by Susan Sands
They’d been allowed to have their meeting in private. Now, as Ben hobbled to standing and Sabine opened the door, there were two uniformed officers waiting outside. Were they going to arrest her for assault?
“What’s going on?” she asked the officer closest to them.
He winked at Sabine. “Not to worry, ma’am.”
They moved closer to Richard, who had yet to stand. “Richard Habersham, by order of the State of Louisiana, and the New Orleans District Attorney’s Office, we’re placing you under arrest for engaging in prostitution with a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor child, and felony sexual exploitation of a minor. You have the right to an attorney.”
“He’s my attorney.” Richard pointed to Joe, looking like a caged animal.
“Nope, sorry, Richard. I just did my last task as your minion. You are officially without the representation of me or my firm.” Joe appeared relieved not to have to take this as Richard’s representative. He’d dodged a bullet, thanks to Ben. “Nice meeting you, Ben. Best of luck to you, Sabine.”
Joe exited the room a free man.
“Bye, Richard. Good luck,” Ben said. “I’ll file this paperwork first thing Monday morning.”
Sabine took a final look at Richard. She didn’t hate him. It was pity that took up the space inside her where other emotions previously resided. “Goodbye, Richard.”
She expected a cry for help, since Richard had never lost at anything in his life.
He just stared at her in silence. Silence, and maybe acceptance. He wasn’t a stupid man, just incredibly filled with his own self-importance and denial of responsibility. Tonight, he’d been taken down. He’d been humbled. Now he would face the dire consequences of the sum of his actions.
Chapter Seventeen
“It’s finally over,” Sabine said.
They were in his bed. They’d had to wait until Monday morning to file the legal paperwork. Since Sabine and Richard’s divorce would be dissolved in Louisiana, it had to be done there. They also were asked by police to stop by the station to fill out more paperwork to finalize the reports from Saturday evening’s events. So, they’d not been able to leave right away.
Plus, the DA had subpoenaed the video evidence in Sabine’s possession on the spot, so she’d turned it over. It was a good thing they’d brought it with them in case Richard wanted proof it existed, or that she had it.
“Finally. Hopefully, they won’t ask you to testify at his trial. Since you provided a statement that you would give up the evidence in your possession but had had no other or prior evidence of his crimes. But we’ll face that if and when we have to. He likely wouldn’t go to trial for at least a couple years, as slowly as the system works.”
“Sure makes it easy to get a divorce when your spouse has been charged with a felony and proved to be an adulterer, along with living apart for two years.” Sabine was granted a divorce on those grounds on the spot.
“Free woman, huh? I like the sound of that.” He kissed her on the head.
She was lying in the crook of his shoulder, and they were both rested and sated. And happy.
“Yep. And home in Alabama. Seems my worries are few now.” Sabine had shed the mantle of Richard and all he’d represented in her life. She was free to embrace her future now.
“Oh, by the way, my mom wanted to know if we could stop by this evening for dinner. And she included Rachel, your mom, and Norman in the invitation. You free?”
“Um, sure. I’ll let the others know. It’ll be around six before I can get free since I’m making up a couple sessions from yesterday.” She’d had to cancel her Monday patients since their return was delayed.
“I’ll let Mom know to expect us around seven?”
“That should work. It’ll give me time to go home and freshen up first.”
They’d also stopped by Touro Hospital before leaving New Orleans and had Ben’s foot x-rayed, and thankfully, it wasn’t broken, only badly sprained. So, he was put in a boot for the next couple weeks, and would see a local orthopedist. Sabine drove them home, since he’d injured the right foot.
“Honey, are you sure she’s ready for the whole family descending on her like this?” Emma asked. “We aren’t exactly an easy pill to swallow all at once. I mean she’s met us all at one time or another, but a family dinner? With all the kids and animals?”
“Gotta be sure she can handle us, you know?” Ben grinned at his older sister.
