“Do not do this, Baylor. You said this morning that you could handle this.”
“I lied! You of all people should know what a compulsive liar I am.”
Juliana and Baylor faced off. Baylor was a good three inches taller, but Juliana stood her ground. She knew her best friend would never really hurt her, though she wouldn’t have been able to tell by the smoldering gaze now leveled at her.
“You want me to stay home?” Juliana asked. “Yes.”
“Then tell her.”
A moment’s silence passed while they glared at each other. “I just need a little more time.”
“For what? So you can get drunk again and actually throw up on her this time?”
“The time has to be right.”
“Unless the time becomes right in the next five minutes, fork over the keys because I’m going out to dinner with her.”
“You are evil, you know that?”
“Jesus Christ, Baylor, you are driving me out of my mind! I’m tired of babying you through this. Either act like an adult or step aside.”
“Fine, just fine, but I’ll drive over there with you. Try going on a date in that zoo-mobile she drives.”
“You can be such a git sometimes,” Juliana said in exasperation. “Fine, let’s go.”
Juliana focused on the road during the short drive to Hobie’s house. The women said little to each other, and Juliana hoped it was all worth it. She had placed a quick phone call to Evelyn earlier while Baylor was in the shower. Evelyn had told Juliana that even though Baylor—and their friendship—appeared to be suffering greatly, Juliana should do exactly what she had been doing. It was hard, though; she didn’t like to see her friend hurting. Even so, there was another part of her that had to struggle not to kick Baylor in the head for her infantile behavior.
When they pulled up in front of the house, they found Noah playing on the front lawn.
“Baylor!” He ran up to Baylor and dove into her arms. “Are you and me goin’ out on a date, too?”
Baylor laughed in spite of herself. Noah had a way of pulling her out of her funk with his infectious enthusiasm for life. “I don’t know about that, Bubba. Where’s your mom?”
“She’s getting dressed. Hi, Jules.” “Hey there, Noah.”
Noah showed Juliana his new bicycle and explained that he planned to have the training wheels removed as soon as he could ride it on two wheels. Juliana paid close attention as he took her around the yard. He explained all his favorite toys and play spots. She smiled as he spoke about Baylor and what good friends they were.
Baylor, in the meantime, took the opportunity to slip inside the house. All she wanted was a few moments alone with Hobie. Perhaps in that time, she could find a way to open up to her.
There was no one else in the medium-sized guesthouse, but Baylor heard a familiar voice coming from the back. She silently made her way there and listened outside the door.
“Definitely not this dress. I look like I’m asking for something,” Hobie said to her reflection. It was the third outfit she’d tried on in the last half-hour.
Part of Hobie approached the evening with trepidation, mostly because she wished it had been Baylor who had asked her out. The disheartening fact was that Hobie was falling for Baylor a little more each day, and Baylor had yet to show any real interest in Hobie. Why doesn’t she say anything? Yeah, right, like you’re so much better. But what if she doesn’t feel the same? The only conclusion was that Baylor wasn’t interested in Hobie, at least not anything long term.
Hobie’s other half was genuinely looking forward to her night out. It had been a long time since she’d sat across from an intelligent woman, especially one who looked as good as Juliana Ross. She was everything any woman could want in a potential partner. In Hobie’s opinion, there was only one thing wrong with Juliana. She wasn’t Baylor.
Hobie finally settled on a pale green tank top and cream-colored slacks with a matching jacket to wear inside the restaurant. She casually tossed the jacket over one shoulder and pulled the bedroom door open, nearly screaming as Baylor came tumbling through her bedroom door. “What in the hell?”
“Hi there.” Baylor waggled her fingers from her prone position. “I bet you’re wondering why I’m here.”
“What I’m wondering is how I can shoot you for trespassing and not go to jail!”
“Okay, you’re angry, I can understand how seeing me outside your bedroom door might do that.” Baylor appeared to be struggling for a way out of the mess in which she now found herself.
Hobie took a deep breath and closed her eyes. How did the woman she had so many good feelings for always make her angry enough to want to inflict bodily harm on her?
“I am going to pretend that there is a good reason for this.” Hobie took another cleansing breath and opened her eyes. “I can’t talk to you while you’re lying there. Get up.”
Baylor held a hand out and Hobie folded her arms across her chest. “Okay, I can see we’re still a teensy bit angry,” Baylor said as she rose. “Look, Hobie, this is going to take a little bit of faith on your part—”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“Okay, just a little more faith than that.”
“God Almighty, Baylor, I don’t know what to do about you anymore.”
“I’m sorry, and if you knew me half as well as Jules, you’d know that I don’t apologize to anyone.”
Hobie’s anger melted away as quickly as it had appeared. The expression on Baylor’s face was one of a kind. Hobie was afraid that she was about to cry.
“It’s okay,” she said hurriedly. “I mean there’s no real damage done, right?” She caught herself and suddenly wondered why she was being so apologetic. “Look, what are you doing here anyway?”
“Oh, um, it’s such a nice night that I thought I’d go for a walk, get some exercise. Jules gave me a ride. She’s in the yard with Noah.”
“Oh.” Hobie had almost hoped it was for a more personal reason. “Did you, um, did you remember what it was that you wanted to say to me last night?” she asked as she shifted her feet nervously.
“Did I—” Baylor swallowed so hard it made an audible sound. “Remember? Uh, well, it’s like this...” Her mouth felt like the Sahara, she had pains in her chest, and she had the overwhelming urge to vomit. She raised her hand to run her fingers through her hair, but her hand was shaking so badly that she shoved it into her pocket instead.
“Did you remember?” Hobie pressed.
Baylor concentrated on breathing out and breathing in. She was absolutely certain that if she didn’t focus on that particular act, she would pass out. She could feel the room shrinking as Hobie waited for an answer. Finally, she looked into Hobie’s clear green eyes and realized that if the rest of her life was to hold any meaning at all, she had to bite the bullet and say the words.
“Hobie I-I...no, I don’t remember.”
“You look pretty, Mom.” Noah rushed into the house, followed by Juliana.
“I second that,” Juliana added. “I wondered where you went off to,” she whispered to Baylor. She could tell by their expressions that Baylor hadn’t told Hobie. “I guess we better be off, eh?”
“I guess so.” Hobie directed a longing look at Baylor’s. Baylor, you clueless jerk, you, Juliana thought silently. Sorry, mate, but you’re gonna pay for your silence this time.
“Come on, we can walk Noah up to my mom’s place on our way out,” Hobie said.
The three women had a short yet silent walk to the main house. Had they been privy to one another’s thoughts, it would have been quite enlightening, considering they were all thinking the same thing.
“What in the world?” Hobie pulled a note down that appeared to have been hastily tacked on the back door. “Great!” She waved the note at Juliana. “Mom had to run out. All she says is ‘be back soon.’”