LJ Maas - Rebecca’s Cove

“Huh.”

“Next, the Devil.”

“Now that sounds more like me.” BJ grinned at Rebecca. “The Devil isn’t so much a person we can blame, but rather

the hell and suffering we create in our life. There is an old saying, ‘we make our own devils.’ Most people don’t want to take responsibility for their life by saying they are where they are because of themselves. It’s easier to say ‘the devil made me do it.’ That way, they release themselves of any responsibility.

“Some of these cards depict the devil in ropes or chains. You have drawn a card with an image that is free of such bindings. This expresses an ability to escape your hell, to break away from the negativity. We make our own demons. We can destroy them, too.”

BJ found herself asking a question to which she feared the answer. “Do you believe they can be destroyed, Mrs. Ashby? Can it be that simple?”

“Don’t confuse simplicity with ease. Yes, I believe it’s that simple, and no, it is never easy.”

BJ and Rebecca stared at each other. BJ felt there were more questions to ask, but she couldn’t think of them.

“Let’s see what’s next. The Hermit. How appropriate for a loner such as you,” Rebecca said.

BJ didn’t think to ask how Rebecca knew that. She had tried to tell herself that she lived that life because she was having too much fun to commit, but besides some great sex and fun times, she never had much fun. “So why is this guy so fitting for me?”

“The Hermit represents two factors: solitude and a search for the truth. You see, Baylor, you must travel alone when searching for the truth. It’s one of those tasks only you can do. You can certainly surround yourself with those you love as support, but ultimately, it’s up to you to find the key to unlock that door.”

BJ looked up sharply. This was the third time since her arrival on Ana Lia that she had heard or read about the key to happiness. She looked down at the last card in her future. “The Lovers. I kind of like the sound of that.”

“As with most of these cards, the Lovers are not literally a string of lovers that will make their way to your bed. Instead, they represent lessons you will learn through love—and that includes loving yourself, which is the most important lesson we can learn. If we can do that, how can others not love us, as well?”

BJ became silent, thinking of all Rebecca had told her. She looked up at the mantel clock above the fireplace. “I had no idea it was so late. I’ve been here for hours. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to monopolize your time.”

“Not at all. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and I do hope you don’t mind the small diversion.” Rebecca indicated the cards.

“Not at all. I don’t go in much for that sort of thing, but this was interesting.”

“I do hope you’ll come back and see me again. I don’t get out much. I have a hip that troubles me some in this humidity. I hear that you’ve become friends with our Hobie Lynn. Perhaps you’ll bring her to tea some afternoon.”

“I’d love to talk with you again.” BJ smiled. “Hobie and I do seem to keep running into each other.” She wasn’t sure how much to explain. “But to say we’re friends might be pushing it a tad.”

“Well, you two appear to get on so well. I’m sure the longer you stay in Ana Lia, the more you’ll get to know each other.”

“Yes, well...I’m not sure I anticipate staying on the island too much longer. Tanti’s doctor said she was almost ready to come home. Since I’m not able to care for her with my leg the way it is, I thought I’d just hire someone to take care of the place and Tanti.”

“Let me say that you will be sorely missed here, by more people than you know.”

Once BJ was safely on her way, Rebecca sat at her kitchen table and picked up the cordless telephone. She still looked at the object as though it were something foreign, but she had to admit that some changes in life were good—not all, but some. She dialed and waited.

“Hello, Sarah Jane, how is your mother? Yes, I’m so glad you still recognize this old voice. Is Evie awake this afternoon? I wonder if you wouldn’t mind checking for me, dear.” Rebecca waited on the line for a few moments.

“She is? Marvelous...would you mind? Thank you, and be sure to tell your mother I said hello.” She listened to the canned music and began to hum “The Girl from Ipanema” as Evelyn Warren picked up the line.

“Evie! How are you, gal? You’ll never believe who I just spent the afternoon with...Oh, well, you think you’re so smart.” Rebecca chuckled at her friend’s laughter on the other end of the line. “Yes, my dear, it’s precisely as you said. We have more important things to worry about right now, though.” Rebecca repeated BJ’s parting words.

“Yes, I know. Everything will be ruined if she leaves now. Evie, we must come up with a way to keep Baylor on this island for a little longer.”

Fatigue caught up with BJ, and as luck would have it, she was close to the bakery. She remembered Mack’s offer of a ride and glanced at her watch. Another twenty minutes and he would drive by. The tantalizing odors from the bakery drew BJ inside and she purchased a couple of pieces of fudge. Once outside, she spied the bench and made her way across the street.

She never thought twice about waiting for the light, even though there was absolutely no traffic on Main Street. If she was aware at all that this was a change in her normal behavior, she gave no outward sign.

BJ arrived at the bench to find a boy occupying one end. “Mind if I grab some lumber, kid?”

The spiky blond-haired boy looked up from the coloring book. He wore round, wire-framed glasses that he frequently pushed up with one finger. Holding a small nub of crayon aloft, he looked her up and down with a wary eye. “My mom says I shouldn’t talk to strangers.”

BJ grinned. The boy had an almost indiscernible lisp that made him adorable, not that BJ was partial to children in any way. “Fair enough. I won’t talk to you then, but I’ll take a seat right here. Okay, kid?”

“My mom says learnin’ to share is good. S’okay.”

BJ stretched out her legs and rested her arms along the back of the bench. The youngster went back to coloring a map of the United States. “Hot out, huh, kid?”

“My mom says it’s not polite to call someone ‘kid.’”

BJ popped a piece of fudge into her mouth. The Florida heat had quickly turned the treat into warm brown goop. She held out the other piece in one hand. “Wan thum?” she mumbled.

