The CEO’s Quadruplets

As they listened to the classical station, the neighborhoods and busy streets felt like an old friend. Isabella recognized where new businesses had come in, and what restaurants were still there. Her mind wandered aimlessly like a child as she nearly forgot her destination was a surprise. When they arrived, Isabella recognized the place to be a spa she always talked about going to, but never did. Taking the last sip of her coffee, she slipped out of the car and pulled out some aviators from her purse to block the sun now high in the sky. Jack rolled down his window, smiling.

“I’m going to deliver the flowers to your home with your luggage. There’s someone inside who will tell you your plans for the day, but I will be back to get you around three. Is there anything you might need until then?”

Isabella could not think of anything except the little beagle mix who she found one day while volunteering at the local shelter. A big ladies man, the four-year-old dog had earned his name Romeo. Amory had been making sure her puppy prince stayed comfortable when she was away, and the idea of seeing the fluffball again was exciting.

“Just give my puppy a hug will you? And tell him I love him?”

“Of course. He is a cute dog,” Jack offered with a smile. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Jack.”

Giving her a nod, Jack rolled up the window and pulled back out into the fray of traffic. Stepping inside, the spa had been designed to look like an escape to Thailand. The aromatics and greenery in the lobby alone helped transport Isabella back around the world, but this adventure came without jet lag. Only one person sat in the lobby on a long light wicker couch with colorful pillows to lean against. Her face masked by a fashion magazine from the coffee table did not stop Isabella from knowing exactly who it was.

“Of all the spas in all the world, you just had to be sitting in mine!”

Lowering the publication, her best friend Lizzie Harris beamed back her. Lizzie was her old roommate and sorority sister from college. Both women were in the same pledge class for Alpha Kappa Alpha, and neither could have been successful without the other.

“You’re so tall and thin. You’re all limbs!” Isabella exclaimed.

“Better to hug you with, ladybug,” Lizzie called back as she stood to hug Isabella. “Happy birthday, Bella! I missed you so freaking much.”

“I missed you too, Liz. How’s life?”

“Busy. I delivered triplets yesterday afternoon. My biggest number to date! I was so glad I already took today off. I have earned this spa day, and so have you. How was Africa? How many lives did you save?”

“I don’t know if I necessarily saved any lives, but I did educate more young women about safe s*x. I got families the medicines they needed. It was all a day in the life of pediatrics.”

“Oh my god, you’re a superhero.”

Bella rolled her eyes in jest, saying, “You bring life into the world. I just make sure it doesn’t get too sick.”

A young woman in white stepped out, distracting them both from their conversation.

“Miss Blake and Miss Harris, your massage room is ready. I and our other massage expert Kim will be relaxing your muscles before giving your body a rejuvenation via a wholistic body wrap and facials followed by manicures and pedicures. Are you both ready?”

“I sure am!” Lizzie told the staff member with a light-hearted tone.

They followed her down a hall that had water running down a pane of glass. It looked as if they were walking through a waterfall with little green plant life growing up through polished stones on the floor. The whole space was transcendent, and it continued on into the massage room where the other young woman was lighting aromatic candles that gave off the soft scent of vanilla and lavender.

“Welcome,” she said softly. “I’ll each give you a moment to get settled. We should be back in five minutes.”

When the massage finally came, Isabella realized how tense her body had become over the last several months. Sleeping on a cot most nights to help with late shifts, her muscles had become accustomed to soreness and stiffness. The plane rides and economy hotel from her Atlanta layover had not provided much support either. Amory had offered to arrange a private flight, but instead she asked him to just give the difference to their philanthropies instead of blowing in on her. In her mind, it seemed unethical to spend her days toiling in rural northern areas of South Africa ensuring there was proper medical for low-income families, but then having a car pick up her up and drive her back to her luxurious apartment furnished by her husband’s wealth. The plane ride had felt no different, so she said no and slummed it business class on the same plane as everyone else.

After all that, however, she felt like an old man being brought back from the grave by the fountain of youth. Rejuvenated by the ambiance alone, the time lying on the massage table was just as refreshing as a good night’s sleep. Then, things began to get interesting. Following the staff to a new room, both Lizzie and Isabella were cocooned into long draping seaweed leaves brushed with essential oils and other fine exfoliants for their skin. The women quickly swaddled them up in the plant life, and put on the finishing touches for their faces before stepping out to let them dry in peace.

            Seaweed wrapped around her body and little patches cooling the skin around her eyes, Isabella felt a bit vulnerable. She felt the same way when she closed her eyes in the shower. Someone could easily kill her in this moment, but Elizabeth sighed softly and got Bella out of her head. Sitting in the quiet room alone together with their skin wrapped up, Isabella felt antsy to hear something other than piano and whale sounds. Thankfully, Lizzie broke the silence.