Nealy spent a moment enjoying the fantasy of herself as Bonnie Parker. “I didn’t rob a bank. Mat’s just being cute. I’m . . . hiding from my ex-husband and his family.”

“That’s dumb.” Lucy shoved her clothes into her bag.

“Yes, well, I’d appreciate it if you would keep this to yourself.” She shot Mat a dark look. “Unlike some people who need to tell the world everything.”

“Da!” The baby squealed as Nealy fastened the final snap on her romper and released her.

Mat winced.

“I’m going to the mall today whether anybody wants to or not,” Lucy said.

Nealy saw trouble brewing, and to arrest it she imitated Mindy Collier, her perky social secretary. “I thought we might all go on a picnic.”

“Picnics suck. I’m going to the mall.”

Button scrambled to the end of the bed closest to Mat and would have fallen if Nealy hadn’t grabbed her by the ankle, then gently lowered her over the side. “I don’t think there are too many malls around here.”

“There’s one in the next town,” Lucy countered. “This girl at the pool told me.”

Button pulled herself up on the side of the bed and shrieked at Mat, who was looking around the room for the keys that were tucked into the pocket of Nealy’s shorts.

“Let’s go to the mall and then go on a picnic, ” she said reasonably.

“What’s this thing you’ve got with picnics?” Mat stopped just behind her. “And where are the keys to that old junker?”

“I think picnics are fun. No!”

But she’d grabbed for her stomach too late. He’d already reached under her top from the back and pulled open the ties. “First I’m going to burn this, then I’m heading down to the garage to hold all the mechanics hostage until Mabel’s fixed.”

She grabbed the padding from him and thrust it in her satchel. “We can stop at the garage on our way to the mall before the picnic.”

“Ohmygod, look!” Lucy exclaimed.

Nealy turned just in time to see Button take three tottery steps across the open carpet toward Mat.

“She’s walking!” Lucy’s eyes danced. “I was getting so worried. She’s a year old, and her dad was a moron, and—” She snapped her mouth shut, unwilling for them to see any emotion from her except disdain. Even so, she still couldn’t quite hide her pride, and Nealy wanted to hug her.

Button made a lunge for Mat’s leg, but he was too far away, and she began to tumble. He scooped her up like a linebacker retrieving a loose football.

“Daaaa . . .” She gazed at him worshipfully.

Mat frowned.

She cocked her head to the side and fluttered her lashes.

“I think I’m gonna hurl,” Lucy said.

Nealy giggled.