“My mom says it’s not polite to talk with your mouth full.” BJ rolled her eyes, yet continued to hold the treat aloft. She knew he wanted it.

“Mom says I should never take candy from a stranger.” “Your mom’s got a lot of rules, doesn’t she?”

“Kinda.” He pushed at his glasses, then smiled at BJ. The grin was the kind that showed off two even rows of perfectly white baby teeth. His smile fairly glowed and BJ knew this was one of them—a kid who was truly happy.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“What’s it to ya?” BJ answered with a wink.

The boy shrugged, smiled again, and resumed his coloring. His feet swung in the air and he appeared perfectly content.

“What’s your name?” BJ asked a moment later. “What’s it to ya?” he said without missing a beat. “Oh, a smart aleck, eh?”

The youngster giggled.

BJ didn’t understand the bond she had with children. The last time Juliana had physically dragged her home for Thanksgiving, she’d received the shock of her life. Searching the house for BJ, she eventually found her in the basement lying on her stomach, circled by a half-dozen children, playing Candy Land. BJ wasn’t more comfortable with the children than with adults; the children merely accepted her biting honesty and open criticism.

“My name’s BJ.”

“Noah.” The youngster held out his hand. BJ smiled and shook it.

“See, now we’re not strangers.” She held out the fudge and the boy quickly popped the gooey mess into his mouth.

“Whatcha up to this afternoon, Bubba?”

“My name’s Noah,” he said and BJ chuckled. “I’m waitin’for my mom. She’s in the drugstore.”

“Ah, Mom, the one with all the rules. How was that fudge?” “Real good, thanks! Mom says sugar’s not really bad, ’less you eat too much. Mom says—”

BJ held up a hand. “You sure your mom’s not the great and powerful wizard from Oz?”

“No.” Noah giggled in reaction. “There she is! Hi, Mom.” Noah stood on the bench and jumped up and down as his mother came into view. BJ could only watch in stunned amazement as she came closer and, finally, Noah wrapped his arms around her neck.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Hobie kissed her son’s cheek and returned his fierce hug. “I see you have a new friend.” She gave a smirk in BJ’s direction.

“I should have known,” BJ said with a wry smile. “So this is your mom, huh?”

“Yep.”

“I see you two have been sharing some chocolate,” Hobie said.

“How did you know that?” BJ asked. “Oh,” she said upon seeing Noah’s chocolate-covered chin.

Hobie wiped her son’s face with a Kleenex. “Well, him and then there’s...uh...” She handed a clean piece of tissue to BJ.

BJ frowned and wiped her mouth. “Thanks,” she muttered. She suddenly realized that the boy looked exactly like Hobie when he scrunched his turned-up nose and pushed his glasses up.

Hobie sat and Noah jumped in her lap. The bond was easily readable. Hobie wore a million-dollar smile while listening to him talk about his day.

BJ felt a little disappointed by this turn of events. First, for some reason, she had assumed Hobie was unattached. The more time they spent together, the more she thought Hobie was gay. Hobie didn’t wear a wedding ring, but that didn’t mean anything, did it? The second reason was that BJ felt in the way. She watched, almost with envy, as Hobie and Noah laughed and hugged. For the first time, she realized that something was missing in her life, something important.

“You never said you had a kid,” she said.

“You never asked,” Hobie said. “Thanks for lunch, by the way. That was awfully sweet of you.” Noah settled in her lap and leaned back against her chest.

BJ arched one eyebrow. “Somehow I figured you’d be the last person on this island to call me sweet.”

Hobie chuckled. “Okay, it was very nice. How’s that?” “Much better, thanks. I do have a reputation to uphold, you know.”

“Oh, that’s right. The association might ask for their broom back.”

“You’re probably the one that dropped that house on my sister, aren’t you?”

Noah’s head swung back and forth as he watched them take turns talking. He didn’t think it sounded like joking, but he felt much better when the two women looked at each other and started laughing.

“What are you doing out here anyway?” Hobie asked.

“I’m waiting for Mack. He happened to mention he’d give me a ride if I needed one.”

“Oh, us too.” Hobie shifted Noah in her lap. “I loaned the truck to my friend Laura.”

Both women looked up as Mack’s patrol car braked sharply in front of them. The passenger side window opened and Mack appeared, leaning across the seat.

“Baylor, I’ve been looking for you. I need you to get in the car right now.”

Hobie knew that tone to her brother’s voice. It never meant good news. “Mack, is everything okay?”

“Sorry, Hob, I forgot about you and Noah. Come on, everyone, get in,” Mack said. “Baylor, your grandmother’s taken a turn for the worse.”

“What’s going on?” BJ demanded once they were settled. “All I know is what the nurse told me. She said something

about Evelyn developing a high fever. I guess they called in a doctor from the mainland and he said to contact her family. That’s really all I know.”

“Christ, that’s all they said?”

“Mom, she said a bad word,” Noah said.

“Shh, honey.” Hobie pulled Noah into her lap and kissed the top of his head. “She’s just very worried.”

BJ reached out and ruffled Noah’s hair. “Sorry, Bubba, don’t listen to me, okay? I may say a few more before the day’s over.”

Noah clamped his hands over his ears, and BJ smiled at him. “’Kay. I can’t hear you.”

Hobie pulled her son more tightly to her and watched BJ, who chewed on her thumbnail as she looked out the window. She looked worried and nervous, but Hobie saw something more. Hobie had seen that haunted expression numerous times. She’d seen it every time she walked into a waiting room to talk with a family member. Family who felt the truth long before the physicians would acknowledge it. That expression, a combination of hurt and fear, was one of the reasons she had left full-time medicine. She was used to that look but found that she didn’t like seeing it on BJ’s face. She laid her hand on BJ’s forearm.