Something Bad (9 page)

“God dammit. I’m sorry. Okay? Please tell me what Press said.”

“Are you going to stop saying I’m dumb?”

Gabe’s smile widened.

John looked down at the bed. “Jesus Christ.”

“I’m not kidding, John.”

“Okay. I won’t say you’re dumb anymore. Now tell me what Press said.”

Billy smiled. “Okay, but it don’t make any sense. He just kept saying, ‘Jayne.

J … A … Y … N … E.’ He said it three times. Just like that. What does Jayne mean?”

John huffed and turned toward the door as Gabe worked hard to suppress a loud laugh.

Mac and Billy looked at Gabe.

“Your middle name is Jayne?” Gabe said in John’s direction, still struggling with a giggle.

John turned around and nearly bumped into the door. “Screw you. It’s a family name, okay?” He turned and stomped into the hall.

Billy put a hand to his mouth and squeezed a laugh up through his nose. Mac’s hands kept time with his silent giggles.

Gabe looked down at Press and rubbed his hand. “Thanks, Press. You got him good that time.”

Press’ eyes opened wide and the corners of his mouth seemed to turn upward, at least as much as the tubes would allow. He took a large inward breath but nothing came back out. His eyes gradually defocused and half-closed.

Gabe lifted Press’ hand and felt his wrist. “Billy. Get a nurse. Fast.”

D
EENA
L
EE WALKED
behind the half-wall of the Herndon’s Edge and turned a profile to Teddy. “What do you think? Am I losing my girly figure?”

Teddy put his hands on his hips and exaggerated an up-and-down scan. “Definitely have a critter in there. You’re not trying to hide it, are you?”

“Couldn’t if I wanted to. I’m having to let out all my dresses, and I’m not good at it.” She pulled her apron up past her waist. “Made a mess of this one.”

Teddy laughed. “Ain’t no fashion show in here. As long as the mugs are topped off, no one’ll notice. I could serve tables with no pants under my apron and most around here wouldn’t even look twice. Besides, you have the noble excuse.”

The bell over the door rang and a strong gust of wind sent the door crashing into a coat rack, nearly tipping it over. Teddy and Deena Lee peeked over the half wall and watched Thibideaux push the door closed and amble to the counter.

Deena Lee rolled her eyes and walked in his direction.

“Good morning, Ms. Murtry,” Thibideaux said. “You’re looking radiant today. I trust you’re through the worst of the morning sickness?”

Deena Lee froze, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open. Most words he’s said in a string since he moved here, she thought. She picked up a distinct bayou drawl in the formality of his deliberate words. All she could manage to utter in return was a throaty, “Comes and goes these days.”

Thibideaux put his forearms on the counter and leaned forward. His expression didn’t change. “I hope you’re remembering to take your prenatal vitamins. You want your child to have the best start possible, you know.”

Deena Lee approached the counter and faked a smile. “Doc gave me a bunch of samples, but they’re gone. They’re so expensive I’m only taking them every other day.” She put a mug on the counter and filled it just short of the brim. “You like it black, right?”

“Yes ma’am. Thank you for taking notice.”

She slid a menu beside the cup and forced an increase in her smile.

Thibideaux pointed to the chalkboard over the coffeemaker. “I believe I’ll give Teddy’s special a try today.”

She reached to pick up the menu. “Good choice. It’ll be up in a minute.” She hustled behind the half-wall and shouldered up to Teddy.

“What’s with the twerp today?” she said. “All of a sudden he’s talking like we’re best friends or something. Gives me the creeps.”

Teddy scraped the grill with the spatula blade. “Don’t you dare turn him away. You notice how many people come for lunch now?”

Deena Lee elbowed Teddy in the side. “Who do you think serves them all?”

Teddy pointed past the wall with the spatula blade. “Even John Johnson and his buddies come now. Probably pisses off his missus to no end. Best I can tell, they all come to see if Thibideaux will show up, and how he’ll leave. I’m glad he comes only every few days. The mystery is probably what brings them.”

“But why is he so chatty today?”

“Don’t know and don’t care.”

“As long as he packs them in, right?”

Teddy put the spatula down. “Yeah, well I noticed that he leaves plenty for your tip jar every time he’s in.” He smiled. “Maybe he’s got something for you.”

Deena Lee faked a shiver. She leaned a little to her right so she could see Thibideaux through the doorway. He had a newspaper spread on the counter.

She turned and pulled a plate from the overhead shelf and dished Teddy’s special on the plate. Her mind wandered as she spooned a little extra of everything.

What was he up to? Was he coming on to her like Teddy said? Was he interested in courting her for the purpose of marriage? She heard about how some girls married men more than twice their age or so homely they stopped traffic, only because they had money and privilege. But she could honestly say that no money in the world could get her into Mr. Thibideaux’s bed. Her romance novel background convinced her that an ounce of lusty passion was worth more than a hefty bank account, even if it meant a continual paycheck-to-paycheck existence. Still, she dreamed of what it would be like to go into one of those stores that sold only clothes and try on outfit after outfit, and then leave with so many boxes it would take three people to carry them.

She balanced the overloaded plate on her hand but stopped in the doorway and turned toward Teddy. “You mind if I take a break after I serve this up? My knees are sore and my ankles are swelling something awful.”

Teddy chuckled. “And that’s all?”

She shook her head and leaned his way, her voice a whisper. “No. He’s creeping me out today.”

“Fifteen minutes enough?”

Deena Lee walked around to the west side of the building so the afternoon sun would bake into her legs. A four-foot section of log rested against the wall. She had stopped smoking when she became pregnant—now she used her breaks to daydream about what it would be like to be a mother. She sat on the log, swiveled her legs up, and tilted her head back against the wall.

