Chapter Ten

Teddy sat in the mall café with an Americano at his elbow and his laptop open. Young mothers passed, guiding baby carriages with one hand and a toddler with the other. A gaggle of giggling teenaged girls strutted their stuff in incredibly short cutoffs and tight tops. A pack of boys their age prowled after them, prodding each other with elbows and dares to cut one from the flock. As for Ella Sue and Jessie, he had no idea where they’d gone, but between the grossly pregnant belly and the wheelchair, he’d spot them at a distance when they came his way. While working on his article about Coach Mo’s team, no one noticed his disability, though he’d stowed his crutches on the next chair.

Satisfied with the piece, Teddy saved it and sent a copy to the coach’s university email address for his approval. Then, he opened a file holding the start of a book for boys not good at athletics who still made a difference for their teams. In the back of his mind, he held dear an idea for a series in the vein of his favorite Harry Potter books about a kid with a disability who uses magic to transform into a superhero, kind of like the old Wheels of Fate video game that made local billionaire, Jonathan Hartz, his first million. That would be nice. For now, he stuck to inept guys who simply did the right thing at the right time to save the game.

Engrossed, he nearly missed the sight of Jessie wheeling along, her lap covered by shopping bags as if she were a grocery cart. Ella Sue marched beside her clad in a voluminous white T-shirt with a swirl of brilliant tie-dye colors that seemed to center on her protruding navel, one of Xochi’s offerings. Below the maternity jeans, her feet slapped the tile floor in a pair of low-heeled, white strappy sandals Teddy had not seen before. When she tossed her fine blonde hair, he realized she’d had it stylishly cut into layers that made her seem less a child and more of a woman. As she passed Auntie Anne’s booth, her freckled nose sniffed the air like a Bluetick hound. A moment later, she sighted her brother and abandoned Jessie to get to his table first.

“Did you see they got them soft pretzels like in Philadelphy and New York? I’ll bet they taste as good as they smell.” Taking the hint, Teddy opened his wallet and handed her a ten.

“I’ll get enough for all of us.” She paddled off to get in line.

Teddy wrenched a fourth chair from the table to make a space for Jessie. He gave her a crooked smile and kept his wallet in hand. “What’s the damage?”

“A sore bottom and tired arms. I really have to do more weight work.”

He unburdened Jessie of their purchases, placing them on the seat that held his crutches. “I meant what did this shopping spree cost? I might have to transfer funds into your account. Somehow, I don’t think I have enough cash to cover it. That haircut alone…”

“My treat. My parents gave me a debit card after my paid sick leave at the university ran out. I haven’t used it. The salon in the mall takes walk-ins, and the beautician did a cut for a very reasonable forty dollars. A more sophisticated style will give your sister confidence. We bought three pairs of shoes for Ella Sue: those sandals, some low heels for dressy occasions, and new athletic shoes she’ll probably get the most use out of, all on sale, and another pair of maternity jeans. Those distressed ones are fashionable but wear out quickly. We bought makeup in Macy’s since she told me she was saving the stuff I gave her for special, but I want her to practice putting it on. Then, we built a bear for the baby. I think I have just enough left for coffee.”

“Let me get that.”

“No, thanks.” Jessie pivoted toward the line at the coffee shop where the two customers ahead of her parted to let her go first over her protests of, “Really, I can wait my turn. I’m the one sitting down.” The elderly woman said, “Bless your heart, honey.” The young guy went ahead and placed his order but insisted on paying for Jessie’s beverage as well. He carried it to the table for her. She thanked him with a lovely smile Teddy wished he’d earned.

As soon as her benefactor left, striding on long legs effortlessly toward the exit, Teddy shrugged. “Being crippled hath its privileges, but I’ll bet he wouldn’t have paid for my drink. I’m not pretty enough.”

“Frankly, I’d rather do things for myself, but thanks for the compliment.”

“Now you’ve got it. You deflected their pity with a small joke up at the counter and graciously accepted that you are still beautiful. You’ve got Ella Sue’s number, too. Tell her the Hollywood stars eat their meat rare, and she’ll gobble it down. But Jessie, don’t let her take advantage of you financially. My mom and Xochi both think she’s out for all she can get, and they usually don’t judge people harshly.”

Jessie imitated his shrug. “You’re not as naïve as you look, Teddy Billodeaux—and neither am I. But I enjoyed helping someone else. God knows I won’t be wearing out my own shoes, and all she has is a pair of flip-flops.”

“Actually, she has sneakers that smell to high heaven and a pair of red stilettos she can’t wear right now. I saw both in her closet.”

Ella Sue approached with two pretzels and a jumbo soft drink. “Not quite enough for three pretzels, but we can share, one plain, one with cinnamon sugar.” She ripped off an ear of the cinnamon sugar and offered the rest around the table. “Yep, as good as they smelled. Bet the ones in Philly are better though.”

As soon as she sucked the sugar off her fingers, Ella Sue put her feet into Jessie’s lap. “I love these shoes you got for me, but I’m rubbing a blister big as an egg. Can you trade ’em out for my flip-flops? Hurry ’cause I gotta pee. I always gotta pee.”

Jessie managed the transfer of shoes and watched Ella Sue hurry into the café, making a ponderous dash for the restroom. “You know, I kind of like that she isn’t afraid to take advantage of me.”

“May I?”

“May you what?”

“Take advantage.”

“Are you flirting with me, Teddy?” She watched his blush bloom.

“Not exactly. Next weekend I have to go to New Orleans to announce the Sinner’s first preseason game. It’s a long drive, and I usually stay overnight at Junior’s condo. Could you stay with Ella Sue in case she goes into labor or something? Call an ambulance if you must.”

“Hey, my first sleepover not at the hospital. I’d love to do that for you.”

“That’s a load off my mind. No telling what trouble she could get into, but I can trust your good sense.”

“Yes, that’s me, sensible,” Jessie said, as if she’d hoped for something else.

Ella Sue returned from her pit stop. “I’m beat. Let’s head back to the apartment.” She loaded her loot onto Jessie’s lap again, but pushed the chair this time.

After dropping Jessie off, Ella Sue squirmed in her seat. “Step on it, Teddy. I need to pee again.”

“Ever think that giant soda might be part of the problem?”

“Everybody knows pregnant women have to pee all the time.”

“Right.”

She didn’t wait for Teddy to maneuver to their front door. By the time he got inside, she’d made use of bathroom and went outside to collect her packages. Dumping all on her bed, she stretched out next to the bags and curled around her belly. “Shut the door, would you, Ted?”

He did this small service for her and went to take care of his own bathroom needs. Passing her room later, he heard her talking to the unborn child again. “Oh, baby, if you could see me now!”