“Tony, you are the man! Buona salute e ricchezza, my friend,” she exclaimed before hanging up.

“Hey, Squirt,” Baylor rubbed Arturo’s head. “This afternoon, we watch television like real people. It’s good to have friends in low places.”



It was breakfast time at the Cove. Hobie and Laura were sitting at the counter when Baylor entered and took a seat in a booth. Unbeknownst to Hobie and Baylor, most of the Cove’s regular patrons had bets going as to how long the two women could last before they exploded. They all knew Hobie and they’d come to know Baylor. They waited every morning on the edge of their seats, wondering if that would be the day.

To the customers’disappointment, the morning turned out to be uneventful. Hobie and Baylor took turns watching each other while trying not to appear as though they were watching. They were both very close to giving in.

“Hobie Lynn, your mother’s on the phone.” JoJo laid the cordless phone on the counter in front of Hobie.

“Thanks, JoJo,” Hobie called out to the already retreating figure. “Mom, what’s wrong? Is Noah all right?” Her forehead creased as she listened. “Why did they send him home? What do you mean teacher’s conference day? They never said anything.”

Hobie’s voice grew louder. “Mom, what do you mean you can’t watch Noah? No, I can’t have him with me all day. I have calls to make. I won’t be in the office all day. Can Mack watch him? Okay, bring him here to the Cove and I’ll find someone to watch him. No, I’m not upset with you.”

Hobie turned the phone off and gave an exasperated sigh. “Trouble?” Laura asked.

“I think I liked it better when my mom thought Dad was still alive and she had no life.”

“You don’t mean that.”


“Oh, I know. Looks likes we had a miscommunication today. Noah doesn’t have school and Mom has plans. She used to never leave the house. Now she’s in a book club and the Ladies Guild, and she spends two days a week playing cards at the hospital with Evelyn.”

“Uh-oh.”


“Yeah, uh-oh is right. I don’t have to panic yet. Hey, JoJo.” JoJo turned to face Hobie. “Any chance you can baby-sit today?”

“Oh, darlin’, I would if I could. We’re catering Sally Armistead’s anniversary party tonight, and I’m going to be busy running between here and the mainland for last-minute supplies. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, nuts, I forgot about that thing tonight. Okay, don’t worry. Thanks.”

Hobie looked around the restaurant and encountered Baylor’s gaze before Baylor quickly turned away. Not in a million years will I leave Noah alone with her.


“Mrs. Emberly.” Hobie greeted the older woman, who sat with four other women. “Have you heard anything on Petey yet?”

“No, dear. I’m afraid I may have to give up hope.”


“I’m sorry. I was wondering if I could impose on one of you ladies to watch Noah for me for today. You know how good he is, and—”

“Oh, dear, you know we would, but we’re celebrating Hannah’s birthday today. We have reservations in Tampa for lunch.”

“I understand. You ladies have a great day, and happy birthday, Hannah.”

Hobie moved from one booth to another, to no avail. As odd as it seemed, nearly everyone she knew had a previous engagement. After fifteen minutes, she had exhausted every baby-sitting option in town. She had nearly exhausted every baby-sitting option in town. Brushing the bangs from her forehead, she looked to see Baylor grinning like a madwoman, her arms resting along the back of the booth. Hobie put her hands on her hips and stared back. She was out of options and time as she spied Noah running into the restaurant.

“Hi, Mom!”


“Hi, sweetie. Have you eaten breakfast?” “Uh-huh.” Noah nodded.

“Okay. How about a glass of milk?” “Chocolate milk?” he asked hopefully.

“Sure.” Hobie chuckled. “Go sit by Laura at the counter and tell JoJo I said it was all right. I’ll be right over.”

“’Kay. Hi, Baylor.” The youngster waved as he passed by her booth.

“Hey, Bubba.”


Hobie stood in front of Baylor and crossed her arms. Baylor looked like she was enjoying Hobie’s predicament too much. Her smile reached from ear to ear.

“I guess I’m looking a little more indispensable than you thought, huh?” Baylor used the very line Hobie had used when Baylor realized she needed Hobie to drive her around town.

“Have you ever watched a child before in your whole life?” “Hey, I am a responsible woman, you know. I won’t give the

kid matches and I won’t leave him alone anywhere. How hard can it be?”

“You have no idea. I want you to stay at home, no roaming around, and I expect him to be unharmed and still have all his extremities when I come to pick him up at four o’clock.”

“Sure. Can do. Is he...um, you know, housebroken?”


