Page 40 of Between the Lines

Paige adjusted the ring light by half an inch and checked the framing on her phone, then inspected the overall visual. Good light. Clean background. Beautiful new Chloe floral blouse that complimented her coloring. An older pair of gold Gucci hoops that caught the light every time she turned her head. Makeup and hair were perfect.

She smiled at her reflection. She looked good and there was no sign of stress on her face. She pressed Record using the remote hidden in her hand.

“Okay,” she said, keeping her tone warm and easy. Like she was talking to friends, because really, that’s what she was doing. “Let’s talk about reinvention myths for women over fifty. Because there are a few that refuse to die.”

She was halfway through her second point when her phone buzzed.

Paige didn’t break stride, despite the fact that she’d forgotten to put her phone on Do Not Disturb. She usually did that, but lately, because of the Queen Bees, she hadn’t been. She tried to stay focused so she didn’t have to do a retake. But when her phone buzzed again, her eyes flicked to the notification despite herself.

Incoming messages to the Queen Bees text group. She finished recording the first video, turned the camera off, and took her phone out of the tripod grip.

Maude had sent a text. I think Darcy’s organizing something. There’s a new group forming. Saw it on the Colony forum when I was researching her. It’s got a vague description and no name attached. Their first meeting is Thursday at the Community Hall. Same time as book club, which I don’t think is a coincidence.

Cece chimed in right after her. I don’t think it’s a coincidence either.

Paige reread the first message, her attention sharpening. She sat back on the edge of the seat. A new group, hosting at the Community Hall, but with no name attached? It felt like Darcy’s fingerprints were all over that, even without proof.

She typed out a response. That’s interesting timing to say the least.

A pause, then Blaise responded. What kind of group is it?

Essie added, Are we sure this is connected to Darcy? Could it be Gigi?

Althea was a little less forgiving. Nothing good ever starts with vague.

Paige let out a small breath and started typing again. We can’t be sure who’s behind it yet. But given what Maude and Cece are seeing, and given my run-in at the fitness center, I’d say Darcy could be involved in some way. Possibly it’s her project. Possibly with Gigi attached.

She hesitated, then added, For now, let’s just observe. No one do anything yet. It might be completely unrelated. But she didn’t think that at all.

Her phone buzzed almost immediately with another response from Maude. I’m already working on figuring out who booked the space.

Cece came in again. I’m on it from my end too.

Paige smiled faintly. She hadn’t even needed to ask and those two were digging in. If there were ever two women to have on a squad, it was those girls.

She silenced the notifications, stuck her phone back into the tripod grip, and turned the ring light on again. She needed to get Part Two of her new post done. The script she’d been following sat half-finished on her notebook.

Paige checked her reflection to be sure there wasn’t a hair out of place, then tapped Record again.

“As I was saying, reinvention doesn’t require permission. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do. Especially not in relation to your age.”

She spoke clearly and kept a smile on her face, the way she always did. Whatever Darcy Lane was up to with this new group at the Community Hall, Paige wasn’t going to pause her life, or her voice, because of it.

When she finished, she saved the video, then got to work editing both so she could get them posted. Soon, she’d be doing a video about her new partnership with Luminelle, and wouldn’t that be exciting?

Hmm. Should she do a teaser? Something vague meant to build excitement? She was already dressed and made up. She did a quick one, a very brief ten-second spot that hinted at exciting news coming soon. She posted it immediately.

Paige had a lot going on. She would not let Darcy derail her. If Darcy wanted a group, she could start her own, if that’s what she thought she needed to do.

Paige already had hers. The perk of Darcy’s group was it ought to keep Gigi busy, too.

She tweaked a few things on the videos, added a gentle filter that softened everything just a smidge, then got Part One uploading. She scheduled Part Two to publish an hour later. Her phone buzzed in her hand while the second video was uploading.

Paige didn’t reach for it right away. She’d been sitting too long. She got up and stretched, rolling her shoulders. She refilled her ice water, took a sip, then returned to where she’d been sitting and picked up the phone.

The Queen Bees thread had lit up again, with Cece leading the way. Okay. I have something.

Paige braced herself and read the messages that had come in.