Jane shook her head. “She gave me a big hug goodbye. As though we wouldn’t see each other for years to come. Or maybe I looked like I really needed it.”

“She was marking her territory,” Annie said.

Jane chuckled. “Kind of sweet in a way, I guess.” She walked over to where Annie was sitting and plopped down next to her.

“In a way.” This reminded Annie of all the times, seven years ago, she had wanted to knock on Beth Walsh’s door and ask her what the hell she thought she was doing. Then she caught herself comparing again—and thinking about things she should long have forgotten, or at the very least forgiven. “Thanks for coming to my rescue. I’m not sure what would have happened if you hadn’t come out of your office.”

“A sexy cat fight, I presume,” Jane said, painting a smile on her face. “The sounds of which would surely have dragged me out.”

Did this joke mean Jane was ready to have a laugh about this? Or was it just the absurd situation of having Sheryl in their living room pretending to need that book that warranted a chuckle between them?

“Thank goodness Sheryl is an academic. She doesn’t really strike me as the fighting type.” Annie wondered if Kristin knew her partner had paid her a visit.

“I’m not so sure of that.” Jane smiled wider. “Furthermore, I can really picture the two of you engaged in a slippery oil wrestling match. I don’t think Sheryl would say no to that.”

Annie finally managed a chuckle. She was the one not ready to laugh at this. In the end, a good giggle was the only action that could take away the sting of humiliation that still seared through her. “She wouldn’t stand a chance if it came to that,” Annie said.

Jane drew her lips into a pensive pout.

“You’re picturing it, aren’t you?” Annie narrowed her eyes.

“But it’s actually harder than I first thought. It just doesn’t look… dignified for ladies of your age.”

“Dignified?” Annie huffed out. Nothing about this has ever been dignified. It was only after a beat that she caught Jane’s jibe at her age. “I thought you had a penchant for ladies of a certain age.” She brought her hand to Jane’s neck.

Jane leaned her head back, indicating she welcomed Annie’s touch. “Hm.” After a few minutes of silence, which Annie didn’t have the heart to fill, Jane asked, “How long do you think Kristin will have to stay away from her own shop? And how long until Mia starts asking questions? Obviously, Sheryl knows. Which makes me wonder who else does.”

Annie didn’t have the answers to any of these questions, even though she was the very reason for their existence at all.