Hobie rolled her eyes and breathed deeply. “He’s six years old!” She realized that meant nothing to a woman who had never been around children. “Yes, he is toilet trained. He can manage it all by himself.”

“Cool. Any other last-minute instructions?”


“Yes. When I pick up my son this afternoon, I would like it very much if it could be at Evelyn’s home and not the emergency room. I’m also rather fond of the innocent boy he is now. I don’t want him learning how to spit, swear, or imitate the noises of any bodily functions. Can you manage that?”

“Well, now that you’ve eliminated all the fun stuff...” Baylor saw the fire in Hobie’s eyes and laughed. “Kidding, kidding. Don’t worry so much.”

“Right. I feel much better.”


“Hey, Bubba,” Baylor called. “How’d you like to spend the day with me?”

“All right!” Noah jumped up and down. “Can I, Mom? Can I?”

Hobie looked worried but smiled. “Sure, sweetheart.” She leaned over and whispered into Baylor’s ear. “If anything happens to him, I swear I’ll hunt you down, Baylor Warren.”

Baylor wondered if it was Hobie’s soft breath in her ear or the whispered promise that caused a shiver to run down her spine.



They stopped at Hobie’s house first so Noah could bring along a few toys. The two women said nothing about their argument. In fact, neither said a word until they pulled into Evelyn’s driveway.

“You having company?” Hobie asked Baylor.

Two unmarked white vans sat in the driveway. Way to go, Tony, Baylor thought. “Uh, yeah. I’m just having a little... installation work done.” Baylor was thankful that Hobie’s good manners did not allow her to pry.

“Arturo!” Noah cried out as they entered the house. The pup barked excitedly, turning around in tight circles. Noah knelt down and Arturo licked his face.

“Let me give ya the lay of the land, Bubba,” Baylor said as she took Noah’s backpack and tossed it in a chair.

“Huh?”


“Where everything is.”


“Oh, I know already. Bafroom is over there, kitchen back there, and it’s not polite to go upstairs.” Noah smiled and pushed his glasses up his nose.

“So you’ve been here before?”


“Yeah, lots. Mom comes to see Mrs. Warren all the time.” “Really? How interesting. I think you and I are gonna get along just fine.” Baylor grinned at her little fountain of information. “Hey, come on into the backyard with me. I gotta check on something.”

“’Kay.”


“Hey there,” Baylor said to the two men working on settling into place a four-foot satellite dish.

“You Warren?” the taller of the two asked.


“In the flesh.” She shook hands with him. “You guys are fast. I appreciate it.”

“I’m Dave and this is Chuck. I got a call from Pete Giamatti up in Orlando. He says you’re a good friend of Tony Falcone’s. For a friend of Tony’s, I haul ass. Oh, sorry, kid.” He looked down at Noah, but the boy was too busy watching Chuck adjust the dish’s position with a remote-control device to have noticed.

“Can I get you guys something to drink, anything like that?” Baylor asked.

“Nah, thanks. We’ll have to get into the house, though, to set up everything in there.”

“You got it.”


Two hours later, Noah and Baylor knew a great deal about installing cable, legal and illegal, along with the ins and outs of the satellite dish business. Dave was more than happy to pass on his expertise. Baylor seemed as intrigued as six-year-old Noah by the whole process.

“You’re all set, Ms. Warren,” Chuck said.


“Thanks, you guys. You did a first-rate job.” She slipped a hundred-dollar bill into Dave’s hand. “Go have lunch on me.”

“You got it. You have any problems,” he handed Baylor his business card, “you just call me.”

Like a kid in a candy store, the moment the two men were gone, Baylor rushed over to the remote. Flipping through the 250-plus channels, she tousled Noah’s hair. “Welcome to heaven, Bubba.”

“Wow,” Noah said. “Ooh, Cubs!”


“Right you are.” Baylor stopped on Chicago’s local station. “We’re just in time, this is the pre-game show. You like the Cubs?” she asked, thinking of the baseball cap that Hobie was never without.

“Oh, yeah.”


“Your mother’s taught you well. Let’s get comfortable. You getting hungry yet? How about some baseball-type snacks?”

Noah nodded enthusiastically and pushed his glasses up. “Do you like root beer?” Baylor asked as she looked through the refrigerator. “Yup.”

“How about Cheez-Its?” “What’re Cheez-Its?”

“Here.” Baylor opened the box and handed the boy one of the orange crackers.

“Mmm, yeah.” Noah nodded as he spoke.