Page 46 of Betrayal In Calusa Cove
Of course, she was also waiting for an update from Chloe regarding this Enzo lawyer-person and when that meeting would take place. It felt like she was in a holding pattern, waiting either for someone to tell her they had an answer or for another bad thing to happen.
The door opened, and in strolled Trinity, rubbing her little baby bump. “Hey there. How are you today?”
“It’s not the worst day.” Baily stepped from behind the counter to hug her friend. “What brings you by?”
“Keaton left his favorite hoodie on his boat, along with one of my bags with some towels.” Trinity shrugged. “Sometimes, my ultra neat freak husband can’t remember the head attached to his shoulders.”
“Bingo brought the bag, but there wasn’t a sweatshirt that I saw.” Baily pointed to the corner by her office door. “He’s cleaning the boat as we speak.”
“You’re letting him clean boats while on the clock for you?” Trinity asked. “Now I feel a little guilty, but in a really weird way. Not so much for Bingo, because he needs the money, but like we’re somehow taking advantage of you.”
Baily laughed. “There isn’t much for him to do right now, but I still need a body here. So, I told him if he doesn’t have homework to do, he could wash the boats he’s contracted to do. However, if something I need comes up, he’s got to shift gears.”
“That’s mighty nice of you.”
“When I was a kid, my dad used to let me double dip like that as well.” Baily leaned against the counter. “Bingo’s a great employee. He’s an excellent student. I’m going to miss him when he leaves for college in the fall.”
“Have you replaced him?”
Baily shook her head. “Technically, I haven’t even advertised the position, but everyone knows it’s going to open up. I’ve talked to a couple of his friends, but no one can give me the hours he can during the school year. So, either I’ve got to hire two kids, or one adult.”
“You’ll figure it out.” Trinity smiled, rubbing her belly. It seemed as if that was all she did these days. “And we’ll be around to help out when we can.”
“I know. I appreciate all that you do as it is.”
“What are friends for?” Trinity paused the circular motion and glanced down. “Give me your hand.” She raced around the corner, grabbed Baily’s hand, and placed it firmly on her lower abdomen. “I’m constantly feeling this little rascal, but Keaton’s only felt it once, and that was last night. It was just a little… Feel that?”
Baily jerked her hand back like she’d been burned. “Yeah.” She blinked. “Holy cow.”
“I know, right? It’s like the movie Alien, and it’s growing inside me.”
Baily burst out laughing. “I would expect Audra to describe her kid as a monster, but not you.”
Trinity shrugged. “It’s so strange. I mean, I’m ready for the parenthood part. I can handle breastfeeding, diapering, and being puked on. But this part? It’s so strange. I mean, my boobs are massive. My ankles are swollen. I’ve gained ten pounds already. That part I don’t care about, but everything seems so foreign. Keaton thinks I’m losing my mind.”
“You are.” Baily grabbed Trinity by the forearms and kissed her cheek. “But it’s why we all adore you.”
“Now, you sound like Audra.” Trinity glanced at her watch. “Speaking of which, I need to head over to the B&B and pick her up. I talked her into doing a registry for the baby.” Trinity wiggled her finger under Baily’s nose. “And you and Chloe are in charge of the shower.”
Baily rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’ve been informed.”
“I’ll see you tonight for the bonfire.” Trinity waved her hand over her head before disappearing out the door. Sometimes that girl was too much.
Baily sighed, leaned against the counter, and went back to the numbers. She’d promised Fletcher a bottom line for what she needed to run the marina through the winter months, ignoring the payment for the loan.
Static crackled through the two-way radio mounted on the wall behind her.
“This is Mitchell’s Runabout Three,” came a panicked voice, male, maybe mid-twenties. “We’re dead in the water, just west of Marker 14. Boat won’t start.”
Baily stood instantly. “Copy that, Runabout Three. This is Baily at Mitchell’s. What happened? Can you describe what you’ve done to try to start the engine?”
“Engine turned over, sputtered, then died. Tried again. Nothing,” the man said. His name was Nolan, and he and his girlfriend had rented the boat early that morning. It was the only rental still out.
“Check your kill switch and make sure the gas line valve’s open. Then give the bulb a good couple of squeezes before trying again.”
“We already did. Nothing,” Nolan said. “Won’t even turn over anymore. I tried everything I can think of.”
Baily sighed. Christian had recently serviced all the boats. They should be fine. Should be were the operative words. They were old. The boats were in good shape and would last a long time. But the engines? Well, she could only rebuild them so many times before they plumb died on her. This could be that time. “Can you give me your location?”
