Page 311 of Redeemed

“The blood,” I whisper as I fold myself up to fit into the cabinet. “He’ll see it. It’ll be on the porch, too.”

Ruth pauses for a moment and bites the inside of her cheek. It’s what I remember her doing whenever she needed to think.

“I’ve got it,” she says. She grabs one of the larger shards of glass on the floor.

“Ruth! What are you doing?!”

“Protecting you.” She winces as she drags the glass across her heel. Blood stains her skin and drips onto the floor. “I love you, my sweet friend. Now don’t move an inch until I come back.”

“Thank you,” I whisper. “Ruth, I—”

She presses a finger to my lips. “It’s all right. There’s no need to thank me.”

After Ruth closes me in, I hear the porch door opening and closing. A moment later, Ruth calls out, “Oh! Hezekiah, thank goodness you’re here.”

“You’re bleeding,” my father says. “Are you all right?”

“I… I don’t feel well. I lost my balance and dropped a jar of applesauce, and I stepped on a piece of glass. My head… I feel like I’m going to pass out.”

“Well, why don’t you sit down? I don’t want you falling off the porch.”

“I think I need to go to the clinic,” Ruth says weakly. “Can… can you help me get there? I’m worried about the baby.”

“Of course. Are those your shoes by the door? Put them on.”

I hear Ruth shuffle across the porch, and the steps creak under my father’s weight.

“Thank you,” Ruth says. “I was going to call for help, but I was worried I’d fall down the stairs by myself. Thank goodness Mary is with my mom today. I can’t imagine carrying a toddler to the clinic like this. Oh, and it’s such a good thing that you came by. Were you looking for Samuel?”

“No, I… You haven’t happened to see Heaven around, have you?”

“Hmm? No, I haven’t seen her since church yesterday.”

Their conversation fades as they get farther away. I breathe a sigh of relief and let my body relax. Ruth has always been a quick thinker. It’s something I was jealous of when we‎ were younger. Now, all I am is grateful, because I’m pretty sure she just saved my life.

. . .

‎

It takes what feels like two hours for Ruth to get back. When she does, I hear a deep voice mingled with hers. Samuel must’ve rushed home from work when he found out Ruth had to see a doctor.

“You’re sure you’re feeling better?” he asks as they enter the kitchen.

“Mmhmm. I’ll just cook a simple dinner, and then we can head off to the ceremony. I don’t want to miss it.”

“You really think Heaven’s repentance is genuine?” Samuel asks.

“I want to think it is, but you won’t let me talk to her, so I can’t really give you a definitive answer, can I?”

At the bitterness in Ruth’s voice, I go stiff. If I spoke to Isaiah like that, it would earn me a slap across the face atleast.

“It’s for your own good,” Samuel says firmly.

Ruth sighs. “You’re right. I’m sorry I snapped. Why don’t you head upstairs and shower and get dressed for the ceremony? I’ll reheat some leftovers.”

“I think I should stay down here with you, just to be safe.”

I can practically hear Ruth rolling her eyes. “I’m fine, Samuel.”

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