Page 64 of A Lesson In Beginning

I had helped Ruth clean up after dinner while Levi took over putting the kids to bed. He was an incredibly present father, something I don’t think I’d ever seen in my years in Zion. Far too quickly, the dishes were done, the children were in bed, and I stood, nervously pacing the front hallway as I awaited his arrival.

“Where are you two going?” Ruth asked, joining me.

“I’m not sure. I told him I’d like to speak in private, and he said he knew of just the place. He didn’t answer my texts after that. As soon as I know, I will text you the location.”

“Joel is a trusted person at The Temple, and Levi would not be okay with you going if he had any reservations. But you have your cell if you should need anything.” Just then, lights shone in through the front windows, signaling Joel’s arrival in the driveway.

“I guess this is it. Why am I just as nervous as I was yesterday before our scene? Do I look alright?” I immediately second guessed the simple black leggings and tunic style shirt Ruth had goaded me into wearing. I had never worn pants a day in my life, though I had to admit, it was quite freeing, and beyond comfortable.

“You look great, and you’re nervous because you like him.” Her gentle teasing did little to diffuse my anxiety, but I didn’t have time to respond as the sound of Joel’s knocking rang through the front hallway.

“Have a good time, Adah.” Ruth hugged me for a split second before opening the front door to let him in. “Joel! It’s so good to see you! You take care of our Adah, now, you hear?” She feigned stern castigation, wagging her finger at him playfully before slipping back down the hallway towards the office, where I knew Levi was likely holed up for the night’s work.

“Shall we?” He offered his arm to me, and I stepped into the cooling night air. He led me to his car once I locked the front door and helped me into the passenger seat. “You look beautiful tonight, by the way.”

I had thought for a moment he might lean in and kiss me, but no such affections were offered. Once I was buckled in, he sped around the car to his own seat, quickly buckling and pulling out of the driveway.

“Where are we headed?”

“For a treat.” Comically waggling his eyebrows, he sped off towards the unknown destination. It was only then that I took the time to look at him.

“You’re wearing hospital clothing. Scripts? No. What are they called?” He laughed loudly, the sound ringing through the car and drowning out the soft sounds of music playing through the speakers.

“Scrubs. And yes, I came straight here after leaving the hospital. Often I wear nicer clothes to work, but tonight I took a shift in the pediatric ER, and I just find that scrubs are easier to wear. I tend to go through them faster when working down there. Sick kids, and more emergent cases can be messy. Hopefully, the look isn’t too offensive for you.”

“No, not at all. I quite like it. The blue suits you, and brings out the color of your eyes.” I blushed at my attempt at flirtation, grateful for the fact he could not see my reddening cheeks.

“There’s that blush I adore.” He took my hand in his, moving it over the center console to his thigh, where he held it within his grasp, intertwining our fingers.

“How can you possibly see that? It’s pitch black outside!” I scoffed, though the corners of my mouth refused to keep from smiling.

“I don’t need to see it to know that it’s there, love. I know you.” Lifting my hand, he turned it around and pulled it to his lips, kissing the sensitive skin on the inside of my wrist. “And I can feel your racing heartbeat. Is it from nerves or excitement?”

“I think the honest truth is both.”

“I can live with both. I like both.”

We continued driving through town, the city lights growing brighter the closer we came to downtown.

“Alright now, here is the important question. Are you a chocolate girl or an ice cream girl when it comes to dessert?”

“Dessert?”

“Yes, dessert. Sweet treats you eat after a meal, or sometimes just because.”

“Ice cream, I suppose. I had it a few weeks ago with Ruth and Levi. I found it quite delicious.”

“I’m sorry. What did you just say?” He turned to me, ignoring the road, to gawk at my words.

“I had ice cream a few weeks ago with Ruth and Levi. Levi had picked some up at the store, and we had some after dinner. It was something super sweet. Chocolate chip cookie dough, I believe? It had little bits of raw cookie dough inside of it, though it was quite hardened by the frozen state. Still, I found it delicious, as did Samuel, my son.”

“Do you mean to tell me that a few weeks ago you tried ice cream for the first time!?” His astonishment was almost as adorable as it was confusing.

“Yes, that’s what I mean.”

“Okay, well, if your singular experience with ice cream is some store-bought chocolate chip cookie dough, I have to fix that.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

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