Page 72 of Snow in Texas

Jenny had her cellphone in her hand and was dialing before she could debate the wisdom of this move.

Mercy’s wife picked up on the second ring. “Hi, Jenny.” There were background noises, voices, maybe the TV. Ava’s voice held a note of surprise; they didn’t talk all that often, and she had to be wondering what had spurred the contact.

Jenny winced with sudden guilt. “Is this a bad time?”

“Oh, no. It’s good to hear from you,” Ava assured, and then the noise receded. Sound of a door opening, then closing again. Then stillness. “We’re having a lazy day. Mercy’s currently trying to show Remy the best way to break someone’s neck, using a teddy bear to demonstrate. Lord, that man,” she said with a happy sigh. “So what’s up?”

Jenny sighed too, with less happiness behind it. “I wanted to get your opinion on something. And you aren’t gonna believe this, but…”

Ava stayed quiet as Jenny related the story: a brief summary of Colin’s arrival, their get together, and finally, the pregnancy news.

“So yeah,” Jenny finished, exhaling like she’d run a race. “That’s pretty much where we’re at.”

It was silent a beat. Ava said, “Right,” in a businesslike way. She was thinking; Jenny could envision her dark brows drawing together as she frowned. “Does anyone know?”

“No, and I’d like it to stay that way,” Jenny said in a rush. “Please, Ava, this is just between us for right now.”

“Of course.” She made a considering sound. Then chuckled. “Well at least you’re not seventeen.”

Jenny couldn’t return the laugh. “True.” She shivered as she remembered the Lean Dogs lore – the story of Ava, miscarrying all over the floor of an abandoned house, Mercy cradling her in his arms. Ava’s mother, Maggie, had told her the story once, her pretty face bone-white, pulse jumping visibly in her throat as she recalled the night her daughter was attacked by a classmate…and rescued by her much-older lover.

She regathered her thoughts. “I’m not afraid of telling anyone. Not like Colin is,” she said with a snort. “He wants to hold off telling Candy as long as possible, I’m sure.”

“I bet.”

“It’s just that…” Jenny’s logic abandoned her in one great rush, leaving her shaken and breathless. “I’m just anxious I guess. And how embarrassing is that at my age?”

A beat passed, Ava thinking again. “You know women with children.”

“I do.”

“But…you only know one who has kids with a Lécuyer. That’s why you called.”

Relief. “Yeah. That’s exactly why I called.”

“Well.” There was a rustling, Ava shifting positions. “They’re different, in a lot of ways. Colin’s charm is more for show, like he’s worked at it. But where he has a mean streak, Mercy has a homicidal one.”

“He’s not bloodthirsty,” Jenny agreed, meaning no insult to Mercy.

“No. Merc would tell you they’re polar opposites. But from what I can tell…that Lécuyer blood’s some strong stuff.”

“Tell me,” Jenny prompted, teeth catching at her lip in anticipation.

Ava was a writer, and it showed in the way she spoke now. “They’re both Southern down to their bones, and they genuinely like women. They aren’t intimidated by us; they can have real conversations with us. Colin’s got a bit of the playboy shtick…”

“Yeah,” Jenny agreed with a snort.

“…but under that’s a fairly thoughtful man. And I think maybe he tries to hide that, or is ashamed of it. I don’t know. But from everything I’ve heard, from knowing Mercy most of my life, I think Remy – their dad, and not my Remy – was the kind of man who did what he did, and loved who he loved, and didn’t much care what anyone else thought about him. Colin suffers from a little vanity, and that’s because Remy didn’t raise him. Then again, that whole secret-daddy thing may be more to blame.”

“Hmm.” Candy was haunted daily by the death of their father. But wasn’t it better to have known and been loved by the man, than to be like Colin, and have lived a lie? Jenny thought so. “He’s much more…attached, than I would have thought. I didn’t talk to him for two weeks and he actuallymoped.”

Ava laughed. But then grew more serious. “I can’t speak for Colin, but I know Mercneedsto be married. Emotionally. It’s not just about the sex for him. We’re friends.” Her voice softened. “I know that sounds hokey and stupid, but it’s true. He likes for us to spend lots of time together, even if it’s just reading, or wrangling both boys through the aisles at the grocery store. He’s an incredibly involved husband…because his whole world was shattered before he came to Knoxville, and he holds onto the new one with both hands.”

“He’s a good dad,” Jenny told her. “But he wanted kids, didn’t he?”

“He did.” Voice careful, Ava said, “What’s Colin said so far? About the baby.”

Jenny shrugged though it couldn’t be seen. “Actually, I think he’s accepted it. He was shocked, obviously, and he freaked out at first, but then he just…I dunno. Maybe’s he faking.”

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