Chapter 23
Jamison
Seated in my office, I scrolled through the reports on my screen summarizing the financial position of Freedom Capital Real Estate. They weren't a client, but through my contacts, I was able to pull together non-confidential information.
Tallulah hadn't asked me to do this. In fact, I hadn't heard from her, though I'd told her to let me know how the meeting went.
I didn't want to appear desperate, so I hadn't reached out, but I was seriously reconsidering.
All I could think about was the way she'd looked up at me when I was in her store last. The slight upturn of her mouth haunted my thoughts, and those lovely brown eyes of hers never failed to send chills down my spine.
I had to talk to her again. I had no choice. But before I reached out, I was doing a little research on the company causing her stress.
A knock on my office door pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked up to find my son standing in the doorway with a folder tucked under his arm, a slightly uncertain expression on his face.
I sensed he wasn't completely comfortable coming to me with work-related questions and struggled with having his father as a colleague, though I wasn't his direct supervisor.
"Hey Dad, got a minute?" he asked.
"Always, for you."
I closed the tabs on the screen and gave him my undivided attention as he approached.
He set down the folder and opened it to a credit analysis he had been working on.
"I'm having a hard time with this debt ratio calculation.
It's an agricultural company, so their revenue stream is irregular because of seasonal variations.
I'm not sure if I should use data from the last 12 months or an average of the last three years to account for the irregularities. "
I pulled the folder closer and scanned the figures.
"It's an agricultural company, so you have to account for the seasonality, but you also want to make sure you capture any trending data.
" I picked up a pen from my desk and made notes in the margin.
"I suggest you run the numbers both ways and compare both results.
If there's a significant difference, you'll have a good idea about the stability of the operation. "
He nodded slowly, leaning over the desk and pulling out his own pen to write a few notes. "I see what you're saying. Show the range of possibilities instead of trying to force a conclusion from one set of numbers."
"Correct. In a case like this, a single data point could lead you to make the wrong decision. You want the full picture, which will be in the best interest of the client and help you make the best decision to assist them."
"Makes sense. Thanks, Dad." He picked up the folder. "You want to grab dinner tonight? Blossom is busy, so you and I could hang out. There's a new Thai place up the street from where I live. We could try it out."
Any other day, any other week, I would've jumped at the chance to have dinner with my son.
Manuel and I didn't spend as much time together as I'd like, and most of the time when I saw him, we were at work.
I wanted to maintain a relationship with him as much as possible, even though he was an adult, but I had already made up my mind about my plans for the evening.
"I'll have to take a raincheck," I said. "I have a class."
His eyebrows rose higher. "What class do you have on Monday night?"
"Yoga."
"Yoga?" he said, with a laugh. "When did you start taking yoga?"
"Why are you acting so surprised?"
"Because I've never once in my entire twenty-two years heard you say a word about yoga. Doesn't fit you."
"You don't know what fits me. Besides, I'm almost fifty years old, and I can't lift weights and run around the track forever. People my age need to work on our flexibility, and from my research, yoga is a good exercise to incorporate into my lifestyle."
"Yoga?" He stared at me in disbelief.
"Yes, Manuel. Yoga."
"Where are you taking the class?"
I shifted in my chair. "At Ms. Washington's wellness center. They have a Monday night class. She mentioned it once, so I'm going to check it out."
I hadn't told Tallulah I was coming, but I'd already checked online and saw that interested students were encouraged to drop in for a free first class to see if it was a good fit.
"Okay," Manuel murmured, sounding confused. "Enjoy your yoga class, and I guess we'll do dinner another night." He paused on the way to the door. "Do you even have yoga pants?"
"I have athletic wear. That's good enough."
"Okay," he murmured again, still sounding confused.
After he left, I checked my watch. I had enough time to finish up here, go home to change clothes, and then head over to Simply Well. Based on afternoon traffic, I should arrive approximately ten minutes before class started.
Despite not wanting to seem desperate, I was committing an act of desperation. I wanted to see Tallulah. I wanted to be in the same room with her, even if we were only stretching and breathing or whatever they do in yoga classes.
I finished my work and left on time. I went home, changed into a T-shirt and a pair of joggers and tennis shoes, then hopped back into my Lexus and drove over to the plaza. I felt a little ridiculous but also excited and energized.
A sign on the front door instructed me to go around the side.
I entered and went down the hall, my heart rate elevated in anticipation of seeing Tallulah.
I found the studio easily, a room with wood floors, dark walls—one of them mirrored—and softly playing music.
Inside, women of all shapes and sizes talked in quiet tones or stretched in preparation for the class.
I immediately spotted the back of Tallulah's head and was relieved she hadn't decided to miss tonight's session.
She wore a white tank and green yoga pants that looked fantastic on her ass.
No jewelry this time. Her waist-length locs were in a low ponytail and swept over one shoulder.
She bent over to roll out her yoga mat like the other women in the room.
Yoga mat!
I hadn't executed my plan as perfectly as I initially thought. I had completely forgotten a very important piece.
A young woman stepped into my line of sight, blocking my view of Tallulah bending over. She looked to be in her twenties and wore a welcoming smile, blue streaks in her brown hair, and multiple earrings climbing up the shell of her right ear.
"Hello, I'm Julie. Welcome to Simply Well yoga. First time?"
"Yes, first time here and first time taking yoga. I wanted to try the class, but..." I dropped my voice. "I forgot to bring a yoga mat."
"Not a problem. I have a couple of extra ones right there," she said, pointing to a corner in the back. "Pick one and find a spot to set up. What's your name?"
"Jamison."
"Nice to meet you, Jamison." She left me to walk toward the front of the room.
I picked up one of the mats as a man walked in. He nodded at me, and I nodded back before seeking out an empty spot. I decided to roll out the mat near the wall to my right.
Tallulah was now sitting cross-legged on the floor, back straight, with her eyes closed and hands resting on her knees.
She looked peaceful. Centered. Completely in her element.
I almost felt like an intruder and considered backing out, then I changed my mind.
I had come this far and wasn't going to leave without talking to her.
I rolled out my mat and attempted to sit cross-legged like she and some of the other women, but my knees immediately protested. Holy shit. What had I gotten myself into? This might be harder than I had anticipated.
More people trickled in over the next few minutes, including one more man. Finally, the music stopped, and Julie sat on her mat in front of the class, also cross-legged.
"Good evening, everyone." She spoke in a hushed voice, hands clasped together in a prayerful pose.
"Good evening," the class returned.
"Namaste," she said with a gentle bow. "Welcome to Monday night yoga at Simply Well. I'm so glad you're all here. This is a no-judgment zone, so don’t push yourself beyond..."
I stopped listening, my gaze shifting to Tallulah. She casually scanned the room and did a double take when she saw me.
Her mouth opened slightly, and I watched her expression shift from surprise to confusion to what could only be described as pleasure. I gave her a small nod, and she slowly smiled, nodding back.
Just like that, my uncertainty about coming disappeared. Tallulah Washington smiled at me.
I had made the right decision.
Now I was going to attempt an activity I had never done before. Yoga. Because I couldn't stay away from her.
"We're going to start with child's pose tonight," Julie was saying.
I had no idea what that was, but I watched as she changed position to sit back on her heels and folded forward, resting her head on the floor, arms outstretched.
I followed suit, listening to Julie's soothing voice as she encouraged us to relax and instructed us on how to breathe.
I slowed down mentally, and my muscles loosened as I relaxed into the pose.
This wasn't so bad.
I could handle an hour of yoga.