Recognition dawns, and I realize it’s Jill Kincaid, a woman Nina and I went to college with.
Nina’s eyes are wide, and she rubs at her chest. “I…I’m fine.” Her head drops, shaking back and forth. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to run into you. What are you doing here?”
“It’s absolutely fine,” Jill says, placing a hand on Nina’s shoulder. “It sounded like you were hurt, if anything.”
Nina does a good job at trying to hide the wince, but I see it.
She saw something when they touched.
“No. No…it was just static,” she says, taking a step back and disconnecting herself from Jill. “I hope I didn’t zap you too.”
Jill waves a hand in the air. “I’m fine. It was my fault we collided. I’m hardly paying attention. I’m just coming from pickleball and I’m rushing around.”
“Pickleball,” Nina says, nose wrinkling.
“Well…yes. It’s the thing to do in The Communes.”
“Hi, Jill,” I say, approaching the pair.
Jill’s eyes widen. “Oh my god, Alyssa. How are you?”
“Fine. What a shock to see you here,” I admit. “It’s been ages.”
She bobs her head. “It has. I’ve lived here for the last ten years. My husband retired and wanted to move south.” She shrugs nonchalantly. “This place is a wet dream.”
Nina snorts, mumbling, “That’s one way to put it.”
“What was that?” Jill asks, leaning forward.
My eyes are trained in on Nina, wondering what her comment was about. Thankfully, Jill doesn’t seem to have heard her words.
“Sorry, nothing. I just…I’ve gotta get going. Just saw the time and realized we have places to be.”
Jill nods her head, glancing down at her fitness watch. “Me too, actually. Are you two in town for a few days?”
“Yes,” I say, and Nina shoots me a look, suggesting I should’ve kept that to myself.
“Fabulous. You two must join me tomorrow on the pickleball courts.”
I always liked Jill, and some exercise would be good for me.
“I’m in,” I say, glancing to Nina.
She shrugs, offering a close-lipped smile. “Sure. Why not.”
“Wonderful. Meet me at Rockwood Center at eleven.”
“We’ll be there,” Nina says, and Jill leaps forward and pulls her into a hug. “We have a lot of catching up to do, missy.”
Nina’s entire body stiffens, but I can’t see her face.
“I want to hear all about your life. I’m sure it’s been fab,” Jill says, glancing toward me, and my hand flies to my throat. There’s a tightness there.
It’s clear she doesn’t know a thing about Richard.
“Oh…it’s been fab,” Nina says, pulling out of Jill’s grip. “See you tomorrow.” Nina turns toward me. “I’ll finish up here and meet you at the front in five.”
And with that, she’s rushing off, leaving me standing in the middle of aisle five with Jill staring at me like someone stole her candy.
