Page 131 of Wells

"I had a hand in it, sure. So, will you be teaching here?"

"I haven't heard back, but I'd love to be a part of it."

She crosses into the room and walks to the center. Her bare feet make no sound on the floor. She looks up at the ceiling, at the exposed beams, and I watch her face change into something I can't put a word to but know on sight.

She turns back to me.

A woman in her mid-forties comes into the room. She introduces herself as Maya, one of the wellness counselors. Cera asks about the programs, and Maya explains the schedule, the age groups, and the rotating workshops.

Maya mentions a kid named Darnell who has become a sort of ambassador for the kids who live around here. He's quiet, she says, but he likes the gym.

I met Darnell when I was here doing the final walkthrough the other day. He's a neighborhood kid who's been hanging out by the fence the entire renovation, the contractor told me. He made an immediate impact on me when I met him.

"He's over by the basketball hoop," I say. "You want to meet him?"

Cera nods. "I'd love that."

We walk outside, where Darnell is shooting hoops with another boy. He sees me and waves.

"Mr. Wells."

"Darnell. This is Miss Cera. She teaches yoga nearby."

Darnell looks at Cera with mild curiosity, then back at me.

"You do yoga?"

"I do now."

He grins. "You any good?"

"Not yet."

Cera laughs, and the sound is so natural it pulls something loose in my chest.

Darnell's friend asks if we want to play, and I tell him maybe later. The boys return to their game.

We move back inside. Cera stops near the craft room, looking at the tables set up with supplies. A little girl is already sitting there, coloring.

"What are you making?" Cera asks.

The girl holds up a drawing of a house with flowers around it.

"That's beautiful."

The girl beams and goes back to her work.

We keep walking. I show Cera the library corner, the meditation room, the storage closet where the extra equipment is kept.

Then we turn the corner and see Lin. He spots Cera and his face opens into a grin.

"Cera. I was going to call you Friday, but it's been a bit insane around here."

"You two have met."

"Last week," Cera says. "Lin gave me the abbreviated tour."

Lin nods. "And I've been thinking about it since. Look, I know you're teaching at Om in the mornings, but if you're interested, I'd like to offer you the head instructor position here in the afternoons."