Despite Nina's attempt to avoid interaction by turning away, Lindsay moved closer and stepped to Nina’s right, greeting Nina with a beaming, overly friendly, and strangely unsettling smile. Nina pulled one of her earphones out of her ears. She couldn’t quite put her finger on why, but she felt a nagging sense that something about Lindsay was off. Nina didn’t know her from Adam and despite what Birdie had said, Lindsay seemed pleasant enough on the surface. There was a little voice and red flag popping up for Nina, though, and she sensed an underlying unease as she looked in Lindsay’s direction. Trying to maintain a distant demeanour, Nina responded briefly. ‘Hi.’
Lindsay seized the opportunity to chat. She beamed and turned her head to the side. ‘How are you? How funny that I keep bumping into you! What a coincidence to see you down here again.’
Nina didn’t want to get into a conversation. She made a little sound and shrugged her eyebrows a tiny bit. ‘Hmm.’
Lindsay smiled again and looked Nina up and down, taking in Nina’s black exercise leggings, crop top, and trainers. 'You look like you’re really fit.’ Lindsay gushed. ‘What a figure.’
The one red flag that had been waving in the back of Nina’s head turned into hundreds of them flapping madly right at the front of Nina’s brain. She wanted to get away but smiled and nodded. 'Yes. Well, not really. I do my best. I wouldn’t exactly call myself super fit, but it keeps me healthy.'
'It looks like you do more than your best to me. It looks like you’re on fire. Gosh, talk about inspiring!'
'I do try.’
Lindsay smiled and pointed to Nina’s headphones, clearly wanting to have a good chat. 'Do you listen to music for motivation? What’s your secret?'
Nina did not want to engage but felt as if she’d been backed into a corner. All she wanted to do was run over to her place,slam the door behind her, and get away from this woman with the creepy aura, awful flowery-patterned, ill-fitting dress and overly friendly smile. 'I don’t listen to music as such. I use an app for motivation.'
'Oh, wow, right. That’s how you do it, is it? It must be the answer! What kind of app is that? I could have a go.'
Nina pretended she couldn’t remember what the app was called. It wasn’t that she’d forgotten, just that she didn’t want to engage any more than she had to. 'I’m not sure. Actually, it’s some... I can’t remember the name of it.'
'Maybe I could have a go at something like that. I might end up looking as good as you do if I’m lucky!' Lindsay gushed. 'Where do you run?'
Nina wasn’t happy about the questions, and she definitely wasn’t going to be telling Lindsay where she ran. 'Oh, just, you know, all around here. If I’m feeling ambitious, I go up the hill to the church and back and by the water.’ She immediately regretted telling Lindsay anything.
'Any particular tracks you take? Any recommendations for a good place to run?' Lindsay jumped in quickly and raised her eyebrows in question.
'No, no, you know, just anywhere. No specific route or anything.'
'How about the path down there beside the river? A lot of people run and walk there. Do you?'
Nina shook her head and lied, 'No. I don’t.' She absolutelydiduse the path along the side of the river often, as many Lovelies did, but there was no way that she was going to tell this Lindsay that she used the path most mornings.
Lindsay continued in the same manner. 'I’ve always wanted to try running. It seems like you’ve got it all worked out. The thing is, I’ve always needed someone to show me the ropes, you know?' She left her sentence open.
It was clear that Lindsay wanted Nina to invite her to go for a run with her. There was no way Nina was doing that. She got all the wrong vibes from this strange woman and relished the time on her own when she went out to run. ‘You just have to put one foot in front of the other. That’s it really.’ Nina turned and made as if to go.
Lindsay was having none of it. ‘Actually, I was wondering if I might bump into you again. You have an organising business, don’t you? What was it called again?’
Nina was taken aback and wrong-footed at the abrupt change in topic and the direct question. She was suspicious but also cornered. ‘I do.’
Lindsay continued. 'So, how long have you had the business?'
'Oh, not that long.'
'Have you done well with it?' Lindsay asked.
Nina nodded. 'Yes, I have, thanks. Look, sorry, Ireallydo have to get on. I’ve got loads to do.'
Lindsay smiled. 'Of course, sorry to keep you. I just thought it might be good to chat as soon as I spotted you. I’ve got a lot of decluttering to get done, so I thought I would stop you and have a word if I saw you.’
‘Right.’
‘Yes, sorry, I know you must be really busy with buying the property and getting married and all.'
Nina winced inside. This woman knew far too much about her. How did she know that she was getting married? The Lovely Bay grapevine had obviously told her. There was no way she was going to say anything; she just wanted to get away. ‘I am busy, yep.’
Lindsay continued, not taking the hint at all. ‘Do you think I could get a quote?’
