The Unexpected Wedding(44)

“Do you think we should bring Scotty to see her again?” Becky Lee didn’t know if that would be better or worse for Scotty.

“I don’t know. He’s settled down some. I mean, I can see he’s still sad, but he’s at least adjusting to his new life.” Cal let out a long sigh. “I wish TJ could wake up and tell me what to do. And, as long as I’m wishing, I wish she’d tell us where that custody paper is.”

Becky Lee stared at her sister, and though she might be imagining it, she thought she felt a connection with her. Which was silly because her sister was still in her coma. Becky Lee scrunched up her face, concentrating. Then her heart banged in her chest and her eyes flew open wide. “I know where the paper is.”

Cal cocked his head. “Really? How?”

“I just do. Theresa Jean… told me. I think.” Becky Lee shook her head. “I know it makes no sense. She’s in a coma. But, I think the paper is in this wooden box she has. Has a carved rose on the top of it. It has a false bottom in it and she used to hide her journal there when she was a kid. We have to go back and get that box.”

“I have it.”

“What?”

“It was in Scotty’s room. Had some trading cards in it, a deck of magic cards, a couple of foreign coins. It’s in the trunk of the car.”

Becky Lee squeezed her sister’s hand. “Thanks, Theresa Jean. That’s going to help us keep Scotty safe. Don’t you worry about a thing. Just get strong and wake up.” She leaned over and kissed her sister. “We’re going to leave now, but I’ll be back soon.”

Cal leaned over Theresa Jean and whispered near her ear. “Wake up soon, sleeping beauty. We miss you. Time to get back to real life.”

They left the hospital and went directly to the car. Cal dug through the trunk until he found the wooden box and held it up triumphantly.

Becky Lee took the box from him, dumped Scotty’s things into a sack, and held her breath. She slid the side panel over and pressed on the carved rose on top of the box at the same time. The false bottom popped up and she saw the folded paper in the bottom. With shaking hands she took the paper out and handed the wooden box to Cal. She unfolded the paper and let out a whoop of joy.

“This is it. Look, right here. It gives you custody. It’s signed and notarized.” She threw her arms around Cal and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned his head against hers. They stood for a moment enjoying the small victory before she pulled away.

Becky Lee looked Cal straight in the eyes. “See, she really was communicating with me.”

“I think she probably was.”

~ * ~

Cal dropped the signed document off at the lawyer’s office on their way back from Baton Rouge. He felt like they finally had a chance against his father. Though, to be honest, his father didn’t lose at much. Ever. But surely the judge would take this legal document into consideration, along with the fact he was married now, and all Becky Lee’s stability.

Then why did he feel, in the pit of his stomach, that all this would still not be enough?

“What do you want for dinner?” Becky Lee interrupted his thoughts.

What did he want for dinner? What a normal, couple-ish thing to ask. “I don’t care. Anything is fine.”

“Let’s stop by the market before we pick up Scotty. I’ll see what looks good.”

“I don’t want you to feel like you need to feed us all the time.”

Becky Lee smiled at him. “Well, I’ve heard about your cooking abilities, so I think I’ll keep the cooking chore.”

“You have to let me take over some responsibilities. I don’t want you doing everything for Scotty and me.”

“You can mow the yard. I hate mowing.”

“I can do that. What else?”

“I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”

An hour later Becky Lee was busy in the kitchen, Scotty was working on his jigsaw puzzle, and Cal was mowing her yard. Sweat rolled down his chest as he pushed the old heavy mower. When all this was over and he left, he should get her a new self-propelled mower so it would be easier for her.

He stopped in his tracks. When he left? He was already getting used to having Becky Lee around. He realized he was in no hurry to leave, to get out of the marriage. He enjoyed Becky Lee’s company. He enjoyed it a lot.

Cal reached behind his neck and shrugged off his t-shirt and used it to wipe some of the sweat away. He tucked the end of it into the back waistband of his jeans and began to push the mower again, cutting precise diagonal passes across her yard. Mowing was a good time to think. But all he could think about was Becky Lee’s blue eyes, quick smile… and how much longer all this was going to last.