“Ooohh. You slick devil, you. I’m so happy for you. Don’t you worry. We’ve got that other thing all handled. She’s going to love it! We’ve all been involved, even the children. We’re thrilled you realized Sabine was the girl for you. We all knew it right away. You’re different with her. She brings out the best in you—happiness.”
Ben had a surprise for Sabine. The obvious one and the not-so-obvious one. He’d set the sister brigade on a mission that none could resist.
He’d left the office an hour early to make sure everything was on schedule, so he ignored a call from the office landline and let it go to voice mail. He would check it later. There wasn’t anything urgent on his schedule.
Ben entered the kitchen at Evangeline House and inhaled. “Cammie, that smells amazing.”
“Of course it does, Brother. I’ve earned my queen of Southern cooking crown. The crawfish pies will be out shortly. The gumbo is simmering on the stove. I’m using Papa Bean’s recipe. I can’t wait to see what Sabine and her mom think of it. I know they’re amazing Louisiana cooks, so I just had to do Cajun tonight. I’ve got bread pudding in the oven with pecan praline sauce.”
“I’m dying here,” Ben said. He loved Cajun food, and his sister knew it. “Thanks for doing this.”
“Are you kidding? I’m finally feeling a hundred percent now that I’m in my second trimester. I have the energy of a freight train. Just try and stop me.”
“I wouldn’t even attempt it, if I were you,” Grey Harrison said. He’d entered the kitchen, and slid up behind Cammie, covering her very slightly rounded tummy with his big hands. He was obviously a very happy man.
Ben’s heart warmed seeing his sister and Grey so happy after all the turmoil they’d gone through not so long ago.
Two screaming preteens burst in the kitchen like a tornado. “She’s here, Uncle Ben. Can we bring them out yet?” Samantha and Lucy were so excited, they were about to burst with it.
“Not yet. Wait for my signal, okay? I want the surprise to be just right,” Ben said.
“Ooooohh. Okay. But, hurrrrrry.” The girls ran back out to their post.
Ben followed, albeit a little limpy, to greet Sabine. Rachel, Elizabeth, and Norman were with her, so his greeting was a little less obvious and enthusiastic than it might have been if they’d had a moment of privacy. He really couldn’t seem to get enough of her. Seeing her after a long day apart was like a lifetime of separation. What kind of romantic fool had he become? Who cared? He was in seriously big love and the happiest he’d ever been.
“Hi there. Wow, there’s quite a crowd. I didn’t realize the whole family would be here.” She didn’t seem upset, only mildly surprised. “How’s your foot today?”
“The foot’s okay, but you’ll need to understand the true nature of my family. Sometimes you get the whole bunch when you least expect to.” As he finished the statement, JoJo, Beau, Suzie, and Dirk came in the front door.
“Hey there, Sabine,” JoJo hugged her, and Sabine greeted the children. Suzie was five, and grinned up at Sabine, obviously happy to have the attention of the pretty lady. Then, she spotted her uncle Ben and shrieked as she threw herself into his arms. As was their custom, and despite his gimpiness, he carefully spun her around until she was dizzy and he set her down so she could walk like a drunken sailor while Ben made certain she didn’t get the business end of anything hard or sharp until she regained her equilibrium.
Ben then turned to Dirk and gave a fist bump to the gangly fifteen-year-old, who grinned at him with the ado
ration of one who hoped to walk in the same shoes someday. “Hey, buddy.”
“Hi, Uncle B. Sorry to hear about your foot.”
Beau, the quietest of the whole gang, shook Ben’s hand. Ben liked his brother-in-law, and appreciated how Beau supported his family as a strong male role model and a person of great character. He never swore in front of his children or drank to excess. Ben had learned what kind of husband and father he wanted to be someday by watching Beau over the years.
“Happy for you, man.”
“Thanks, Beau.”
Sabine was speaking with JoJo and Cammie, and Ben enjoyed simply watching how well she meshed with his people. It mattered so much to him that they got along.