Her mind drifted, but a strange sensation of being watched pulled her back. A slight movement flashed in her peripheral vision. She jerked her head up and gasped.

“I’m sorry to startle you, Ms. Murtry. I hope you don’t mind if I take a minute or two of your break.”

Thibideaux’s shadowy eyes looked even darker in direct sunlight.

He extended his arm toward her. “I was able to obtain a full bottle of vitamins from a doctor friend who owed me a favor, and I immediately thought of you. I would be grateful if you would accept them as a gift.”

Deena Lee clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. “Don’t you ever do that again. And why are you being so nice to me? I already got a man.”

He inched closer and held out the bottle of 100 prenatal vitamins. “I just believe that all children deserve the best possible start in life. I assure you I’m not interested in a romantic relationship with you, or anyone else for that matter. But I do have some information about your Horace. I ran into him the other day when I returned to New Orleans to take care of some business. That’s where I got the vitamins.”

“Screw the vitamins.” She jumped up and grabbed the upper part of his left arm. “What about Horace?”

“I’m not happy to tell you this, but I think you deserve to know.”

“Is he coming back? Do you know if he’s coming back? Have you talked to him?” Her eyes were wide. Her fingers dug deep into his arm.

His expression didn’t change. “Calm yourself, Ms. Murtry. Getting all worked up isn’t good for the baby.

Yes, I have talked with Horace, but I won’t tell you everything he said. To be blunt, he has no intention of coming back. But believe me. You’ll be better off without him. He’s developed quite a drug habit, and he supports it through petty theft and the arrangement of delivery of sexual favors by his current girlfriend.”

“Jesus. If you don’t want to rile me, you have a funny way of showing it. Why are you telling me this?” Tears rolled on her cheeks as sobs interrupted her breathing. “Why should I believe you?”

“I’m so sorry. I’ve known Horace Murtry for some time, longer than you have. He’s always been headed down the path of self-destruction, and I feel bad that I didn’t step in to warn you before now. So I feel a little responsible for your current situation and for the well being of your child. I owe you that much.”

Deena Lee wanted to hit him. She wanted to hit any man within reach—maybe even go out of her way to find men to hit. “You’ve done me no favors today. I need some time by myself. Would you please leave?”

“Yes, of course. I’m so sorry. I just felt you should know, sooner rather than later.” He put the bottle of vitamins on the stump and rotated on the heel of one foot and the toes of the other. He rounded the corner of the building and a stiff gust of wind bent the bushes in his direction.

Deena Lee collapsed on the log. Her left hand gripped and squeezed the vitamin bottle like it was Horace’s neck.

The bell above the door jingled Deena Lee’s entry and Teddy looked up through a burst of smoke from the grill. “Deena Lee. What happened?” He rounded the half-wall and hand-springed the counter. “You all right?”

“I’ll be fine.” She faked a smile. “Can I have the rest of the day off? I need to forget a man. Shouldn’t take much more than that, the bastard.”

Teddy put an arm around her shoulder. “Take what you need. Just give me a call if you won’t be in tomorrow morning.” He gave her a hug.

Deena Lee swiveled her hips onto the seat of her Volkswagen and inched her legs under the steering wheel. She looked up into the rearview mirror, which was already bent her way, and adjusted her hair. “I wonder if there’s a man out there who ain’t just trying to get something from a woman,” she said to the image. She looked down and patted her stomach. “If you’re a boy, I’ll have to teach you how to love a woman. If you’re a girl, I’ll have to teach you how to teach it.” She turned the key and pumped the gas pedal several times until the engine caught.

Tires bit pavement and Deena Lee’s thoughts went back to her baby. What should she call him? She and Horace never did get married, but she had to say they did or the locals never would have accepted them. Now, she was stuck with the story, so she had to keep the name, Murtry, and give it to her child.

She stomped the brake pedal and the car skidded to a stop on the shoulder of the road. She threw open the door, stood, and leaned against it. Looking up at the sky, she screamed as loud as she could. “Bastard.” She patted her stomach. “Not you, darlin’.”

H
AZEL
J
OHNSON TRIED
to calm herself as she walked down Main Street toward the four-way stop. The night was clear and moonless, and the dim glow of a distant streetlight stretched her faint shadow into the darkness ahead. During a town meeting over a year ago, she voted in favor of turning off two of every three streetlights to save money for the town, but now she wished she hadn’t.

She felt the hair on her arms elevate against a chill that wasn’t related to the temperature; the evening didn’t require a jacket. The clandestine nature of her mission required all of the nerve she could muster, and some that was borrowed against the future of her livelihood. She had to do something. Now.

She turned left at the four-way and slowed her steps as she passed the front of the church. The corner of the rectory came into view, then the steps, then the front doors. She hesitated before making the turn, and gasped as a fog blew around the corner between the rectory and the church and enveloped her and the buildings, removing all remnants of shadows and edges. The distant streetlight barely penetrated the mist, but seemed to point a hazy beam to the rectory doors.

Hazel inched in the direction of the rectory, feeling her way with her toes before putting down the weight of each step. Her vision was blurred, but her other senses were on guard, ready to trigger a startle and escape at the slightest stimulus. Any sudden movement or sound and I’m out of here, she thought as she tried to silence her footsteps in the gravel that led across the side lot of the church.

She felt a sense of relief when her feet found the paved road that ran between the back of the church and the rectory, yet she slowed her gait since it meant she was getting close. The fog seemed to lift a little, allowing the streetlight to illuminate her destination. The rectory was so dark it seemed to attract and devour what little light penetrated to its doorway. She was within reach. Now, she had a job to do. Since most of her courage was needed just to get this far, she deliberately turned her mind to her task.