Chapter Thirty-Five

Not much to move from the old apartment. Most of the furnishings belonged to the college. The wedding gifts went into storage at the big house except for the most practical ones. Jessie made a list to get cracking on thank-you notes, many to former Sinners she only knew from the sports section of the newspapers.

At first, they thought to choose the cottage most distant from the mansion, felt churlish about that, and selected one in the middle of the oak grove just a short roll from the family. “I feel like a real Cajun now, living in my mama’s backyard,” Teddy remarked as they set up housekeeping.

“You are one by adoption. Now go to the other side of the bed and help me put the sheets on.”

“Only if we get to use it this afternoon for some fun.”

“That’s a promise. Be glad we have some privacy now. The papers did get hold of our story and those iron gates keep them at bay.” Jessie unfolded a sheet and sent it sailing his way.

Teddy caught his end and tucked it in. “The police reports, I guess. The paparazzi have finally discovered Teddy Billodeaux as a source for gossip. I probably shouldn’t have announced my wedding at the game, or mentioned Lizzy either. They were right on that.”

“Mama Nell handled it well. She released some of our wedding pictures to the press. Disabled Couple Weds. Hopes to Adopt wasn’t such a bad headline. Since we didn’t give interviews, the article read pretty much like any wedding announcement: location, a description of my dress, where the reception was held, the flowers, etc. A mention that we’d honeymooned in New Orleans, all three days of it.”

“I promise we’ll do something else soon. At least, that was better than the latest. Handicapped Honeymooners Beat and Shoot Intruder and Don’t Mess with These Lovebirds! I never appreciated how great it was to be ignored by the press. We pushed Mack’s antics in Dallas to the back page. Kind of weird seeing one of our wedding pics next to Wyatt Coffey’s mug shot.”

Jessie tossed him a pillow and a case. His phone rang before he could stuff one into the other. He held it close to his chest without checking the number. “Want to make a wager on whether it’s a reporter, the police, or someone up at the mansion calling to see if we need help? The one who gets it right picks the position and pleasure of their choice after we finish here.”

“Corazon or your mom.”

Teddy glanced at the number. “Wrong.” He let the call go to voice mail and finished with the pillow.

“Teddy, this is Dale Minvielle. I don’t know if Jessie has a new phone number or if she’ll take a call from me. Please ask her to get in touch. Thanks.”

Teddy raised his pale brows at his wife. She held out her hands to catch the phone and redial. “Mom?”

“Thank God! I had to learn Teddy and that baby put you into jeopardy again from reading the newspapers.” Dale shouted it loud enough for Teddy to hear. Jessie’s face showed all her hurt. She disconnected and returned the phone to Teddy. He barely had it in his grasp when it rang again.

Jessie shook her head vehemently. “It will be my mother again. Don’t answer it.”

“She’s sending a text…”

“I am so sorry. Those words just ran out. I wanted to say I know Teddy is a good man. He has taken you to a safe place where you probably won’t let me in the door if I try to visit. You were a beautiful bride. I wish you a happy life. If you let me into it again, I promise I will try to love Lizzy. Might take a while, not good with babies, but I will get there. Teach her basketball, maybe? Mom.”

Teddy held out the phone to his wife. “You should forgive her. She’s trying.”

Before Jessie’s fingertips touched the cell, it rang once more. This time he checked the number. “Not one I recognize. Yes or no?”

Jessie shrugged and pulled up the spread on her side. Teddy cautiously answered, “Bonjour” without identifying himself to disguise his somewhat famous voice of the Sinners. He’d been known to mimic a fairly thick Cajun accent when he wanted to get rid of annoyance calls.

“Hey, Teddy. That you talkin’ French?”

“Ella? Where are you?”

“Still in the hospital, but they’ll be movin’ me soon. Right now, I’m cuffed to the bed. Accessory to grand theft auto—like the game. Wyatt loved playing that one. Then, there’s abetting the escape of a felon, pawning stolen goods, breaking and entering that cabin where we hid out. Lots of stuff.”

“I guess you’ll need a good lawyer.”

Jessie shook her head and mouthed at him, “Figures.”

“No, I’m pleadin’ guilty. They’ll go easier on me and let me serve my time in the county jail here in Arkansas instead of the state pen. Wyatt will end up in Angola peeing in a bag when he gets better. My daddy said we were gonna end up in jail. Shoulda listened to him. I plan on real good behavior and gettin’ out early. Maybe I can work in the kitchen and learn to feed a crowd so I can find a job when my sentence is up.”

She was beating around the bush. Teddy believed he could save her a few wrenching words. “You want Lizzy when you do. Because you can’t have any more, Wyatt said.” He watched Jessie react to his words, her face going sad, her eyes filling with tears.

“Maybe I could if I had some surgery done. Not likely the prison system will pay for that.”

He fought against making the offer, which seemed like a bribe, but it forced itself past his lips. “Maybe I could help with that surgery if you want other children.”

Jessie spun around and cupped her hands over her face, turning her back to him. Her shoulders shook.

“Not sure I want more kids. Hard to believe after all this, but for once I’m gonna do something decent and let you and Jessie adopt her. Saw all about your wedding in the tabloids. Wish I coulda been there.”

Teddy tried to harden himself against her wistfulness. “Thank you. That is best for Lizzy. We’re staying at the ranch in one of the cottages. Later, we’ll build a house here. It’s very secure.”

“I won’t be bothering you no more so don’t worry. I won’t show up at the ranch gates again. But could I ask for pictures to see how Lizzy grows up? I bet she’ll be pretty no matter what Wyatt said. I didn’t set him on you. He did that his own self after he messed up my insides. Make sure you get him to sign any papers for Lizzy, too. He’ll come cheap, I’m fairly sure.”

“What about your dad? Will he try to claim the baby?”

“Hell, no. Hates Melungeons and everybody like ’em. She’s yours—yours and Jessie’s child now. Like Mama always said to me about you, Lizzy will be livin’ in clover. Ma done the right thing leaving you in a safe place. I’m doing the same. Have to go now. They’re here for me. Just remember those pictures, huh? I’ll send the address. You’re a good man, brother. Bye now.”

Teddy laid down the phone and went to his wife. He slung an arm around her quaking shoulders. “Jessie, it’s over. She’s letting us adopt Lizzy. She’ll sign legal documents.”

That made Jessie cry harder. “So happy,” she managed to say before wiping her tears against Teddy’s strong chest. “We had to give up some of our independence, but Lizzy is worth it.”

“Yes, yes, she is. It won’t be so bad, living in clover with you.”