There was a bit of activity at the front door, as the group had moved toward the main living area. Since the Evangeline House was an event business inside a large mansion, it was set up perfectly to welcome groups large and small. It seemed that his oldest sister, Maeve and her husband, Junior had arrived. Their daughter, Lucy was already here and assisting with the plans.
So, the group was all here and dinner was ready, according to Cammie and Mom, who’d come out of the kitchen and announced that everyone should move toward the dining room. Eat first, was the family motto. The Laroux family had a lot of family mottos, but that was one of his favorites.
There were place cards, so no one got confused as to where they were to sit. It wasn’t at all formal, but knowing where to sit saved chaos with a family this large, especially when someone had a goal and an agenda like Ben did this evening.
A bell sounded to quiet everyone and Mom announced, “Serve your plates and find your places, everyone, and we’ll get started.” Howard helped herd the crowd toward the serving board on the side of the dining room. They’d already carried out the dishes filled with food, it seemed. He certainly would’ve helped with that if he’d known they needed it.
Sabine had to admit that she was a bit overwhelmed at the sheer number of people at a regular dinner with Ben’s immediate family. But none of them seemed even slightly fazed by it.
As they sat down to eat, she felt as ease, as if she and her mother belonged with this zany, fun group, and they fully accepted her and her past. Sabine knew that at least half, if not all, were in the loop about what had gone down in New Orleans. She’d given Ben the okay to inform them. She didn’t want to live a lie, wondering when, or if, her bubble of belonging and happiness would burst. Her true identity would spread around town; it would be gossip, and there would be talk. She intended to share the news during her patient sessions as soon as possible, where she could control how they received the information.
Howard stood and said grace over the food, once everyone had managed to serve their plate and was seated. His prayer was touching, and not limited to the food. He thanked God for bringing them together and asked for continued safety for his family and friends. This came from a heart full of love for his new family, and after a lifetime of being alone. The words were simple but the sentiment far deeper and more meaningful, which caused everyone at the table to join hands in silent understanding for their own blessings. They were healthy, together, and held a deep abiding love for one another.
Sabine teared up, looking around. She missed her dad. Yes, he’d screwed up, but he was her father, and her family. She also realized her mother and father’s relationship couldn’t be repaired. Mom had moved on and was happy. They would go to the hearing Thursday and support him for real. Hopefully, he would be released. Sabine knew that deep down he wasn’t a bad person, only a man who’d weakened and lost his way.
Just as they were saying their amens to Howard’s heartfelt prayer, the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” Ben jumped up, nearly forgetting about his injured foot, and went to answer it.
When he came back inside, his expression was confused and somewhat disturbed. He cleared his throat and everyone looked up. “Um, say hello to Governor Grumby. Apparently, he stopped by my office and I wasn’t there, so someone told him he could find me here.”
“Greetings, Laroux family. I’m sorry to interrupt your family dinner. I was on my way from Huntsville to Birmingham and thought I’d swing by and make my announcement. But there are a few folks outside who might also want to hear what I have to say.”
“Well, hello, Governor Grumby. Who’s outside?” Howard asked, his tone protective.
“About half the town, I figure, and several reporters. It seems once word got around that my security detail was spotted, folks came out to see what the ruckus was about. Looks as if they’ve followed us here.”
Everyone got up from the table to look outside then. “What sort of announcement do you plan to make, sir?”
The governor smiled. “Son, it’s a surprise, so why don’t we go on outside and we can get on with it? I’d like to get home before midnight.”
Ben looked like he wanted to argue with the governor but thought better of it because it was foolish to do so. But Sabine knew him, and he appeared worried.
The entire family headed out, confused, but somewhat excited.
Sabine stood next to Ben, who stood next to the governor once they were outside on the large porch, which acted as a stage, as it was elevated above the crowd by the set of steps leading up to it. The family stood on both sides.
And sure enough, it did seem as if half the town was there. Good thing the Evangeline House was set back from the road and had a large lovely front yard for just this kind of gathering.
