here, it was forbidden at Serenity Retreat, along with most of the other food groups. She still didn’t know what the thing she ate for lunch was. Whatever it was, it tasted superb. Who would have thought something that looked like it’d been arranged in the garden could taste so nice. She could get used to this healthy eating, although she’d still kill for a block of Cadbury’s .
‘You can stay for the next class if you like.’ The instructor peered over the top of Miranda, still lying on the floor.
‘Oh, that’s okay.’ She got up slowly. ‘I’ll come back in the morning. I’ve got a nutrition seminar to attend next.’ Miranda was making use of all the activities, and thoroughly enjoying each one, except for almost re-breaking her ribs after slipping by the pool yesterday. Luckily, the water broke her fall, and she laughed it off, as did a couple of bystanders. Whether in high heels or bare feet, she was never safe from mishaps.
‘Enjoy the rest of your day. Namaste.’ The instructor put his hands together in a prayer position and bowed, before turning away to tidy up the mats for the next class. Miranda copied his bow awkwardly, then turned and left the room.
The nutrition seminar gave Miranda many useful eating tips, and dispelled her long held belief that chocolate and coffee were an essential food group in their own right. And who would have thought the human body was around seventy percent water? Miranda was sure they’d got it wrong, convinced there was more fat than water in her body. Although, with three days of eating only plant foods the percentage was probably somewhat reduced now.
Miranda told a small lie when the nutritionist asked the group how many glasses of water each drank per day. She replied ‘six’ when in fact it was more like two, but there’d been days when she’d had six, so she simply wanted to convey the fact that she could if she wanted to. Apparently though, even six wasn’t enough. The nutritionist emphasised that eight glasses were needed, even more in cases of heavy exercise. Well, that wouldn’t be a problem; she hadn’t exercised heavily since before her accident. In fact, she could probably count on her hand the number of times she’d exercised heavily in her whole life. Miranda had been back to the gym briefly after her fall, where Naomi gave her some light exercises to do during her recovery, and made her promise to return when she was fully healed.
Upon returning to her room, Miranda checked her phone. There was a text message from Trisha:
Hi 30 yr old! Bet yr enjoying paradise, if u want gimme a call. T :)
There was also a voice message:
‘Hi Miranda, it’s Jill from Harbourside Haven. Thanks for dropping your resume in a while back, we actually have a full-time position beginning in the new year, so if you’d like to come in for an interview, please give us a call to secure a time. Thanks, bye.’
A full-time position at the salon within Harbourside Towers? Miranda jiggled up and down. This was exactly what she was looking for! She’d been disappointed when Jill told her there were no job openings back in June, but considering Miranda was already a Harbourside employee, she hoped they’d keep her name at the top of the list should anything become available. ‘Jill? Hi, it’s Miranda Sheppard, returning your call. I’d love to come in for an interview. I’m away at the moment, but how’s Monday next week?’
‘Let’s see ... I can fit you in at two pm, how’s that?’
‘That’s perfect. I’ll see you then, thanks Jill.’
‘Bye, Miranda.’
Miranda squealed, then called Trisha’s number.
‘Guess what? I’ve got an interview at Harbourside Haven next week!’
‘That’s great, Miranda. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.’ Her voice was flat.
‘Thanks.’ Miranda crinkled her nose. ‘Is everything okay with you?’
‘Yeah, I’m okay, it’s just...’ She sighed. ‘We’ve been trying and trying, but I’m not falling pregnant, it’s so frustrating.’
‘Aw, honey, I can understand. I’m sure it’ll happen. One of the women in The Life Makeover Club was having the same trouble, and she’s now pregnant.’
‘That’s encouraging, I guess. Anyway, we’ve been added to the waiting list for this top specialist, but it’ll be another two months before we can get in. Tell you what, I know why they call us ‘patients’, it’s such a waiting game.’
‘Well, when it does happen, and it will , you’re gonna make an awesome mother. You’ve had enough practise looking after me!’
Trisha’s laugh filled the air. ‘True, true. Anyway, sorry to burden you with my worries, you’re supposed to be enjoying some peace and quiet. What’s it like there?’
‘Absolutely beautiful. Not just the retreat, the whole town. I think I could live here.’
‘Maybe you will one day, but not too soon, okay? I’d miss you.’
‘You and Shane could move here as well. This place could use Shane’s cooking expertise, I don’t think they’ve even heard of things called chicken, or steak.’
‘Oh, vegetarian, is it?’
‘Worse. Vegan.’
‘Wow, that’s an undertaking, no animal products of any kind. You must be starving, girl!’
‘Nah, it’s actually been nice. I wish I could make vegetables the way they do. With any luck I’ll meet and fall in love with a chef.’
‘Hmmm, I wonder what that would be like.’ Trisha laughed again. ‘Oh, hun, you always know how to cheer me up. Listen, good luck with your interview, you’ll knock ‘em dead.’
‘Well, hopefully not, but thanks!’
Miranda returned to the strange silence that would be with her for the next few days. No noisy neighbours, no passing traffic, just the soft, rhythmic gush of the ocean, and faint music wafting up from the dining hall downstairs.
Craving the salty air on her skin, she wandered downstairs and outside to the deck near the garden. A warm breeze greeted her, gently lifting the hair about her face. She’d arrived just in time to watch the sunset. How rewarding it felt to finally breathe easily, to feel the full expansion of her lungs, which up until now had felt like they were trapped in a cage. It was like her heart had been trapped in a cage too; afraid to really open up and love, too scared that if she found love it would be taken away from her.
