“I kinda liked the way it looked before,” Baylor said with a pout.

“And you’ll grow just as attached to this new and improved version. Now, remember, I want you to take it easy today and continue to use your cane. Come on, let’s take a few practice walks.”

“I think I know how to walk.” Baylor swung her legs over the side of the examination table. “I’ve been doing it quite successfully for a number of years, and I find it surprisingly easy.”

“What a comedian you are today.”


“Thanks. Whoa!” Baylor’s leg gave out on the second step. “I thought you said it wasn’t broken anymore.”

“It’s not, but you also haven’t used it in a couple of months, not without support anyway, Miss I’ve Been Walking All My Life.”

Baylor looked up at Hobie with what she hoped was an intimidating expression.

Hobie continued to gloat.


“You know, a smirk that big is not very becoming on a lady of your position.”


___


LJ

Maas



“I don’t get to do it too much anymore. Humor me.” Hobie went to the door. “Hey, Lor, give me a hand, will you?”

Once Laura arrived, Hobie told her what she wanted her to do. “Okay,” she explained to Baylor. “Put one arm around my shoulder and the other over Lor’s.”

“This position has possibilities.” “Don’t you wish,” Hobie said.

Baylor winked. At first, she winced with every step, but after she had worked some of the stiffness out, she found that she could walk well using her cane.

“You’re a new woman,” Hobie declared. “Okay, get dressed and out of my exam room. I have a pregnant Saint Bernard who needs the bed.”

“Oh, I see where your priorities are.” Baylor got dressed as Hobie put away some of the instruments. “Man, I’ve got to get to the drugstore.”

“What’s wrong?”


“My leg looks like it belongs to a gorilla. I need to get some razors.” It felt good to finally wear her favorite old jeans. “Okay, I’m outta here. Thanks, hon.”

“Wait just a minute,” Hobie called out. “Forget something?” She waggled Baylor’s cane.

“Oh.” Baylor chuckled nervously. “Yeah, how could I forget?”

“Baylor, remember what I said about taking it easy at first?” “Sure, sure,” Baylor said distractedly. “You said not to walk

too much today.”


“No, what I said was to go home and put your foot up for a couple hours, then take a short walk, maybe five minutes. After that, put your foot up again, and repeat the walk every three or four hours.”

“Sure, sure. I will,” Baylor added defensively at Hobie’s exasperated look.

“Sweetheart, I don’t mean to be a nag. Please remember that pain is your body’s way of telling you something.”

“I know, I won’t forget.” Baylor kissed Hobie’s forehead and turned to leave once more.



___


Rebecca’s

Cove



“Baylor.” Hobie still held the cane.


“Aw, shit, I forgot! It’s because you’re confusing me.”


Hobie closed her eyes and shook her head. “Tell me again, what is your leg saying to you when it hurts?”

Baylor stood at attention as she repeated the instructions in a steady monotone. “If my leg starts to hurt, it’s saying to me, ‘For God’s sake, Baylor, sit down, put some ice on me, and have another margarita.’”

Hobie’s brows scrunched together and she pushed her glasses up. “I don’t remember saying anything about margaritas.”

“No, I added that,” Baylor said with a quick grin. “It sounded very medicinal.”

“God, I worry about you.”


“Who, me?” Baylor put a hand on her chest. “Just think, hon. You get to do this for the rest of your life.”

“To some people, that would be a threat. Go on. Out.” Hobie pointed. She couldn’t stop her laughter. Baylor might have been a giant pain in the ass at one time, but nowadays she was downright lovable. Her charm and sense of humor reeled Hobie in, just as they had done on that first night in Chicago. “I love you, go home.”

“Love you, too. Don’t forget the barbecue tonight. Tell Noah to bring his trunks and he can swim before dinner.”

“Deal. He’ll love playing in the pool with you.” “Don’t get his hopes up on that count.” “What’s that mean?”

“We’ll, um, talk about that later. Jules is going to go pick up Tanti and bring her home. I find it extremely odd that she recovered so quickly after hearing we were together. It’s probably my paranoia showing again, but I wonder if there was any hocus-pocus involved in Tanti’s illness. Aside from her broken hip, that is.”

