Good Form

Natalie lowered her window as she turned onto Ocean Drive. The morning air was brisk, carrying the familiar scent of salt, pine, and freshly cut grass. She’d been longing for this familiarity since her plane landed the night before. Or perhaps even longer than she was willing to admit. Beyond the row of sprawling oceanfront properties, she caught occasional glimpses of the water, its surface sparkling beneath the early sunlight.

She passed another familiar stretch of carefully maintained hedges that concealed some of Osprey Point’s largest homes. A groundskeeper was trimming the edges of a lawn at one of the properties, while farther down the driveway, a woman in tennis whites walked toward a parked car with a racket bag slung over her shoulder.

Natalie was home.

The same immaculate lawns, the same quiet streets, the same people going about their mornings as though nothing particularly remarkable had happened in the years she’d been away. There was something comforting about that. Osprey Point had always existed in its own little world, largely indifferent to whatever was happening beyond its boundaries. Growing up, Natalie had been eager to leave it. Now, driving along the same roads she’d known since childhood, she found herself appreciating its well-worn ease.

She hadn’t planned on coming back to start over. Certainly not like this.

When Lillian had suggested she stay for a while, Natalie had agreed. It seemed sensible enough. There was nothing requiring her immediate attention elsewhere, and the thought of spending however long she needed with her mother had been considerably more appealing than making another decision about her future.

Natalie glanced at the clock on the dashboard. She was running a little early.

A few minutes later, she turned into the gravel driveway of the Club and slowed to a stop. The Club perched at the edge of the hill leading down to the long sandy beach. She hadn’t set foot on these grounds in years, but the place hadn’t changed much.

She walked up the dark wooden stairs, noticing the boards had been refinished, and reached for the handle of the heavy door.

A cute young receptionist greeted her as soon as she crossed the threshold.

“Good morning. How can I help you today? Are you looking for a class?”

Natalie glanced at her briefly.

“No, I’m picking up my mother.”

“Oh.” The receptionist pursed her lips slightly. “It’s just down the hall and—”

“I know my way around here, thank you,” Natalie answered, continuing farther into the building without looking at her.

As she approached the end of the corridor, faint strains of music mingled with the chatter of many voices spilling through one of the doors. She glanced at the watch on her wrist. A few more minutes left before the end of the class. She leaned against the wall and waited.

The music continued, but the chatter inside had dissolved into laughter. She could hear her mother and recognized a few other voices as well.

What are they doing in there?

She pushed off the wall, her hand sliding along the grasscloth the entire Club was wrapped in, and peered through the glass insert of the door.

Inside the large studio, she spotted her mother with a towel pressed against her face. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair had escaped from her bun, and her workout tank clung tightly to her body, saturated with sweat. Across from her, Margo lay stretched out on a yoga mat, looking completely exhausted. Beside her, Edith was attempting to get off hers.

“Let me give you a hand, darling,” she heard a male voice say.

A second later, an outstretched hand appeared in her field of vision, followed by the rest of him. Austin reached for Edith. She grabbed his hand, and he lifted her off the floor effortlessly. As she came to her feet, his other hand settled briefly against the small of her back, steadying her.

“Thank you, dear.” Edith smiled widely.

Suddenly, the music stopped, and a few other women picked up their belongings from the floor and headed for the door. Natalie returned to her place against the wall. She didn’t have to wait long. The door swung open, and the women she’d noticed through the glass exited the studio.

She took a deep breath and poked her head inside.

“Hi.” She gave a small wave.

Instantly, Ramona turned toward her and froze.

“Nataaaaliiiiiee!” she screamed a few moments later, dropping her bag to the floor. “Aaaaaa!”

Natalie smiled and, stepping fully into the room, opened her arms. Ramona reached her in no time and squeezed her tightly.

“Oh my God!” she squealed. “Lillian told us you were coming home, but she never said when exactly.”

“I didn’t want to ruin the surprise,” Natalie’s mother offered from the other side of the room, now wiping the sweat from her arms.

Edith and Margo rushed over for their share of hugs.

“I’m so very glad to see you all too.” Natalie laughed as they continued taking turns trying to hug her.

When the women finally released Natalie, she walked over to Lillian.

“Are you ready to go, Mom?”

Lillian looked at her, then turned her head toward Austin, who was leaning against the bar in front of the mirror, fiddling with his phone.

“Austin,” Lillian said. “Come meet my daughter.”

At the sound of his name, Austin looked up and his eyes landed on Natalie. He pushed off the bar and slipped his phone into his pocket. As he crossed the studio toward them, a wide grin spread across his face. His eyes sparkled, and a few beads of sweat tracked down the side of his neck. Natalie’s gaze dropped to his tight workout shorts and the way they practically burst at the seams with his every step. She didn’t have time to decide what she thought about that before Austin’s hand appeared in front of her.

“I’m Austin,” he said. “Your mother and the ladies work very hard every week.”

Natalie took his hand and immediately felt the strength of his grip, the muscles in his forearm tightening slightly as he squeezed hers.