Governor Grumby began, his deep, booming voice carrying across the crowd. “What a fantastic impromptu gathering we’ve got here today. I’ve come to town to honor one of you own today. Many of you know Ben Laroux as a local attorney, but he’s far more—he’s a hero. He’s recently been appointed to my special board to help identify corruption and waste in our great state, and he’s doing a fine job. But just this past weekend, he managed to play a major role in bringing down a high-profile criminal who’s been under surveillance for quite some time.”
The crowd murmured its surprise, and Ben turned a shocked stare toward Sabine. He had no idea this was coming.
“While Ben here managed to help bring down the felon, Senator Richard Habersham, his wife, Theresa Prudhomme Habersham, who has been estranged from him and living a covert life here in Ministry, was especially key in this arrest.” The governor nodded toward Sabine.
Sabine closed her eyes, understanding the gravity of what had just happened. As she opened them, she looked over the crowed and measured their reaction. Shock. Hurt. Anger. “Dr. O’Connor isn’t a therapist?” one of her patients asked aloud. “Wait, Prudhomme? Isn’t that the corrupt New Orleans’s DA who got sent to prison? Are you his daughter? Wait, I saw that on TV. It is you. Your hair is different.”
“No. I’m a therapist. I’m just using my given name. My other name. Oh, I’d like a chance to explain—” Sabine began.
“Sabine isn’t Sabine?” another asked, and an angry murmur spread into a few shouts. “Lying must run in the family.”
Governor Grumby held up his hands for silence. “I’ll let you work out your beef with Mrs. Habersham, but I wanted to honor them both with a governor’s certificate. And I want to offer my endorsement for Ben’s run for next term’s state house of representative of this district.”
Sabine’s eyes filled and her heart plummeted. Of all that had just gone sideways in her life within the past five minutes, this was the worst. He planned to run for public office? How could she not know this? He’d never mentioned it.
She couldn’t/wouldn’t marry a politician, no matter how much she loved him. Politics had ruined her life. She felt someone at her elbow, supporting her. It was Rachel.
She whispered into Sabine’s ear, “Smile. You can fall apart later. Appear confident. Say thank you. We’ll sort this out later.”
Ben tried to place his arm around her shoulders. She couldn’t allow it. She felt so betrayed. Surely he understood she couldn’t be with a high-profile political figu
re.
The crowd was casting angry glances her way. They’d been betrayed too.
Then, someone said, “Dr. O’Connor saved my marriage. I don’t care what her real name is.” A few folks nodded in agreement.
Another patient stepped forward. “Sabine was there for me when my ex-husband left me and she counseled me through my fight for custody this past year. I couldn’t have survived it without her.” This was a very private thing, and Sabine was shocked this woman had spoken out.
“Thank you.” Sabine had tears in her eyes now.
“She persuaded me to come to marriage counseling and get help with my drinking problem.” One of her male patients stepped forward, shocking Sabine. “We owe her our marriage and my life. I don’t care what her name is.”
Then, what capped it off was Judith Jameson, who had pretty much driven Sabine crazy as a patient this past year, came forward, stepped up onto the porch, and addressed the crowd. “Good people, it seems that Sabine here has had some misfortune of her own, and she came to this town for refuge. In her time here, she’s managed to do many of us a great deal of good. For me, she’s changed my outlook about how I see my relationships with my loved ones. I still think a lot of you are wannabees and suck up to me to get into the Junior League and get Kappa Delta reference letters for your girls at Alabama, but I’ve made personal progress because of Sabine.”
Judith placed her hands on her hips in a power stance. “Y’all need to think about what I’ve said and look inside yourselves and decide if our town has been better since she’s arrived. Our Ben here certainly seems to think so.”
The crowd made the turn and began applauding wildly. Judith turned and winked broadly at Sabine. Sabine had never been so touched by a gesture.
The town chose her.
The governor stepped up and presented the framed certificates to Ben and Sabine. They accepted, and the reporters took photos. Then, one of them asked Ben, “So, Ben, will you make a run for the state house next year?”