Free Class Reunion by Linda Hill Page B

do with that shit-eating grin plastered all over Sheila’s face today.”
    Stone-faced, Jennifer glanced at the taller woman. “What do you mean?”
    “Look.” Diane stopped short, touching Jen’s shoulder lightly before slipping a pair of sunglasses from her nose and folding them slowly. “Don’t take this the wrong way. I don’t know what’s going on now, but I do know what went on before.” She frowned and tapped the sunglasses against the palm of one hand before placing them in the breast pocket of her shirt. “I think we should probably talk later. There are some things you probably should know.”
    “Like what?”
    “I’ll explain later. When there aren’t so many people around. Just be careful, okay?” She threw out the last words ominously before slipping a large leather mitt over her left hand and jogging out to right field.
    Jennifer set her jaw and took up her position at second base. A chill swept over her, and she shudŹdered. She wasn’t sure what Diane was alluding to, but she could guess. And she didn’t like the road her mind was taking. Christ. I haven’t had this much drama in my life since I lived here, she thought ironically.
    She’d managed to ignore Sheila’s voice and avoid her gaze since they’d arrived. Now she let her eyes wander over the crowd of spectators behind the backŹstop. Sheila was easy to spot. She sat in the second row and directed a lazy, knowing smile Jennifer’s way.
    Uneasy, Jen looked for Bobby in the opposing team’s dugout. Relief washed over her as she saw that he was oblivious to his wife’s attention as he slapped a friend’s back and guzzled a can of beer.
    Moments later, the first batter stepped into the box, and Jennifer’s mind and body slipped automatiŹcally into game mode. Funny how it all comes back so easily, she found herself thinking.
    Three outs later, she trotted off the field, thankful that she had survived the first inning without touchŹing the ball once. She glanced toward the picnic table where she’d left Heather and her sister, panic rising as she discovered that the table was empty. Her eyes scanned the crowded bleachers and quickly found Heather, just on the other side of the fence, smiling and waving her over.
    Jennifer stepped over to the fence, her fingers curling through the links automatically.
    “Where’s Sally?”
    “I hope you don’t mind. She thought it was time to get the kids home, and I offered to give you a ride later. Is that okay?” A shy, hopeful smile reached her eyes.
    “Of course. You don’t mind?” “Not at all.”
    She silently thanked her sister and wished that she’d never agreed to participate in the softball game. They continued to stare at each other awkwardly, the familiar giddiness pulling at Jennifer’s belly as she searched for something to say.
    “What about Amy?”
    “She went with your sister. I couldn’t drag her away from Allison.”
    Jennifer nodded, tongue-tied. Her already ragged emotions were working overtime. Surely the feelings she was having were terribly misplaced.
    She felt a hand curling about her waist at the same moment that Sheila’s perfume reached her nose.
    “Hey, sweetie.” Sheila’s voice was deeper than normal.
    Both women watched Jen. A small frown was on Heather’s lips, and a leering grin was on Sheila’s. Stammering, Jen tried to introduce them. Heather nodded coldly while Sheila insisted that she didn’t remember who Heather was.
    Jennifer grew visibly nervous and avoided both of their glances. Someone reminded her that she was batting next. As she bent to pick up a bat, she felt Bobby Grimes’s stare on the back of her head. Sure enough, when she glanced down the first base line, his eyes met hers. He looked like he was seething.
    She struck out. She wasn’t sure whether she was disappointed or glad as she grabbed her glove and trotted back onto the field.
    Her stomach knotted when Bobby stepped up to the plate, the first batter of the inning.