Something Bad (17 page)

Doc took a long drink of Jack. “I didn’t have a long list of possibilities. This was far enough away from both him and her, and the job was in family medicine. I figured he’d never find me here.”

“What about your wife?” Gabe said.

“Ex-wife. I don’t know, and I don’t care. She wasn’t what I thought she was. She was pretty, though, and I got caught up in that. She was more concerned about her own appearance than about any aspect of our emotional ties. I can tell you this from experience. A relationship with someone whose primary goal in life is personal glamour is a one-way street. Maintenance of glamour doesn’t leave enough time to be concerned about the needs of anyone except the person in the mirror.”

“So why you hooked up with Misty?” Teddy said. “She’s not exactly the settling down type.”

“I’m not looking for anything long term right now, or anytime soon.” Doc sipped. “Let’s just say Misty’s good company.”

Teddy slapped the table. “I knew it. She as good as they say?”

Doc belly-laughed. “You guys are pros around here. All I’ll say is that she is a very enthusiastic young lady.”

Teddy turned serious. “You ever want a settling down type, Gabe’s sister’s a catch.”

Both Gabe and Doc burst into laughter.

“What?” Teddy looked at Doc and then at Gabe.

“We got an arrangement about Wanna,” Gabe said.

Teddy frowned. “What kind of arrangement?”

Gabe took a sip of Jack. “Not long after Doc showed up, Wanna went in for a check-up. Doc went to check her girl parts and Wanna went off on him. Busted up the office, wrenched Doc’s arm and bloodied his nose.”

Doc chuckled. “She accused me of a variety of perversions and threatened a medical malpractice complaint.”

“Now, when she gets sick, I get the details and pass them on to Doc,” Gabe said. “Anything serious and I just take her to the hospital.”

“I still think you should give her another look.” Teddy said. “When you’re tired of Misty. She’ll make one hell of a wife, if you can tame her.”

Gabe dropped his cards and walked to the window and looked out into the dark fog. Despite the Jack haze, his mind couldn’t leave Mac. And Press. And all the other deaths that seemed suspiciously unrelated. Something bad, he thought. Something bad for sure.

W
ANNA WAVED AT
Janice McKenna and hurried to the food section of the general store. She wanted to offer her regrets about Mac’s accident, but she didn’t know what to say. Shopping first would give her time to think up the best way to express her feelings before checking out.

A gust of wind slammed the front door into the adjacent wall turning heads throughout the store. Thibideaux closed the door and walked in Wanna’s direction.

“Good afternoon, Miss Petersen. We haven’t met yet. I’m Jackson Thibideaux. I’ve been living in the old rectory for the last few months.” He held out a tiny open hand.

Wanna didn’t move. Her eyes were riveted on his mouth, his lips. They barely moved when he talked, yet his words were clear. “I can guess who you are, Mr. Thibideaux. Word spreads fast around here. Nice to meet you.” She extended her hand and grabbed his with a death grip that would have taken a linebacker to his knees. He didn’t react.

“That’s what I like about this place,” he said. “I’m as observant as your fellow residents, maybe more so. In fact, I have a unique talent along those lines. I’ve been known to recognize physical problems in others before any of the symptoms are strong enough to be noticed by professionals. So, I may be of some help to you.”

Wanna took a half step back and frowned.

“Although I’ve only observed you from a distance, I’ve noticed a subtle change in your physical and emotional attitudes that tell me you might be able to use a little medical aid.”

Wanna stiffened. Where did the little jerk come off, poking his nose where it didn’t belong. She took another half step back and scanned herself. Her eyes shot back to Thibideaux.

“I don’t mean to offend you, but you’re looking quite pallid compared to how you looked just a month ago,” he said. “I thought you’d like to know.”

Wanna gritted her teeth and stepped forward again. “Looky here, you little pipsqueek. I don’t know you from Adam, and I was taught to never talk one down when making a first meeting. I got nothing wrong with me, and I don’t appreciate you saying otherwise.” She balled her right hand into a fist. “You a doctor? I got five right here for doctors, and another five just to the south if the first ain’t enough.” She raised her right fist and sneered at Thibideaux as if he were Doc Halvorson trying to get a free feel of her privates without so much as a little romancing first.

Thibideaux took a small step back and put his hands out, palms up. “I meant no disrespect, Miss Petersen. I’m only suggesting you might want to try some vitamins. This time of year is difficult for most people around here, with the increased workload of the farm. I’ll keep my opinions to myself if you’ll calm yourself.”

“Calm on this,” Wanna squeezed through her teeth. She swung her right arm toward, but purposefully above Thibideaux’s head.

He didn’t flinch. He just stared with that silly grin.

Her bluff called, Wanna paused. The intent wasn’t to injure, but to bully a little.

Now she’d have to do one of two things—follow through with a real swing or calm down, all but acknowledging that her act was for show. “I guess if you’re looking after my well-being, I can thank you and be off to my place. I still think you should get to know someone before telling them they look bad.”

“You are right, Miss Petersen. I just wanted to pass on my observations before anything bad came to you. Please forgive my forwardness. Good day.”

Wanna watched the little man amble down the isle and through the front door. She hurried to the toiletries isle and stooped to catch a peek in one of the displayed hand mirrors. There were bags under her eyes.

T
EDDY
J
R.’S BIG
day arrived and Teddy Sr. hurried into the church. He had made his weekly trip to the train trestle, and his car had become stuck in the sand. He missed the church service, and he was nearly late for the baptism.

Each week he packed up all of the food items that ran past their usefulness and delivered them to the tracks. The covered space under the trestle was a frequent resting spot for railroad boxcar travelers—they’d make an evening bonfire and get in a day of rest before continuing on their unauthorized journeys. It was such a popular stopping off point someone had erected a sign overhead that read, “The Next Place,” in honor of their universal answer when asked where they were heading.

