“How about scrambled eggs or something easy to eat like that?” Nealy said, trying to be helpful.

“Babies can’t have egg whites until they’re a year old. Don’t you know anything?”

The waitress stared at Nealy for a long time—obviously pegging her as the worst mother of the century—then she turned away.

“Buh-buh-buh!” the baby shouted at the top of her small lungs. “Gah!”

Mat looked longingly toward the counter with its row of stools.

“Don’t even think about it,” Nealy said.

“She’s so loud, “ he grumbled. “Why does she have to be so loud?”

“Maybe she’s imitating you.” Mat’s voice wasn’t really loud, but it was big, just like the rest of him.

Lucy smiled slyly and handed the baby a spoon, which she immediately began whacking on the high chair. A young couple in a neighboring booth looked over and frowned at the noise. Nealy gently took the spoon away.

Big mistake.

Marigold screamed.

Mat groaned.

Lucy looked pleased with herself.

Nealy hurriedly returned the spoon to the baby.

“Gah!”

“Don’t cuss, Butt,” Lucy said. “It upsets Jorik.”

“Would you hurry up with that beer?” Mat called out to the waitress.

It didn’t take long for the food to arrive. Nealy dug in, refusing to let the children spoil her enjoyment of Grannie Peg’s. She’d eaten at the most famous restaurants in the world, from Tour L’Argent to the Rainbow Room, but not a single one of them was as atmospheric as this. Only when the check arrived did she remember she had a problem.

“Mat, I’d appreciate it if you could lend me some money. Just for a little while. I want to pay for my own food, and I’m going to need some clothes, a few incidentals. I could probably manage with five hundred.”

He stared at her. “You want me to lend you five hundred dollars?”

“I’ll pay you back. I promise.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Imagine anyone doubting Cornelia Case’s word. Except she wasn’t Cornelia Case. She was a pregnant drifter named Nell Kelly, and she could see his point. “Really I will. I have the money. I just can’t get my hands on it right now.”

“Uh-huh.”

This was going to present a problem. She had no credit cards with her, since she couldn’t have used them without blowing her cover, but she needed to get her hands on some money.

“I can loan you fifty,” Lucy said.

Nealy was surprised by Lucy’s generosity. “Really? Thanks.”

“No problem.” Too late, she saw the calculating look in the teenager’s eyes. “All you have to do is whatever I tell you.”

So much for the fifty dollars.

“I’ll lend you fifty,” Mat said begrudgingly.

Lucy sneered. “You should borrow from me. I won’t make you take off your clothes.”

“Did anybody ever mention that you’re boring?” Mat said.