“If I’d ever thought you didn’t know, Baylor, I would have surely told you. Some things about me never seemed to interest you. Like my being a Wiccan, for example.”
“You’re a witch?” Baylor’s voice rose considerably. “I think they prefer the term ‘Wiccan,’” Hobie said.
“You knew about this? Are you one, too?” Baylor asked with a suspicious glance.
___
LJ
Maas
“Don’t be silly. Of course I’m not,” Hobie said. “Some of the...well, older women on the island are.”
“I’m afraid it very nearly is just us old women anymore, Hobie Lynn. Your mother is probably the youngest member of the Ladies Guild.”
“My mother?” Hobie stood alongside Baylor at this point. “That’s what the Ladies Guild is, and my mother is a...a... witch?”
“I thought you said they liked to be called Wiccans,” Baylor said smugly.
“That’s before I knew my mother was one of them,” Hobie shot back. “I think I need to sit.” An expression like amazement fixed itself upon her face. “I don’t understand. I mean, I’ve heard rumors, but—”
“Hobie, I’m sure it’s not what you think. Tell her, Tanti.” Baylor looked to her grandmother for support. “I mean,” she looked at Hobie, “it’s not like they dance naked under the moon or anything.” She laughed.
“As a matter of fact, we do, dear,” Evelyn said. “But only once a year. It’s more tradition than anything else.”
“I think I’m losing my mind,” Hobie said.
“Welcome to my world.” Baylor rested a reassuring hand on Hobie’s shoulder.
“You girls act as if I’ve lost my mind. Hobie Lynn, these practices have gone on for more years than I’ve been on this island. There’s nothing to be afraid of or worried about. Most of the younger women on the island think we’re just a bunch of loony old women, but we’re harmless. We never hurt anyone and we don’t share our views with anyone but the most open-minded. Just the thought of witches living on the same block does frighten some.” Evelyn whispered the last sentence.
Hobie looked up at the kindly old woman and instantly felt guilty. She had done what people had been doing to her all her life—judged. “I’m sorry, Evelyn. I shouldn’t have sounded so disapproving. I had no right.”
Evelyn reached out to squeeze Hobie’s hand. “Being different comes with a price. I think we all know that. Eh?” She looked up
___
Rebecca’s
Cove
at Baylor.
“I guess we should know most of all,” Baylor admitted with a wry grin.
“Baylor, I wonder if you could get me some water,” Evelyn said.
“Sure, Tanti.” Baylor reached for the pitcher on the bedside table.
“No, dear, that water isn’t any good.” Baylor eyed the plastic pitcher. “No good?”
“The best water is in the vending machine in the lobby, just near the entrance.”
“All the way over there?” Baylor raised her voice. “I suppose I could call a nurse to take me over...”
“No, no. I can get it. Anything else you want? Like some unsalted Brazil nuts that I need to go to Brazil for?”
Hobie slapped her playfully on the thigh. Baylor grinned down at her and Evelyn looked on, certain she had never seen her granddaughter quite this happy before.
“Okay. Hobie, want anything?” “No, I’m good.”
“I don’t suppose you have a broom I can use to just fly over there, do you?” Baylor grinned at her grandmother. Evelyn arched an eyebrow.
“Okay, okay, sorry. Geez, can’t anyone take a joke anymore?”
As soon as Baylor left the room, Evelyn laughed and reached for Hobie’s hand. “Tell me everything.”
“What?” Hobie asked with a confused chuckle. “You and Baylor.”
“I have no idea what you mean.”
“Hobie Lynn, I know that Baylor likes to hide her emotions, but that’s never been quite like you. Now am I right about the two of you?”
“Yes, Evelyn,” Hobie said. “You’re right.” “Well then, tell me all the juicy details.”
Hobie laughed. “There are no juicy bits to talk about yet, and even if I had some, I don’t think I’d feel entirely comfortable
___
LJ
Maas
talking to Baylor’s grandmother about our sex life.”
“Such a spoilsport,” Evelyn teased. “I can’t tell you how happy I am for you both. You deserve this, a love that will last a lifetime.”
“I’d like to think it will last a lifetime, Evelyn, but as to deserving it, that’s debatable.”
“You’re not still worried about that, are you?”
“Evelyn, I haven’t told Baylor. I should have before because now it’s too late. She’ll be so angry. I just don’t know how to handle it.”
“Honestly, it’s not as if it wasn’t an accident.”
“You know how paranoid Baylor can be. She’s certain to think the worst, something terrible, like there’s some sort of conspiracy behind it all.”
“I honestly don’t see why she would be that upset,” Evelyn protested. “I think you should just come right out and tell her. She’ll understand it coming from you.”
“Oh, you think that, do you? And just how am I supposed to phrase it? ‘Oh, Baylor, has your grandmother told you how she ended up breaking her hip? No? Well, let me be the first to say that I ran her over with my pickup at the very same intersection I hit you! Small world, huh?’”
Hobie looked up into Evelyn’s face and noticed her stricken expression. She didn’t understand until she realized that Evelyn was looking past her. She turned, but she knew what she would see. Baylor was standing in the open door staring, open-mouthed, at them.
“Oh, God,” Hobie breathed.
“Was that supposed to be a joke?” Baylor walked slowly into the room and deposited two bottles of water onto the bedside stand.
“Now, Baylor...” Evelyn paused, uncertain what to say next. She wanted to make a joke, say something light to break up the stormy expression growing on Baylor’s face. That look stopped her, however.
“I don’t believe it. Tell me it’s not true. Hobie, I can’t believe you would hide something like this from me.”
___
Rebecca’s
Cove
“Now, Baylor—” Hobie began.
“Will you both quit saying ‘now, Baylor’?”
“Well, it’s just that we can see you’re getting upset—” “Then you’re both goddamn clairvoyant!” Baylor shouted.
“You’re damn right I’m getting upset. I can’t believe that you purposely hid this information from me.”
“Baylor, stop. It was me who told Hobie not to say anything.”
“No, Tanti, don’t try to cover for her.”
“Cover for me?” Hobie’s voice rose about two octaves. “I’ll have you know that I don’t need your grandmother to take the fall for me.”
“Oh, yeah? Who usually does it?” Baylor shot back. There was one moment, one brief moment, when she had thought that perhaps calming down and listening to reason would be a smart thing. That point had passed her by about twenty seconds earlier. Now Baylor only had one thought: Hobie Lynn had purposely deceived her. Of course, in Baylor’s mind, the infraction grew quickly from simple deception to betrayal. Perhaps it was her past, her natural mistrust, or the fact that her temper could strike faster than lightning. Whatever the reason was, it took a matter of seconds to transform Hobie from lover to enemy.