“Nope, it’s not just you. I have a sneaky feeling that we don’t even want to think about what the Ladies Guild might have done to pull that one off.”



Baylor rubbed her hands together once more. The evening



___


LJ

Maas



had finally arrived, and her palms got clammier as the moment of their ceremony grew closer.

“You look a little wobbly, mate.” Juliana affectionately slapped Baylor on the back.

Baylor made a halfhearted attempt at a grin. “Most of me thinks this is the best day of my life, but there’s a tiny piece of me, Jules, that just feels like throwing up.”

“Actually, that sounds pretty normal, considering this is your wedding day. Or night, as the case may be. Pretty nice of Mrs. Ashby to have the ceremony here at her house. It’s beautiful by the water like this.”

“Yeah,” Baylor said distractedly. She looked over Juliana’s shoulder to the woman who just had come outside. In Baylor’s eyes, Hobie looked better than any woman had a right to.

“Hey, you two look cute. She’s wearing a dress and you’ve got on slacks. You two plan this little butch-femme thing?” Juliana asked.

Baylor graced her with an arched eyebrow and a flat expression. “With that sense of humor, it’s no wonder you’re still single,” she finally said.

Juliana laughed and walked away. Hobie met her halfway across the large lawn, obviously on her way to where Baylor stood. She gave her a hug.

“You look absolutely wicked. This is your last chance, you know. You can still dump that girl and take a shot with me.” Juliana’s smile was infectious and Hobie found herself laughing.

“Please, Jules. Are you trying to start a fight? If Baylor hears that, it’ll be World War III.”

“I thought I’d send you over Baylor’s way to calm her down, but by the feel of these ice-cold hands of yours, it seems you’re a bigger bundle of nerves than she is.”

“Oh, very funny. Don’t even think of lying to me, Jules. The prospect of spending the rest of your life with someone would make you a little goofy, too. Admit it.”

“Alittle?” Juliana winked. “I’m really jealous as hell. You do know that, don’t you? Well, jealous of Baylor, at any rate. You, I simply feel sorry for.”



___


Rebecca’s

Cove



“Is she really that nervous?” Hobie asked, glancing in Baylor’s direction. Baylor stood tall and straight, staring out at the ocean, her stance almost regal as twilight descended around her.

“You’d never know it to look at her, but right there stands a quivering tower of jelly.”

Hobie chuckled and shook her head. “She looks like she’s a million miles away. I think I’ll go ease her fears.”

Juliana could see the excitement mixed with trepidation in Hobie’s eyes.



Baylor watched as Juliana met up with Hobie, laughing and teasing her just as she had Baylor. She had a feeling they were talking about her. She turned away and looked out at the water.

So many changes, Baylor mused. She wondered at the future and how her life would change with the ceremony. Any number of people would have told her that she was crazy to think it would last. Most of the acquaintances who still tolerated her played the same games she had. Straight or gay, they went from relationship to relationship without thinking they would last. Baylor had never thought long term before Hobie. That would all change. Baylor just knew, in the same way she knew which of her stories would sell, that if she went through with this ceremony, it would be forever. It was a scary prospect, terrifying, if the truth were known. So the question became, did she want to back out?

She smiled to herself, glad nobody could see her face. Everyone thought she was strange enough as it was. Of course, for most of them, “strange” was a relative term. The last two days had been a whirlwind of activity, mostly planning for the very future that she now pondered. Their first serious discussion had been about where they should live. Ana Lia had been good to Baylor and Hobie, and Baylor had never thought about going back to Chicago for longer than the few weeks it would take to pack up her life. School was out, so they decided to take Noah with them and make it a vacation. Even though Hobie had told her it wasn’t necessary, Baylor was looking forward to sharing with Noah some of the places that had impressed her as a child. Wrigley Field, Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Art Institute were places



___


LJ

Maas



she wanted to share with him, and she knew that having a hot dog and watching the Cubs play at home would mean the world to Noah.

Baylor also wanted Hobie with her. She was afraid of what might happen to her once she left the island. Would she return to her old ways? Even though Hobie assured her that it hadn’t worked that way for her, Baylor didn’t want to take that chance.