Carole Price had her almost to the elevator when the doors opened and Simon Lawrence stepped out. .She knew him right away from his pictures in the magazine articles and books. He was dressed in jeans with the sleeves of his plain blue workshirt rolled up, but there was something polished and elegant about the way he held himself as he stepped out of the lift and smiled at her.
He held out his hands. “Here, here, what’s this’ Carole, where are you taking her.”” She just got here. I haven’t even met her yet. Is everything all right?”
“She’s feeling a little queasy, that’s all,” Carole replied, slowing. “I was taking her up for some air.”
Simon Lawrence soak Nest’s hands in his own and held them. “Well, we cant Stave you getting sick.” he said. “you go on upstairs, Nest, and we’ll talk later. I want you to know that I’m very pleased you’ve come to see us. I didn’t realize you were a friend of John’s, but I certainly know who you are.”
Everyone stared at them, confused. Simon Lawrence laughed. “You don’t recognize her, do you?” He shook his .head. “1 have got to get you out of the office more, all of you. Or at least reading the papers about something besides the homeless once in a while. Ray, I’m especially disappointed in your.” He squeezed Nest’s hands. “This young lady is the best college distance runner in the nation-maybe in the world. She’s been written up in any number of articles as the next Mary Decker Slaney – except that Nest isn’t going to fall when she runs in the next Olympics, are you, Nest? You’re going to win.”
Nest knew she was expected to say something, but she couldn’t think of what it should be. Finally she said, “It’s a long way off yet.”
Simon Lawrence laughed and released her hand. “Good point, young lady. We shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. But you’ll do fine, I know. Its very nice to meet you. Now you go on up with Carole, and I’ll see you later.”
He walked past Nest with a smile, already back to kidding Ray Hapgood about his failure to recognize Nest Freemark when he was such an avid sports fan. Stefanie Winslow was on her feet, grinning and joking, as well. Nest stepped into the elevator with Carole Price and let the doors close behind them.
She rode back up to the ground floor with something approaching panic, but she made it down the hall past a wondering Dells Jenkins and out the front door, where she stood with Carole holding on to her while she took huge gulps of fresh air in an effort to steady herself. The deep breathing seemed to work. The nausea and headache went away. Her uneasiness lingered, but gradually it began to lessen. Her insides quit churning, and the whispers and buzzing receded into the sounds of the city shout her.
Are you feeling better?” Carole asked her after a few minutes.
Nest nodded. “I am, thanks. Much better.” She straightened, gently freeing herself from Carole’s proprietorial grip. She tried out a fresh smile. “I didn’t come here to bet underfoot. I know you must have work to do, and fm fine now. I”11 just wait out here for John. Maybe I’ll come back inside in a few minutes.”
Carole seemed uncertain, but Nest reassured her, and the other woman left her alone. Nest leaned .against the wall of the building and stared out at the people and traffic, trying to make sense of what had happened. .She could not account for it. This odd uneasiness was an entirely new experience. It was like having a sudden bout of flu coupled with a good scare. It didn’t make any sense. The feeling had started when she entered the building and talked with the people who worked there. Was it something connected with that? Was it her magic, reacting to something.” If so, her magic was taking a new direction; it hadn’t ever done anything like this before.
She whispered Ariel’s name as she stood with her back against the building wall, thinking that the tatterdemalion might appear and reveal to her the source of her discomfort. But Ariel stayed hidden.