___
Rebecca’s
Cove
“That’s incredible. I had no idea.” Baylor smirked. “More Ana Lia magic?”
Evelyn chuckled and held her hands up in a “who knows” gesture.
Baylor couldn’t imagine the pain she knew would follow should anything happen to Hobie. “Weren’t you angry about any of it? Mad that she was taken away from you?”
“Those twenty years we always considered a gift from Ana Lia. How could I be angry when we were given so much more time than we expected?”
“It was you—the two of you, wasn’t it?” “Hmm?” Evelyn turned from her introspection.
“You and Aimee. The stars came together fifty years ago for the two of you, didn’t they?”
“Yes, it was us, all right. I meant it when I told you that I understood what you were going through. Aimee had to practically drag me kicking and screaming to our ceremony. I’m more like you than you know, dear heart.” Evelyn winked.
“I suppose I should have known.” Baylor shook her head and smiled. “You know, I’m going to want to hear about it all. Actually, I want to hear about a lot of your life, Tanti. It’s my own fault, but I feel like I’ve missed most of it.”
“Agreed. We’ll have our time, but you have other things to do tonight.”
“You’re right. It’s getting late, too. Do you want me to take you home?”
“On your wedding night? No, I’m staying here with Rebecca. Did you set everything up like you wanted for you and Hobie?”
“Yeah.” Baylor grinned. “I’m glad I found out she likes your tropical atrium at the hospital so much.”
“She’ll be very pleased. I know it.”
Baylor stood and stretched her legs. “I better mingle or folks are gonna think I’m antisocial. Besides, I saw Hobie giving me that ‘why are you hiding in the corner’ look.”
“I think I’ll sit here and listen to the waves a little longer.” “You sure?”
“Absolutely. Go on now.”
___
LJ
Maas
Baylor started to walk away, then stopped abruptly. She turned to face her grandmother again. “I’m glad I could finally do something to make you proud of me, Tanti.”
Evelyn reached out and squeezed Baylor’s hand. “Baylor Joan, I may not have always been proud of the things you did, but I have always been proud of you.”
Baylor, her eyes full of tears, bent at the waist and gently kissed Evelyn’s cheek. She couldn’t speak for fear of breaking down completely.
“I didn’t mean to make you sad,” Evelyn said. “Not tonight of all nights.”
“Not sad, Tanti. Between you and Hobie, you make me feel better than I ever have. All my life, I’d been told that I was less than nothing, and now I find out that I was something all along.”
Baylor kissed her again and quickly walked away. She saw Hobie standing by one of the drink tables, pouring a glass of iced tea. Baylor slipped up behind her. “Hey there, beautiful.” She put an arm around Hobie’s waist. “Why don’t you run away with me?”
Hobie leaned against the tall body and chuckled. She rested one hand on Baylor’s arm. “Well, I am a married woman.”
“I bet she’s not half as good as I can be,” Baylor whispered into Hobie’s ear.
“Oh? Bold talk.”
“Trust me, I can back it up.”
There was a brief silence, then both women broke into laughter.
“I love you, Hobie.”
“Love you, too.” Hobie turned to share a gentle kiss with her new partner.
“I was halfway serious—about being ready to leave, that is,” Baylor said. “You about ready to go home?”
“More than ready. Wait a minute. Where do you mean when you say ‘home’?”
Baylor smiled. “I mean Tanti’s. She’s spending the night here and Jules is baby-sitting Noah at your place. I have something special arranged for us back at Tanti’s.”
___
Rebecca’s
Cove
“Well, you thought of everything.” “Somebody had to.”
“I was busy, you know.” Hobie defended herself. “I had to deliver a breech foal this afternoon. I was up to my armpits in places you don’t want to know about.”
“Oh, lovely. I have a nice romantic vision of you on our wedding day now.” Baylor laughed at Hobie’s serious expression. “I’m just teasing you, Doc. I know you had to work. Besides, Mrs. Fazzini already told me how you saved the life of their $200,000 mare, not to mention the baby horse.”
“Foal.”
“Yeah, whatever. Wait a minute, I thought baby horses were ponies.”
“Something else entirely. Don’t worry, you’ll learn all about animals soon.”
“Just be patient with me. We don’t get a lot of wildlife on Lake Shore Drive. Besides pigeons, I mean.”
“You enjoy giving me a hard time, don’t you?” Baylor’s smile reminded Hobie of her son’s hearty, childish grin.
“Yeah, I kinda do.”
“Just be careful, my dear, and remember what happened to the young lady from Niger.”
“Ooh, is that a threat?” Baylor grabbed Hobie tighter and moved to tickle her.
“That’s a promise, tough girl.” Hobie squirmed to elude Baylor’s wandering hands. “Okay, okay,” she laughed. “Uncle!”
It was at that moment that they looked up to see Juliana carrying a limp Noah in her arms.
“What happened?” Hobie rushed toward them.
Suddenly, Noah raised his head and opened one eye a bit. “Mom, don’t. I’m dead.” He then returned to his limp position in Juliana’s arms.
“Jules, what are you doing?” Baylor asked in an exasperated tone.
“We’re playing the part where the mummy carries his victim to the tomb,” Juliana said enthusiastically.
Baylor and Hobie exchanged a look.
___
LJ
Maas
“And I asked you to baby-sit him,” Baylor said to her friend. “Aw, Baylor, I don’t need no baby-sitter.” Noah rose up to
complain.
“Did I say baby-sitter? I meant buddy.” “Yeah.” Noah smiled and nodded. “Buddy.”
“Come here, you living dead thing you.” Baylor scooped Noah up. “Do you mind spending the night with Jules while your mom and I go someplace special?”
Noah shook his head. “Nope, Jules said married people go somewhere alone so they can do kissin’ and stuff.” His cheeks turned pink and he buried his face against Baylor’s shoulder.
Hobie hid her smile, but Baylor chuckled at Noah’s lovable innocence. He apparently got over his embarrassment in a hurry because his mind was already on a new thought.
“Can I stay up late tonight?” “It is late,” Hobie said. “Then more late?”
“More late, eh?” Hobie chuckled. “Well, it is sort of a holiday, so okay.”
“Yeah!”
“You go say goodbye to your grandma and Tanti. Okay, Bubba?” Baylor directed.
“’Kay,” Noah said before speeding off in the other direction. “Don’t worry, Jules. He’ll probably fall asleep as soon as he
gets home,” Hobie said.
“No worries, love. I don’t mind. After all, if I can live with Baylor, a six-year-old should be a breeze, right?”
“That’s very funny,” Baylor said. “How’d you like to sleep next to the pool for the rest of your visit?”
“I guess that’s my cue to go and collect my charge for the evening. Have fun you two. As a matter of fact—”