Teddy Sr. paused at the back of the church and smiled. Looking out at all of his friends, he reflected on his good fortune. Some in attendance made up his regular clientele at the café, and most others came in at least once a week for a bite. He separated the locals into two groups. About half liked the traditional dishes on the menu. For them, he learned how they each liked their food prepared. And he made sure the portions were large enough so no one left without a Styrofoam box in hand.

The others were his challenge, and therefore his favorites. They were the adventurous ones who preferred the daily specials, which were made strictly from leftovers. Teddy was a master at formulating a tasty meal from the most irregular amounts and varieties of food materials, with only an occasional failure. The failures were still palatable and filling, but they paled in comparison to the wonderful tastes he generated in his numerous successes. Besides, the specials were always half the price of the menu items.

Reverend Michael Sather looked splendid in his long white robe, which accentuated his six-foot-two, well-proportioned frame. It was Wes Worthing’s words of support that cemented the decision to bring Reverend Sather to the Tri-counties, even though this was his first congregation. From the first wonderful sermon on, the residents couldn’t believe their good fortune at landing such a fine minister. They showed their appreciation by packing the church, and the collection baskets, every Sunday.

Teddy was overjoyed to see that nearly everyone remained seated at the end of the service. He scanned the room, trying to make eye contact so he could give a grin to everyone in attendance. When he looked to the back of the hall, he was surprised to see the unmistakable face of Jackson Thibideaux in the very back, next to the doors. Thibideaux stood, but his head barely rose above those of the sitting congregation. Teddy gave Thibideaux a smiling nod, which was returned as a stiff-necked, slight bend of the waist.

Teddy beamed as Teddy Jr. was handed from his wife, Rachel, to the godparents, Wes and Thelma Worthing. Teddy Jr. was dwarfed in Wes’ huge hands, and then grew when he was passed to Thelma’s petite arms. Teddy Jr. wore a white christening gown that Deena Lee had hand sewn, with an embroidered cross on the chest and “Teddy John Rosewald Jr.” on the hemline, all in gold thread.

Teddy’s eyes locked on the small man in the back of the church. Thibideaux rubbed his eyes with his fists, then clasped his hands in front of his belt. Teddy watched his wide eyes slowly scan the room as the opening prayers were offered, like he was trying to memorize the layout of every chandelier, crucifix, and decoration. Thibideaux’s hands shook as if he were a third grader about to recite the Gettysburg Address, from memory, to an auditorium full of video camera-toting parents.

Reverend Sather took Teddy Jr. from Thelma Worthing and poured water from the baptismal fountain over the baby’s forehead, bringing Teddy’s attention back to the ceremony. He watched the Reverend hold his thumb and forefinger at right angles as he traced the cross on Teddy Jr.’s forehead with the tip of this thumb. Teddy’s eyes brimmed with tears.

At the conclusion of the baptism, Thibideaux waited at the back of the church as all of the well-wishers extended their congratulations to the Rosewalds, and particularly to the newest official member of the congregation. When most of the crowd were gone, Thibideaux came forward, holding out a legal-sized envelope to Teddy Sr.

“I’d like to offer my sincere congratulations to the three of you on this glorious day, and to forward this gift to the man of the hour, Teddy Jr.”

Teddy Sr. pulled the envelope sides apart and forced a swallow. By his quick thumb flip, there were ten $100 bills.

“Mr. Thibideaux, this is beyond generous. I don’t know what to say. It’s a wonderful surprise.”

“It’s given to the precious Teddy Jr. and only on one condition. The entire amount, not a cent less, must be put away for his future. If it’s invested wisely, and added to on a regular basis, he won’t be wanting when he reaches adulthood. Can you promise me you’ll do that?”

Teddy reached out and shook Thibideaux’s hand. “Absolutely. We’ll see to it that Teddy Jr. gets a weekly addition. We can’t thank you enough. Your kindness brings tears to my eyes.”

“It gives me great joy as well. Congratulations again, and good day.”

As the church door slammed shut, Teddy thumbed through the bills again. He looked at Teddy Jr. in Rachel’s arms. “Your future’s going to be bright, little one.”

All day, the baptism was the first topic of conversation with each customer, and the constant mention seemed to give Deena Lee some of the energy she had lost in the last couple of weeks.

In honor of Teddy Jr.’s big day, Teddy had offered a free dessert to all who stopped in at the Herndon’s Edge the next day. He was up all night baking cakes and pies, and word spread fast making it one of the busiest days since he had bought the café six years ago.

Deena Lee touched her cheeks, which were sore from all the smiling. She was fascinated by the baptism ceremony and the reaction it evoked in the residents. She hadn’t been overly religious before moving to the Tri-counties. But lately she was captivated by the weekly sermons of hope and joy offered by Reverend Sather. It seemed like he was talking directly to her every week, like the rest of the worshippers weren’t there.

When the afternoon slow-down came, Deena Lee leaned on the half-wall and engaged Teddy’s eyes.

“You suppose I could get my young one baptized?”

Teddy smiled. “Of course. Reverend Sather would be honored to do it for him, or her. What is it anyway? It’d be easy to tell by now.”

“Don’t want to know. I prefer to be surprised.” A deep groove cleaved her forehead. “But, I wasn’t baptized. Does that matter?”

Teddy rounded the half-wall. “Naw. You could probably get a two-for-one. Get baptized right along with the tyke.”

Deena Lee didn’t notice the bright sunny day had given away to a dark, cloudy afternoon, and that it had started to rain. A bright flash of lightning and a near simultaneous clap of thunder both illuminated the café and shook its walls, bringing the weather change to their attention. Deena Lee scrambled for the absorbent entry mat while Teddy checked the fuse box to make sure no fuses had blown.