Free Forever Beach by Shelley Noble

pulled the second ball out of her pocket; she hadn’t thought she’d need it. Let it fly; the serve was softer, not as powerful. Not as much fun. But it did the trick. Garrett Dunne managed to return it, barely, and she whizzed a passing shot right past his ear. All he could do was grumble.
    â€œMan, you’re vicious today,” he said, dropping onto the bench where their tennis bags and water bottles were stored.
    Ilona laughed. “You’re just getting soft. All that politicking to make district attorney.”
    â€œI’m in shape.” He rubbed his face with a pristine white towel and tossed it on his bag. “What say we clean up and meet in the club bar for a drink?”
    Ilona looked at her watch. It was a habit not a ploy. She had nothing to do tonight but go home and read some briefs.
    â€œSure, a quick one.”
    â€œOr two.”
    â€œOne, I have work at home. Twenty minutes?”
    â€œDo you ever take time off?” Garrett asked.
    â€œOf course, I’m taking time off now.”
    It didn’t take Ilona twenty minutes to look her after-tennis best. It was one of the many things she’d learned from her parents. Always look your best. No holey socks for Ilona Cartwright. No shirttails sticking out. The message was clear. Don’t let anyone see who you really are.
    She walked out of the women’s locker room, showered, refreshed, hair just as relaxed and straight as when she’d stepped into the shower. Was she a little overdressed for tennis? White linen slacks, silk tee. Not at all. She hadn’t joined the most prestigious country club in the county to dress like a slob.
    But she also made sure it didn’t look like she tried too hard. Being one of the few black women members, even with skin as light as hers, she made a point of being casually perfect.
    Ilona beat Garrett to the bar and took a table on the veranda where there was a hint of a breeze and shelter from the worst of the sun.
    She saw a few people she knew. None of whom she really cared about seeing. If they wanted to say hello, they would wander over sooner or later. She shoved away the little niggle of doubt she’d never been able to completely erase. That one day, they might snub her, deride her, might see her for what she really was.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Dear Sarah,
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  I thought it was going to be nice here. It’s beautiful and has a big yard, and a swimming pool and everything. But it isn’t very nice. I don’t think they’d like you. I’m pretty sure they don’t like me.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Remember that movie we saw where the aliens had taken over all the women in town. That was funny. Remember. We laughed till we almost pissed ourselves. But I have to remember not to say words like piss. Well, it isn’t funny. I think Mrs. Cartwright is one of them.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  She tells me to call her Mom.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  I call her Mother instead. She just smiles and it scares me. They don’t do anything mean to me. Mostly they don’t even pay that much attention to me except to tell me what to do and how to act, especially “in public.”
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  And I do it. Because I’ve been to places before and I don’t want to go back. I hope you don’t end up in one of those places. The kind where they tell you how to act and then they hurt you. The Cartwrights don’t hurt me, not in any way you can tell. Only in my heart, but nobody can see that.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  And it is cushy living here. I just wished they’d love me.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  I