Lies and Weddings(131)
Eden sank to the floor, her body shaking with sobs. Thomas went over and hugged her as both of them cried in relief and joy. After their emotions had subsided, father and daughter stood leaning on the stone balustrade in silence, staring out at the endless mosaic of tiled rooftops and the tourists climbing up and down the Rialto Bridge in the distance.
“I think I’m in shock,” Eden finally said.
“Of course you are. I’ve been in a state of shock myself ever since my meeting with Diego and Jane. I think we need some drinks. Can I make you an Aperol spritz?” Thomas suggested.
“I’d kill for one right now.”
Thomas went inside to the bar and began to mix the cocktails as Rufus could be heard coming back into the apartment. He walked through the piano nobile and peered out onto the balcony. “Hi there.”
“How was the wedding rehearsal?” Eden asked, trying to sound collected.
“A bit odd. Gopal Das has decided to serenade his bride during the ceremony.”
“That sounds romantic,” Eden said with a weak smile.
“Not really. He’s singing REM’s ‘Losing My Religion,’ and he doesn’t exactly have the voice of Michael Stipe. Are you okay?” Rufus asked, sensing that something was off with her. Very off.
“Come with me, I have something to tell you,” Eden said, getting up and stepping down into the piano nobile. “Dad, will you make a spritz for Rufus? He’s going to need it.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” Rufus looked at her suspiciously.
She took Rufus by the hand, walked him into the guest bedroom off the mirrored-glass hallway, and shut the door. A few moments later, Thomas could hear loud shrieks coming from behind the door. It sounded like two kids jumping on the bed.
VIII
PALAZZO GATTOPARDO
SAN MARCO, VENICE ? THE NEXT MORNING
“The first breath fills your lower abdomen, the second breath fills your upper chest. Just like that, good,” Gopal Das said as he tapped lightly on Martha Dung’s sternum. Gopal Das was leading a sound bath and breathwork session—“We all could use a good detox”—and lying on yoga mats together with Martha underneath the enormous nineteenth-century pagoda chandelier in the portego were Bea, Eden, and Rufus.
Gopal Das gently struck one of the many large circular gongs arranged around the perimeter of the space. “This astrological gong is tuned to the frequency of Pluto. Pluto is the planet of transformation and renewal. Let its vibration flow through your body, let it flow deep into every cell of your body. As you breathe in, I want you to think about change. Change is part of life. Small change, spare change, change is a perpetual state of being. We are all transforming in a multitude of ways every single day, with every heartbeat. Do not fear it, do not resist it. Let the change in you begin to manifest love and joy.”
Bea lay on her mat, trembling as she drew sharp staccato breaths. “Joy…joy…joy…joy,” she chanted tearfully. Unbeknownst to her, Augie had just entered, a little surprised to be seeing all of them lying there on the ornately patterned terrazzo floor. Gopal Das embraced Augie, and as he looked into her eyes, he knew that all was forgiven between them.
Augie took a mat and placed it right next to Bea’s, and as she lay down and began to breathe along with the vibration of the singing crystal bowl that Gopal Das was now playing, she placed a hand over her sister’s heart. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I became jealous of you and Gopal Das,” Augie whispered in her sister’s ear.
“You were jealous of me?”
“I was jealous you were having his baby, but now I am so happy for you both,” Augie said beatifically. “I can’t wait to be an auntie and spoil your child rotten with lots of organic toys.”
“Oh, Augie, you’re going to be the best auntie!” Bea sniffed as the sisters began to breathe in unison. On the other side of the room, Rufus and Eden lay together holding hands as they breathed. Eden could feel herself drifting into a meditative state as the oxygen coursed through her veins. She could feel with every exhale the tension leaving her body, all the stress of the past few days, which had been filled with so much astonishing change. As she continued to breathe, she found herself sinking deeper and deeper into a state of bliss, when suddenly there was a deafening CLANGGGGGG!!!!! followed by another explosive crash.
“Oh bugger! Sorry!”
Everyone bolted up from their mats to see Lord Francis Gresham lying in a heap of gongs. He had been attempting to tiptoe in discreetly, only to end up causing a royal ruckus. “Carry on! Don’t mind me,” Francis apologized again as Gopal Das gave him a hand getting up.
“Pa! I was so close to reaching samadhi,” Augie groaned.
“I’m dreadfully sorry. I got Rufus’s text to come over when I checked my email down at the internet café—you did mean today, didn’t you?” Francis asked.[*]
“I did, knowing you’d probably get it in a month,” Rufus said. “Since we’ve all been shaken awake, shall we proceed with the family meeting that I called?”
“Yes, let’s get this over with,” Augie said grumpily.
“Why don’t I get us all some refreshments,” Martha said diplomatically, leaving the ballroom to give the Greshams and Tongs their privacy.