CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN – PARTY PLANNING

The instructor, a serene-looking woman named Aria, began the class with some gentle stretches. "Let's start by centering ourselves," she said in a soothing voice. "Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, let go of any tension you're holding." Rebecca closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. Beside her, she could hear Luca doing the same, though his breath came out as more of a stressed huff than a relaxed exhale. As they moved into the first pose, a simple forward bend, Rebecca heard a small grunt of effort from Luca. She opened one eye to see him struggling to bend forward while keeping a hand on Helena, who was attempting to crawl off the mat. "Everything okay?" she whispered, trying to suppress a giggle. Luca shot her a look that was part exasperation, part amusement. "Remind me again how this is supposed to be relaxing?" The class progressed, moving through a series of gentle poses designed to be done with babies. Rebecca found herself enjoying the stretches, feeling some of the te