Maybe the fall down the stairs had somehow cracked open that cage along with her ribs, because her heart felt more open, more welcoming to new possibilities. Instead of the overwhelming sadness from her father’s death, Miranda was now overwhelmed with gratitude; gratitude at being lucky enough to experience such love from both her parents. Despite the fact her father wasn’t here to guide her anymore, the love he gave her still existed.
When the pinkish-red smudges had almost faded from the sky, Miranda turned to make her way to the dining hall. As she wiped her feet on the mat outside the door, a flicker of colour caught her attention and she turned her gaze to the left. A butterfly had landed gently on her shoulder, its colours and patterns coming alive in the fading sunlight, the reflection from the ocean twinkling on the butterfly’s wings, like her statue.
On the last day of her retreat, Miranda walked to the vibrant community markets, the breeze sculpting the fabric from her maxi dress around her curves. The sun shone down in streams of light through the patchy clouds, and the crowd of people seemed somehow connected, like they were all family.
She strolled past the African drummers, the rhythm merging with her own heartbeat; strong, efficient, yet calm. As Miranda admired multiple craft stalls, children’s rides, and colourful displays, a pure sense of peace soothed her like a balm. Peace with the world, peace with her life, and mostly, peace with herself. Yes, Miranda was happy.
A stall caught her eye. Oooh, ice cream . Must have one! She skipped over like a child entering a candy store.
‘What will it be, love?’ asked the man behind the stall.
‘A banana one, thanks,’ she replied.
‘You can have two scoops, you know, do you want another flavour as well?’
‘No, just two scoops of banana. It's always been my favourite.’ She grinned.
‘Oki doki, coming right up.’
She stepped away from the stall, licking her ice cream, and a male voice said: ‘Banana's always been my favourite too.’
Miranda glanced up mid-lick and warmth flushed her cheeks. It was Matt, the nurse who looked after her in hospital. Oh God! Did he really see my beige TrimTummy briefs with extra support panel? ‘Hi, um ... hi,’ was all she could manage.
‘I see you've fully recovered?’ His wavy brown hair sheltered his dark eyes.
‘Yep, all better now, no scars, thank goodness.’ Although, she did feel a remnant of ice cream on her upper lip and wondered how she might discreetly lick it off.
‘Miranda, isn't it?’
‘You remember?’
‘How could I forget? You only spelled it out for me a dozen times.’ Creases tickled the corners of his eyes, his charm coming alive with his smile.
‘Oh really? Sorry ‘bout that!’ She lowered her gaze to the grass and kicked a non-existent twig.
‘Let's start again, shall we? No morphine involved this time.’ He held out his hand, the hair on his tanned arm sparkling in the sun. ‘I'm Matt.’
‘I’m Miranda.’ She giggled, sliding her hand into his and giving it a gentle shake.
‘So, what brings you to this beautiful part of the world, Miranda, is it the scenery or the ice cream?’
‘Gotta be the ice cream.’ She smiled. ‘No, actually I'm taking some time off.’ They started walking together. ‘I’m staying at Serenity Retreat for some R and R.’
‘They've let you loose for the afternoon, have they?’
‘Yeah, you could say that ... I'm supposed to be eating a vegan diet for the week, but I guess that's gone out the window now!’ Miranda licked her ice cream. ‘What about you, are you here for the scenery or the ice cream?’
Matt smiled softly. ‘My mum lives here, I’m spending time with the family after...’ He stopped walking. ‘…my father passed away. ’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry, Matt.’
‘He was sick for a long time so we were expecting it, but still, well ... it’s been a rough time to say the least.’ They resumed walking. ‘I got the call while I was at work, that night you were there, actually. I caught the first available flight, and since the funeral, I’ve been back and forth to Mum’s as often as I can.’
‘Yeah, the hospital staff said you had a family emergency.’ Miranda shaded her face with her hand, squinting as they strolled into the path of the sun. ‘How’s your mum doing?’
Matt slid on his sunglasses. ‘She’s much better now, it was really hard at first, as you can imagine. She’d spent so long looking after Dad, then all of a sudden, he wasn’t there to look after anymore. Along with the grief, it was quite a shock to the system.’
‘I bet. Well, she’s lucky she’s got you. Have you got any brothers or sisters?’
‘A sister, she lives in Melbourne with her husband and kids. They came over as soon as they could, but went back after the funeral. They’re coming back again this Christmas, along with my aunts and uncles. We’re all staying at Mum’s. What about you, have you got a big family?’
‘Not here. My relatives all live in the States, except my maternal grandparents, and my mum. My father died too, when I was eight.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. Such a young age to go through something like that.’
‘Yeah, it was hard, still is sometimes. But Mum and I – we stick together.’ Miranda smiled, then bit into the rewarding crispiness of the ice cream cone.
‘So, did the others take good care of you after I left?’ he asked .
‘They did. I was discharged a couple of days later. Haven’t gone back to work yet, I’m enjoying my final bit of freedom before I do.’
‘When do you leave Byron?’ Matt asked.
‘Tomorrow. And, as soon as I get home, I’m cooking a big juicy steak!’
‘Can’t hide the carnivore within, hey?’
‘Nope. And I’d kill for a pizza.’
‘There’s a great pizza place over there.’ He cocked his head to the side. ‘Are you up for an early departure from your health regime?’ A smile teased its way onto his lips, and attraction surged inside Miranda’s belly.
‘Well, I guess six days out of seven ain’t bad,’ she reasoned, agreeing to meet him for dinner at six. ‘A supreme pizza with extra cheese sounds very good to me.’
‘Ditto.’ Matt smiled. ‘As long as there’s no pineapple. I’m really not a fan.’
Miranda tried to hold back her grin. This holiday was turning out even better than expected.