“Natalie,” she said. “I’ve heard all about the torture you put them through.” She chuckled.

“He certainly does.” Lillian gave a small laugh, her eyes lingering on Austin just a moment longer than necessary.

“Nice to meet you, Natalie,” Austin continued after briefly registering Lillian’s expression. “If you’re ever in the mood to work out, please feel free to join us here every Tuesday and Thursday.”

“I’m good, thanks.”

“Understood.” Austin smirked and turned his attention to Margo and Ramona.

Natalie met her mother’s eyes, a single brow arching in amusement. Lillian smiled and shrugged her shoulders, reading her daughter’s mind instantly.

A few minutes later, everyone had gathered their things and was ready to leave.

“Bye, dear.” Edith blew Austin a small kiss before disappearing into the corridor.

He grinned and lifted a hand, pretending to catch it.

“Bye, darling. Next week we’ll slow down a little.”

“Bye, dear.” Margo waved as she stepped through the door.

Ramona followed shortly after with a small wave of her own. Finally, Natalie threaded her arm through her mother’s, and the door swung shut behind them.

They all reached the parking lot together.

“Natalie, why don’t you come to Beverly’s brunch this Saturday?” Margo asked, turning toward her. “Emma and the kids might stop by.”

“I might.”

“Please come,” Ramona pleaded. “We haven’t seen you in so long. We’d love to catch up.”

Lillian opened the passenger door of Natalie’s car and paused before getting in.

“We will, ladies. We will.”

Natalie gave her mother a quick look, then turned toward the women, who were now patiently waiting for confirmation.

“Alright, alright. I’ll come.”

They clapped their approval.

“Bye, everyone.” Natalie laughed and lowered herself into the driver’s seat.

The women waved before heading toward their own cars. Natalie slowly backed out of the parking spot, turned onto Ocean Drive, and headed home.

The ride back was quiet and too short for any meaningful conversation. Barely fifteen minutes had passed before Natalie pulled into the four-car garage of her mother’s home.

“I’ll freshen up, and we can have breakfast if you’d like,” Lillian said, dropping her gym bag in the entryway.

“I’ll be in the kitchen.” Natalie nodded.

While Lillian showered and changed, Natalie made toast and scrambled some eggs. She was slicing tomatoes when her mother appeared in the doorway looking much too young for her age.

“Your favorite.” Natalie added a few freshly cut slices to the plate and slid it across the counter. She set the knife down and picked up her fork.

“Thank you.” Lillian tilted her head appreciatively.

She settled onto the barstool closest to Natalie and reached for the pot of coffee. Steam curled from the cup as she poured, filling the kitchen with the warm scent of toasted pecans and brown sugar. Lillian lifted the cup to her mouth, closed her eyes, and breathed it in.

“This blend smells so good,” she said after a moment, looking up at Natalie. “I picked it up at that new coffee shop that opened in the marketplace last month.”

“Mmmm.” Natalie nodded, taking another bite of her eggs. Then she put down her fork.

“Mom, your fitness instructor is working you way too hard. And everyone else, for that matter. It might not be a bad idea to take it easy once in a while.”

“Oh, honey.” Lillian laughed. “We don’t sweat like that every session. And he’s great.”

Natalie studied her mother for a moment, considering the answer.

“No, really,” Lillian insisted. “At our age, we need to move regularly. Trust me, Austin knows what he’s doing. Two years ago, Margo couldn’t even lift a five-pound dumbbell, and today she does regular push-ups.” She raised her eyebrows. “Margo. Does push-ups.”

“Okay, okay.” Natalie held up a hand in surrender. “I just worry about you.”

“I know, honey, and I appreciate it. But there’s no need.” Lillian took a bite of her eggs. “You know, you could join us, just like Austin suggested. Especially now that you’ll be staying here for a while.”

Natalie shook her head.

“I don’t think so.”

“It might cheer you up a little.”

“I don’t need cheering up, Mother. I’m fine.”

“I know the last few months haven’t been easy for you.” Lillian’s expression softened. “I worry about you too.”

“They weren’t, but they’re over. Christopher is no longer in my life, and all of that drama is done.”

“You never told me if he moved in with her.”

Natalie looked at her mother.

“And you never told me you have the hots for your much younger fitness instructor.”

“Natalie.” Lillian blushed and waved a hand as though swatting the accusation away. “That’s nonsense. Austin is younger than you.”

“So? You’re a beautiful older woman.”

Lillian smiled despite herself.

“It’s not like that at all, honey. Austin is there for us. For all of us. And he makes us feel wonderful.” She reached for her coffee again. “But Austin is a professional, and he has his own life. We’re just happy to know him.”

She took another sip.

“Really, you should come with me next Tuesday.”

“I’ll think about it.”

They finished their breakfast over another cup of coffee, Lillian filling the quiet with bits of news from Osprey Point that had been lost somewhere among the more pressing conversations of the last few months. Then, they cleared their plates and headed into town. Lillian wanted to order the pastries she’d promised Beverly for Saturday and stop by the florist while they were there.