Page 88 of Between the Lines

“You figured right,” Randi said. “Because I’m furious. I saw it and so have other people, obviously. Someone already replied asking what she means. This is how rumors start.”

“I know,” Paige said calmly, although she hadn’t seen anyone responding to the comment. That had to have just happened. “And I haven’t deleted it because I want to see what she does next.”

“I don’t like this. This could cause problems. It might already be. You’re going to get more of these crazies now that your account is growing. Seriously, I would not let anything negative stay visible like that.”

“But if I delete it, I have a feeling she’ll just be back with something else. She seems relentless like that.” Paige began to second-guessing her choice to allow the comment to remain.

“Mom. You’re talking like you know this woman. Do you?”

“Yes. She’s the one I had the little run-in with at the fitness center. Didn’t I tell you about that?”

There was a sharp exhale on the other end. “No. Tell me everything.”

Paige hesitated, but there was no point in not telling Randi about the incident. The cat was out of the bag, so to speak. “Her name is Darcy Lane. She’s a new resident at the Colony.”

“And?”

“And she cornered me at the fitness center last week,” Paige said. “She was friendly enough at first. Then she implied she knows why my marriage really ended.”

Silence.

Randi finally spoke, more quietly now. “What do you mean, implied?”

“She didn’t exactly say it outright,” Paige said. “But she didn’t have to. It felt like she knew about your father. About the affair. About who he cheated with. She wanted me to know she knew.”

Randi swore under her breath. “How?”

“I don’t know,” Paige said honestly. “I’ve had some of my friends looking into her. I believe she was vague about things on purpose. It gives her leverage without committing to anything in black and white.”

“And you didn’t do anything else about her, after that confrontation in the fitness center?” Randi asked.

“What could I do,” Paige asked, “besides have my friends look into her? It felt like she was just trying to see how I’d react. I thought it would go away, since she got involved in something else here at the Colony. I should have known better.”

“I’d say so, because she obviously didn’t go away,” Randi said bitterly.

“I know,” Paige said softly. “I’m sorry.”

Randi was quiet again, then, “So why not delete it? Why leave it there for people to speculate?”

“Because if I delete it, she gets exactly what she wants,” Paige said. “A reaction. Proof she rattled me. And she’ll just escalate in a different way.”

“And what happens when more people see it and start asking questions?”

“Then she has to decide whether she’s actually willing to say something specific,” Paige said. “Right now, she’s hinting. That’s safe for her. The moment she makes a claim, she opens herself up to consequences. Legal consequences.”

Randi sighed. “I guess you’re right. But I still think you should delete it. You don’t need that kind of crazy in your life.”

“I don’t, you’re right,” Paige said. “But I live in the same community as she does. It’s not like I can delete the comment and she disappears. The good news is, I’ve got friends around me who know what’s going on. Maude. Cece. Blaise. Essie. Althea. I’m not alone.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Randi said. “I’m worried about your online persona being hurt. Or blindsided by whatever she might do next.”

Paige smiled faintly. “I’ve already been blindsided once in my life by your father. I survived it. I won’t let Darcy use that against me now.”

Randi didn’t answer right away. When she did, her voice was more resigned. “If she crosses a line, you tell me. Please. Right away.”

“I will,” Paige said. “I promise.”

“And if she tries to use what Dad⁠—”