Page 14 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

I could tell she meant it.

"So..." she continued. "What do you do?"

"I'm an emergency room nurse." Her face lit up with excitement.

"Oh, thank God." I blinked in surprise.

"What?"

"We have everything in this neighborhood except healthcare, literally."

She laughed.

"I'm a pediatric dentist. Jade's an attorney. Nia plans weddings. Simone's an influencer and owns a boutique downtown. Camille does interior design; she really is the stay-at-home wife. Miss Evelyn is retired, but she basically runs all of us."

"Runs you?"

"You'll see."

I was just about to ask what she meant when a white Range Rover pulled into the driveway across the street.

Music floated out from the open windows. The driver stepped out, wearing oversized sunglasses, white linen shorts, and a bright lemon-yellow blouse. People here must really love lemons. She balanced shopping bags on one arm and noticed us immediately.

"There she is!"

She nearly skipped across the street.

"You didn't tell me she was gorgeous." Tasha rolled her eyes.

"Nia..."

"What?"

"You say that about everybody."

"Because everyone in this neighborhood moisturizes, okay!" She reached out her hand to me.

"I'm Nia."

"Maci."

"I've been dying to meet you."

"Dying?"

"Figure of speech."

She pushed her sunglasses down her nose.

"We've had bets going."

"Bets?"

"Not gambling."

Tasha shot her a look.

"It wasn't gambling."