Field of Daisies

Chapter 19

            The Fitness Center is publicly accessible at the entrance. It's more that the little café, which is already closed, is publicly accessible. The actual fitness center is closed to paying guests only beyond the café. This place sure is where cash goes to die, as my grandfather used to say about amusement parks and arcades. This resort, with all its guest limitations, fits his sentiment too.

Once again, you have to scan a guest pass to get access, but there's no one around at this hour and the speedgate turnstiles only go up to about my waist in height. I move to the farthest one from the door, checking for anyone around and ignoring the possibility of cameras watching me. I make sure to pat myself down as if I'm looking for my guest pass before checking my imaginary watch and hopping over the gate.

It's warmer than I'd expect a fitness place to be. Thinking about the warmth I remember the winter jacket I'm still wearing and shrug it off, tying it around my waist like I did with sweatshirts back when I was a kid. I wander around the place, looking for somewhere to settle, only stopping for water to ease my stomach's cries.

Way in the back, by the equipment and exercise class area, I find a secluded spot to stop. I remember the bars I stashed in my jacket and indulge in one, leaving only four. It tastes great despite the unexpected chalky texture. I stay on the lookout for employees or other guests and hunker down under some storage holder for yoga mats.

The only people I've seen were playing basketball or running in some way or another on the lap track, so I figure staying here and using a mat for some cushion won't gather much attention. I eat another of the granola bars and rinse out my mouth in the bathroom. I stretch out a bit before curling up in my makeshift bed, using my jacket as a pillow. I hope to get some sleep in before the yogis show up nice and early.

***

I'm up and able to move myself just in time for the first of the yoga practitioners to show up. I do have an awkward run in, literally, with one of them who was reaching for a mat, but I managed to brush it off. I only receive a half-assed dirty look instead of a full-fledged one—must be the early hour. It's earlier than I ever want to be up, and I don't know how good my chances of coffee will be. I decide to find the locker room and take a cold shower to wake me up. I took cold showers nearly every day at the Fitzwilliam's, so I know the shock will help.

The icy water does its job, no matter how temporary it may be. I redress and wander around a bit more before seeking out craft supplies. I keep an eye out for some free food, but come up short, settling for water and a granola bar.

Near the exit the smell of coffee and warm pastries find their way to my nose. There is too much pumpkin spice in the air to make me stop for anything. I never got into that pumpkin trend. Or the latte trend. The two together make me shudder. I exit into the cold morning air, feeling the sun rays warm on my face. Now there's something I've always loved: fall mornings. I find my way to the other recreation center. This one is less fitness-focused and more rainy-day oriented. It looks like it's going to be a beautiful day, so I can't imagine anyone will want to spend too much time in here today.

Inside, I easily find the craft room, filled with a bunch of snotty kids and their groggy parents. It appears I'm not the only one who could use some coffee. I grab some art supplies and settle myself on the floor in a corner. I do my best to replicate one of the passes and attach it to Charlotte's card. Hopefully there will be a group to stick with, so they don't scan my individual pass for verification. I know my art skills are passible, at best. Probably should have spent more time improving my art skills than goofing off with Theo in year two. Then again, I wouldn't take back that experience for anything.