The two friends paused to look at each other and burst into laughter. They had been through much worse over the years than the previous night’s encounter. They had, and always would, remain friends, no matter what idiotic things they might say in the heat of the moment.

“About last night,” Baylor began, “you know...Well, I’m sorry, I just—”

“Don’t sweat it, mate. So,” Juliana drawled with a leering grin, “how was last night?”

Baylor grinned without realizing she had done so. “I guess that smile says it all. About damn time.” “No thanks to you.” Baylor laughed.

Juliana just kept smiling. One thing she would never reveal to Baylor was that she had played a part, albeit the tiniest part, in setting the two women up. Baylor didn’t like to be pushed. If she felt that she’d been manipulated in any way, she’d ruin her life and hurt Hobie just to spite everyone.

“So tell me the good parts,” Juliana said.


“It was all good, but not in the way you’re thinking.” “Did you tell her?”


___


Rebecca’s

Cove



“Yep.” “Atta girl.”

“We spent the night together, but we slept...that’s all.” “Right,” Juliana said sarcastically. “I bet there was some

major snogging going on over there.”


“Nope, that’s the honest truth.” Baylor cleared her throat self-consciously. “We sort of agreed to wait, you know, take it slow. Till the cast is off, then we can—”

“You mean she said no.”


“Yeah, pretty much. I did everything but get on my knees and beg.”

Juliana laughed. “It’ll be good for you. Build your character. You know, women like this aren’t just flings, mate. Hobie’s the real deal.”

“I know.” Baylor stretched in the chair. “You’d think I’d be more, I don’t know, scared of that. Wouldn’t you?”

“Knowing you, I’d have to answer a big fat yes. Usually, you’re running for the hills about this time.”

“I know. I can’t figure it out. I just know I’m not going to let that son of a bitch beat me anymore.”

Juliana looked at her friend. She knew Baylor was referring to her father. Baylor lay stretched out with her eyes closed and the white pup snoring in her lap. Juliana couldn’t remember a time when Baylor had looked this comfortable in her own skin.

“You deserve this girl, mate,” Juliana said softly.


“I don’t know about that, but I’ve got to try. I better get cleaned up. Hobie’s coming by and we’re going to see Tanti. Want to come with?”

“Nah.” Juliana wasn’t sure she could keep from spilling any secrets in a room with Evelyn, Hobie, and Baylor. “I’m gonna work on my tan. I’ll go up this afternoon and visit with her.”

“Check. Thanks for taking care of Arturo while I’m out, too.”

“No problem. He’s a lot of fun once you get used to being his puppy pillow.”

Baylor chuckled. “Yeah, I kind of got him into some bad habits. I’m off to get cleaned up. See ya later.”



___


LJ

Maas



“Later,” Juliana echoed.



“Thanks for going with me to see Tanti,” Baylor said. For the first time in her life, she was enjoying being a passenger in her own car. It gave her the opportunity to watch Hobie as she drove.

“You don’t have to thank me. I’ve been Evelyn’s friend for years.”

“I guess it’s just an excuse for me to spend time with you then.” Baylor stretched her arm along the backseat and played with the loose hair at the back of Hobie’s neck. Hobie offered up a bright smile before turning her attention back to the road. Baylor knew her heart was in deep when her stomach did a flip at the sight of that smile.

“You know that Evelyn is going to give us the third degree, don’t you?”

“Not if she doesn’t know, she won’t.” “So we don’t say anything about us?”

“Unless you want to answer a lot of personal questions. I don’t know, how’s your embarrassment tolerance?” Baylor asked with a smile.

Hobie returned the laughter. “I see your point, but we are going to get asked. You know how folks are around here.”

“I guess.” Baylor’s brow creased.


Out of the corner of her eye, Hobie saw Baylor’s expression. It didn’t look as though she was entirely pleased at the idea of their relationship becoming common knowledge. Immediately, Hobie’s defenses went up. “Is it that you don’t want people knowing you’re in a relationship or that you don’t want them to know it’s with me?”

“What?” Baylor stopped her wandering mind. “No, no, baby, it’s nothing like that. I didn’t mean it like it sounded. I guess I’m just lousy at being in the spotlight. That’s the part I was dreading.”

“Oh,” Hobie said quietly. “I thought maybe—”


“Don’t think that. It was the furthest thing from my mind.” “So do you think we can treat each other like nothing’s



___


Rebecca’s

Cove



different between us?”


“You mean can I look at you without revealing how absolutely lucky I feel, without showing to every single person in the room how much I love you?”

