Janelle died several hours later. There had actually been a smile on her friend’s face as she passed from one world to the next.
Hailey had been utterly inconsolable at first, grieving over the life that had been so cruelly cut short. But then, at her lowest point, she could have sworn she heard Janelle’s voice whispering to her, reminding her of her promise.
Drying her eyes, Hailey resolved to honor her promise to her best friend, to live for both of them. Committed, she never looked back.
Janelle was also the reason why Hailey was so totally dedicated to furthering the wellness spa’s agenda. She felt it was her own small way of honoring Janelle’s memory.
And, of course, Janelle was also the reason why she was so determined to live life to the fullest. She had learned firsthand that life could be incredibly fleeting. For that reason, it needed to be enjoyed to the fullest before it suddenly disappeared.
And that was why she knew she had made the right decision today. She had to seek out Dillon Fortune and see if there was something there.
Hailey didn’t realize it then, but spending time cleaning up the discarded plates and cups turned out to be the last peaceful moments she would spend. The very next day, as soon as the spa’s doors were opened, the pace was keenly ramped up to almost an insane level.
It seemed as if everyone who had attended the opening ceremony was now eager to find out just what the wellness spa had to offer in the way of improving their lives.
Because of that, business was immediately robust. It remained that way, not just for a few hours but for the remainder of the day, and it had all the signs of continuing at this stride without letting up.
Hailey was determined to do her part to make it continue. She was everywhere at once, answering questions, conducting a variety of demonstration sessions, welcoming new clients. She kept this pace up from the moment the doors opened until they closed again for the night that evening.
Two days later, happily exhausted, Hailey knew a lot of people would have said that it was too soon to think of the wellness spa as a success. The situation could change drastically once the spa’s novelty had worn off. But Hailey had never been someone to wallow in sobering thoughts, nor was she someone who prudently restrained and tempered her enthusiasm.
As a result, her enthusiasm knew absolutely no bounds.
So anyone within close proximity could see that she was thrilled by this onslaught of clients and prospective clients crowding into the various classes.
By the fourth day, as she continued taking all this in, Hailey didn’t even bother to attempt to hide her wide smile. As if it had a life of its own, the smile spread out from ear to ear.
Silently congratulating herself on her part on this achievement, she felt as if it looked like the wellness spa was a rip-roaring success.
We did it again, Janelle. We’re a success. And I couldn’t have done it without you!
Ever alert, Hailey had taken note of the fact that over the last few days several members of the Fortune family had dropped by to check things out. They had all come away looking as if they were well pleased.
At the last minute, just before the spa had had its official grand opening, Hailey had felt inspired and had added an additional class to the roster. A yoga class specifically designed for mothers and their babies, although an asterisk to the left of the listing in the brochure told any interested parties that fathers were welcome to the class, as well.
When the first day for the class arrived, Hailey was delighted that one of the enrollees was Callum Fortune’s new wife, Becky. A former widow and a nurse at the new pediatric center, Becky was the mother of very lively one-year-old twin girls, Luna and Sasha. She brought them with her to class. The girls gave the impression of barely contained little rockets who were ready to go off at any second.
The slim dark-haired nurse was holding her own at the moment, but it looked as if that situation was touch and go and liable to change at any given moment.
Although she had been the one to come up with the class in the first place, Hailey wasn’t scheduled to teach it herself. However she had decided to hang around the class in case she was needed to offer help or some advice. Seeing Becky and her girls, Hailey was glad that she made this decision.
Taking leave of the woman she had just been talking to, Hailey made her way over toward the slightly frazzled-looking young woman who appeared to be struggling mightily to hold onto her daughters and keep them both in the same area.
“Hi,” Hailey said brightly, greeting Callum’s wife. She ran her hand over Sasha’s—or was it Luna’s—hair. “Looks like you’ve really got your hands full, Becky.” Hailey smiled at the two upturned faces that were presently regarding her with unbridled curiosity. “If you don’t mind my saying so, you’re pretty brave, taking on this class by yourself with both your little girls at the same time.”
“Oh, I’m not alone,” Becky told her as one of the twins attempted to tug away from her. Becky managed to hold onto her—for now. “At least, I won’t be for long.” She suppressed a rather deep sigh. “Callum said he was coming to lend not just his support but his two hands, as well.” Her smile wasn’t forced, but it did seem just a wee bit weak around the edges as she held the potential runaway closer to her body. “I don’t think I can manage this all by myself, at least not the first few times,” she confided. “They just have too much energy!”
Because of
