Page 62 of Louisiana Protector

“You ready to blow this joint?” Frank asked.

“Definitely.” Johnny stood. “Do you have something for me?” The shirt he’d been wearing yesterday had been cut off him.

Frank tossed him a gray T-shirt, and Johnny pulled it on, the movement making his shoulder hurt. “Thanks, man,” he said to Frank. “Now I’m ready to get out of here.”

Together the two men left the hospital. As Frank drove to Johnny’s place, he caught Johnny up on all the gossip and how shocked people were about what had happened.

“Mimi has lots of friends in town, and everyone was glad to hear she got out of it alive. People are also saying you’re a real hero, that you took a bullet to save Mimi,” Frank said.

“Ha, I’m no hero,” Johnny replied. “If anyone is a hero here, it’s Mimi herself. She managed to get away from Jean-Luc and survive until help could arrive.” Thoughts of Mimi shot love through Johnny’s veins. God, he’d come so close to losing her. Right now, he didn’t care where he fit into her life—he was just grateful she was alive. “Last night she came to see me, and she told me Danny is my son,” Johnny said.

“Cool, that’s what you’d been hoping for, right?” Frank shot him a quick glance.

“Right, even though it was no surprise. I knew he was mine.”

“Then no paternity test is necessary,” Frank said as he pulled up in the driveway at Johnny’s house. “Congratulations on your new fatherhood.”

“Ha…only four years too late,” Johnny replied. “But I guess late is better than never.”

Frank parked, and Johnny opened the door to get out.

“Hey, do you need anything? Is there anything I can do for you?” Frank asked.

“No, I’m good, but thanks for bringing me home,” Johnny replied.

“No problem. Don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything.”

“Will do, thanks again for the ride. I’ll see you tomorrow at the jobsite.” With that, Johnny got out of the car and headed to his front door. He intended to get right back to work despite his injury, although he’d be more of an onlooker until his shoulder felt better.

Once inside, he eased down into the recliner. For several minutes he just sat, letting the events of the last two days roll through his head.

It had all been so wild and crazy. He had no idea how Jean-Luc thought he was going to keep Mimi for himself. He still didn’t know much of the details of what had happened. Unfortunately, the ambulance had taken him away before he could learn everything. Hopefully Mimi could fill him in later when he went to see her.

He must have fallen asleep, for when he next opened his eyes, it was two o’clock in the afternoon. The first thing he did was head to the kitchen to make himself a sandwich. Then he decided a bath was in order. He couldn’t take a shower because he’d been told to keep his wound dry for the next couple of days.

It was after four when he was ready to head to Mimi’s shanty. As always, his heart lit with joy just to know he was going to be in the shanty that felt like home and with the people he loved with all his heart.

As he walked through the swamp to reach her shanty, he drank in the beauty of his surroundings. So many people thought this was a dark and dangerous place, and it could be. But all he saw right now as he walked in was the absolute beauty of the swamp. The sunlight shone golden on the majestic tupelos and cypress trees and sparkled on the pools of water that appeared here and there. Flowering plants dotted color amid the tangled brush along the path, and Spanish moss dressed some of the trees in delicate lace.

It wasn’t just the landscape he loved. He also greatly admired the people who lived here. They were strong and self-reliant. They lived with little social media and no television, and yet they were bright and innovative.

When the shanty came into view, despite the throbbing pain in his shoulder, he picked up his pace. Mimi answered the door, as always looking beautiful in a pair of jeans and a blouse the color of her emerald eyes. Her hair was loose, and her smile was warm and inviting.

“Johnny!” Danny exclaimed before Mimi could speak. He raced toward Johnny, all wiggly excitement as he prepared to launch himself into Johnny’s arms.

“Whoa, Danny be easy. Johnny has a boo-boo in his back,” Mimi said.

Danny stopped in his tracks, his smile falling into a frown of concern. “You have a boo-boo?” he asked softly. “On your back?”

“I do,” Johnny replied.

“Does it hurt?” Danny eyed him solemnly.

“It hurts a little bit,” Johnny replied.

Danny walked around behind him and kissed the center of his back softly. He then returned to look Johnny in the eyes. “That should help. Mommy’s kisses always help my boo-boos.”

Johnny smiled at his son. “It feels better already.”