Hobie smiled and shook her head. “You do have a way of saying just the right thing at times.”

“Besides, I don’t know how Tanti will react to us, you know, being a couple.”

“Do you think she’d have a problem with it?”


“She’s never said anything. She’s actually been pretty accepting of my sexual preference, but we’ve never really talked about how she feels about me being gay.”

“I think Evelyn’s probably the last person on the island to have a problem with that.” Hobie chuckled.

“There’s a first time for everything.”


“Yeah, but wouldn’t that kind of be like the pot calling the kettle black?”

“Huh?”


“Because of her and Aimee.” “What about her and Aimee?”

“What do you mean, what do I mean?”


“I mean, what do Evelyn and Aimee have to do with the price of tea in China?”

“I just meant that since Evelyn was gay, or at least had a female lover in her life, I’m sure she wouldn’t come down on you. What did you think I was talking about?”

“Excuse me?” Baylor’s mouth went dry and her mind shut down.

“I said, what did you—”


“I heard what you said, what I don’t get is why you said it.” Hobie pulled the car into the hospital parking lot. She turned

off the ignition and turned in the seat to face Baylor. “We are having a huge gap in communicating here. Aren’t we?”

“I think so.” Baylor laughed nervously. “Why would you say that Tanti is gay?”

“Um...because she is,” Hobie said slowly.


“She is? My grandmother? We are talking about Evelyn



___


LJ

Maas



Warren, right?”


“Of course. Baylor, didn’t you know this?”


“No.” Baylor sat back in her seat. “I had no idea. Are you sure?”

“That’s not the kind of thing you can mistake. Surely, you were around Evelyn and Aimee when you were younger.”

“Yeah, but Tanti never said anything. All they did was joke around and yell at each other a lot. They acted like...well, I don’t know. They argued all the time!” She paused and looked over at a smiling Hobie. “That sounds like us, doesn’t it?”

“Kind of.”


“Holy shit! How could no one have told me?”


“I guess they all figured you knew. Did your parents ever say anything when you were a kid?”

Baylor realized with startling clarity why her father had disowned his mother. “Yeah, that sounds exactly like something he’d do,” she muttered.

“What?”


“Oh, sorry. I was just remembering. As far back as I can remember, my father never spoke to Tanti. Mom said they had a falling out, but I’ll bet you anything it was over that.”

“Some son,” Hobie said. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Don’t be. It’s just what I was thinking. I can’t believe Tanti never came out and told me.”

“Maybe she thought you knew. Maybe she felt that you weren’t ready to hear that kind of thing about your father.” Hobie laid a gentle hand on Baylor’s arm. “Whatever it was, you know that Evelyn must have been thinking of you.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Tanti’s always been there for me.” “Just do me one favor?”

“Sure, anything.”


“Make sure you don’t, well, pounce on Evelyn with this news the minute we get there. Okay?”

“Give me a little credit, hon. I can be the epitome of tact when I want to be.”




__0


Rebecca’s

Cove



“Well, if it isn’t my two favorite girls!” Evelyn exclaimed. She looked positively healthy and glowing.

“I can’t believe you never told me you were gay!” Baylor blurted out.

Hobie let her face fall into her open hand. “Smooth,” she said once she raised her head. “What happened to tact?”

“Oops, I forgot,” Baylor admitted. “Still,” she refocused her attention on her grandmother, “Tanti, why didn’t you ever tell me you’re a lesbian?”

“Because I’m not,” Evelyn said.


“See,” Baylor turned to a surprised Hobie. “I told you she was straight.”

“Oh, but I’m not that, either.”


Baylor stood there looking at her grandmother. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. “Oh. I get it.” She looked at Hobie and wagged her finger back and forth. “Because she was married once...she’s bi.”

“Uh-uh.” Evelyn shook her head.


Baylor stood silently. “Okay, I’m confused.”


“Baylor, you know how much I detest labels. I cared very much for your grandfather while he was alive. Then I met Aimee and...well, I fell in love with her. If I call myself this or that, it seems as though I’m putting limits on love. We all know that sometimes love just happens, whether we mean it to or not.”

Baylor and Hobie exchanged a guilty look.


Evelyn watched the two women closely. They hadn’t said a word about it, but she could read all the signs. Not only were they in love, but they also had finally shared their feelings with each other. There were subtle changes in their behavior—their chairs sat a tad closer than usual, their gazes occasionally locked. Evelyn nearly jumped for joy. She couldn’t wait to call Rebecca.

“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.