Page 19 of In Just a Year
“I’m not laughing. Nobody will answer my questions. Everyone thinks it best for me to be in the dark. But I don’t want someone to surprise me with it. I need to know how it’s done. What exactly happens in the deflowering process?”
Arnold gave his signature smile, toothy and bright. He looked so clean and perfect, but Esther knew of his reputation. He’d been with plenty of women before he’d married Hannah. If anyone could tell her what happened between a man and a woman, it was him.
“What’s the secret, Arnold? What am I missing? A man falls in love, gives a girl a red rose, and then she is soon deflowered … what is in the middle?
He straightened his back and took a breath. His smile melted away with a last snort as if to reign in his mirth and he folded his hands and propped his elbows on his knees.
“First of all, the deflowering has nothing to do with a flower.”
“But the term—”
“I have no idea who came up with the term, Esther. But I assure you, flowers are not involved in the act. The middle is rather…” He drew a circle in the air as if that described everything. It meant nothing to Esther.
She gulped. Had she gotten it all wrong all this time? What had she written to Ben again in her last letter? She couldn’t wait to give him her flower. Had she made a complete fool of herself? “Please tell me the facts.”
“Alright, since you asked. When a girl becomes a woman and gets married, her husband needs to break the little skin—”
“A-r-n-o-l-d!” Hannah burst in from the bathroom, rubbing a fragrant oil on her hands. She hurried to Esther and held her hands over her ears. “She’s just a child!”
Esther heard every word even from under Hannah’s hands.
Arnold reclined and laughed out loud, tilting his head back so Esther could see his big white teeth. “She has questions and came to me. What am I supposed to do? Leave her in the dark?”
“I’m not a child!” Esther protested.
Hannah released Esther’s ears and folded her arms. “Then what are you?”
Esther gestured as if she could tear the truth from the air, clasping her fists together. “I am almost nineteen years old, and I’m in love. I want to know what happens between a man and a woman, and everybody pretends like it is the best-kept secret in the world.”
Hannah dropped onto the settee next to Esther and took one of her hands. “You’re in love?”
“Ladies, I bid you goodbye. There is … ahem … correspondence. I have to seal some letters.” Arnold rose and turned to the door. “But Esther, one thing.” She blinked at him shyly. “Whoever the young gentleman is who will have the honor to deflower you, make sure he’s worth it. You’re a brave and intelligent young woman and deserve to be cherished.”
Apparently the Klonimuses and Lizzie hadn’t told Arnold and Hannah about the scandalous kiss goodbye that Esther had shared with Ben the morning of his departure. Arnold’s unexpected compliment caused a rush of warmth to flood her cheeks.A brave and intelligent young woman.That was one of the nicest and most meaningful things she’d ever heard. The bashful smile that tugged at the corners of her lips betrayed her inner delight.
“And make sure it’s fun,” he added with an undertone that resembled a growl and was clearly directed at Hannah not at Esther.
“Arnold, stop!” Hannah threw a pillow at him and Arnold caught it with a smile. Did he wink at Hannah?
She smiled warmly and nodded at him as Arnold closed the door behind him.
Alone. Finally. Esther had her big sister’s attention. No babies crying, no servants interrupting with questions, just two sisters discussing flowers—or the loss thereof.
“Arnold said there is a skin? Why would the man break the skin? Won’t the woman bleed? Doesn’t it hurt?”
Hannah pinched her lips together and surveyed the pattern on the Persian area rug under the coffee table as if it had all the answers. She was just like Tate sometimes, seeking a moment to rephrase what was in her mind to avoid a blow. Esther preferred a more direct approach.
She tired of waiting. “Hannah, I am telling you, I will get answers! If you don’t tell me, then—”
“I’ll tell you, Esther. Calm yourself, please.” Hannah reached for a hair pin from the back of her head and twirled her cinnamon-colored mane into a bun, then secured it with the pin. She squared her shoulders and crossed her legs.
“Esti, who is the boy in question?”
She was Esti and it was a boy. Of course, for Hannah didn’t consider her a woman worthy of a man.Pah!“I won’t say.”
“Then I won’t tell you anything. Good night.” Hannah turned to stand but Esther pulled at her robe.
“Ben.”
