“Focus on the breath,” Lou said, her voice so calm and steady, Mia wanted to record it so she could listen to it again later, when she was feeling flustered or overwhelmed. “You did a wonderful job today. You gave your body the gift of starting or deepening your practice. You did yourself a huge favor.”

Mia had her eyes closed and she couldn’t help but wonder if Lou was still watching her, even though she couldn’t make many mistakes with the pose she was in now. How relaxing to just lie there, with Lou’s pleasant voice washing over her, after having done this class, which wasn’t so much about starting a practice for Mia, but about taking the outstretched hand that Lou had offered her.

“Great job everyone. Thank you for coming,” Lou said after they’d all sat up and intoned a solemn namaste together.

When Mia went to drop off her mat by the door, where Lou was standing, she shot her a smile.

“Good job,” Lou said, and Mia could tell that she meant it. “You should come again.”

“Maybe I will.” She shot Lou a different kind of smile now, a more audacious one.

“God, I’m so glad the two of you are talking.” Micky had sidled up to them. “The tension was starting to do my head in.” She cocked her head at Mia. “I know it’s against the spirit of yoga and all that, but this one is going to need some serious limbering up.”

“You’re not supposed to watch others while you’re practicing,” Mia was quick to say.

“I didn’t need to watch. I heard you grunt all the way through.” Micky flashed her a smile. “Is this a good time to invite you both to our house for Robin’s birthday next Saturday? Or are we not there yet?”

“Depends,” Lou said. “Will Meredith be there?”

“Yes, she will, but I’ll tell her to keep well away and not accost you or harass you or re-swipe right on you in any way.”

This made both Lou and Mia chuckle.

“I just don’t want any drama,” Lou said.

“Is that a yes?” Micky asked.

Mia nodded, then so did Lou.

After showering and saying good-bye to Micky, Mia waited for Lou outside Glow. She kept an eye on the bus stop, where her bus was supposed to arrive any minute, but after switching her phone back on after class, she’d found a message from Kristin on her phone about Annie and Jane.

Still in her yoga gear, Lou turned up a few minutes later. “You’re still here,” she said, surprised.

“I thought you might like to know that Kristin and I are going to Newtown tomorrow for a meeting with Annie and Jane. From what I gather, it might be a very productive, positive kind of meeting.”

“They said yes?” There was genuine glee in Lou’s tone.