Page 78 of Leviticus
My back stiffened.
"Ruth?" Levi asked, concern etched on his face.
"It's my mother," I muttered. I was not ready to see her.
We moved together, sliding apart and making our way to the bathroom where we could both hastily ready ourselves. I was grateful that my hair easily went back into a chignon. I looked over my body quickly in the mirror. My skin was scattered with light bruises in the shapes of Levi's fingertips, scratch marks and a few errant bite marks. His feelings were affirmed in these marks. His affection for me. His devotion to me. I felt them in each scratch, in each mark.
I hid the love marks with disappointment, though for once I was grateful for the level of modesty required of me. Not a thing could be seen. I looked up, meeting Levi's eyes in the mirror before us. We shared a somewhat conspiratory smirk. It was like our own little secret. We seemed to have a lot of those. Everything from our little oasis here had to be kept secret.
"You know we have to keep things —"
"I know," I interjected, placing my hand on his. "I know this has to just be ours."
"It'll be harder than we think," he added, turning to hold both of my hands in his. I nodded, though I honestly had no idea how hard or easy any of this would be. I only knew I was not ready for it to be over. "Okay," he finally said with a sigh, my mother knocking at the door once more. "You ready?"
"Not in the slightest," I admitted with a giggle.
"Good! Me neither," he replied with a smirk before pulling me into him for a deep but all too short kiss.
We made our way down the stairs and Levi opened the doors for our guests. That's right. Guests. As in plural.
I did my best to hide the look of shock off of my face as people began to filter and trickle into the house one after another. My mother walked into the home, her eyes wide as she took in our home. My father walked in behind her, followed by Adah, Josiah, Levi's parents, and a handful of Elders and their wives. Our once quiet home was abuzz with company, talking, questions, and more.
And I was supposed to be hostess.
Crap.
Levi's eyes found mine around our guests and he gave me a look that shone brightly with understanding and encouragement. I nodded and smiled. His father led him towards the office and my attention was immediately pulled away by my mother.
"Let us make haste to the kitchen, Ruth, dear! You have guests to offer refreshments to! Merciful Lord has blessed you with such goodness and you shall offer the same to your guests! Now make haste! Make haste!" she puttered on and I led her down the hall to the kitchen. I was beyond grateful for my foresight in making refreshments the night before. I thought I was prepared, and I was in the way of refreshments and a clean home. But this noise and nosy people in our home —- that was something I doubted I could have ever been prepared for.
"Here we are," I finally uttered with a smile, shaking myself from the shock of the moment. I had already set out glasses, small plates. All that was left was the drinks in the refrigerator and the appetizers. It was not fancy. Crackers, assorted cheeses and fruits, berries and such. I looked up, after placing everything on the dining table for use and caught my sister's face. Adah looked around my home, at the prepared foods and then finally at me. I had expected to see excitement and joy in her face. What I saw there was anything but. She looked at me with a sort of contempt that was laced with sadness. Most things Adah did these days were laced in that sadness. I wished more than almost anything else in this world that I could take it away from her. She was due with her new baby any day now and I thought perhaps that would bring her happiness. Though, after my marriage to Levi, I knew more than ever that there were just some sadness's that even a new healthy baby couldn't cover.
Drinks and nibbles of food soon filled every hand and I felt I could breathe again.
"You look well, Adah," I commented with the most genuine smile.
"You look ... well cared for here, Ruth." Adah's words were kind, but her tone stung beneath it all.
"Yes, indeed! Oh, it is a blessing to have my eldest daughters married so well. And perhaps a new little one on the way?" I saw it happen. My mother's words brought a smile to Adah's face, but only for a split second as then Mama's hand moved to not Adah's belly, but to my own. My eyes went wide. I could not believe my mother would do such a thing. To either of us.
"Oh, no, Mama. I'm not... I mean..." I stammered awkwardly.
"Well, who knows? You very well could be, isn't that right Adah?" Mama chortled happily.
"Well, I suppose it's —"
"Yes, exactly. I just know God has already blessed you, Ruth. To be married to a Temple. To be with his child? You have always been such a beautiful gift of God, Ruth. You will not be cursed with any issues as some women are." Mama was a savage. The hurt on Adah's face was well masked, but to me it hung thick in the air.
"Yes, Mama, perhaps," I answered dutifully, looking for an exit. "Adah, would you walk with me? I would love to show you around!" My eyes begged her to come with me.
"No, thank you. I should rest," she excused herself, rubbing her swollen belly.
"You'll have to forgive Adah, Ruth. She is overly sensitive in this pregnancy. The Lord is testing her," my mother chastised behind Adah's back.
"Well, then I should go to her and help to ease her burden," I pushed.
"Oh, no, Ruth. I don't think —"
