Bent Road - Lori Roy [70]
“We haven’t talked much since you moved back, just you and me,” Ruth says, wanting to touch Arthur’s hand. “But I’m always around, aren’t I?”
“Glad to have you. You know that.”
“I do.” Ruth rests both hands on Elisabeth and smiles when she feels a familiar flutter. “Do you remember how Eve used to tease you for having so little to say?”
Arthur nods.
“But when you did decide to talk, she always listened. She said you were worth listening to because you made darn sure you had something worth saying before you said it.”
“Be nice if that were true.”
“It is true, Arthur.” Ruth reaches out and rests one hand on his. “I know you’ll take care of us. If you say it, I know it’s worth listening to.”
Arthur drops his head into his folded arms.
“I know it’s true. And I know if you could have saved Eve, you would have.”
For a moment they are silent.
“What happened to Eve was not your fault,” she says. “I know you think it was. I know Father made you think it was. But it wasn’t. You were a boy, Arthur. No more a man than Daniel is now.” Ruth touches Arthur’s cheek and lifts his face. “I listened to you, Arthur. So now you listen to me. There was nothing you could have heard. Nothing you could have seen. It was a terrible thing, but you can’t save her by saving me.”
“I should have moved back home earlier. Shouldn’t have left you alone for so long.”
“All these years, I was afraid that you thought like the others. So many in town believing that Ray hurt Eve all those years ago. Like Floyd. All of them believing I married the man who killed my own sister. But he didn’t, Arthur. I know he didn’t. I promise that I’m certain of that. I hope you never believed like the others.” Ruth lowers her eyes. “I hope that isn’t what kept you away for so long.”
Arthur drops his head, shakes it from side to side and exhales. “You’re too forgiving of me. Far too quick to forgive.”
“We all did the best we could,” Ruth says, lifting Arthur’s chin and smiling down on him. “I’ll tell Floyd everything. I don’t know what Ray was up to that night, I really don’t. But I’ll tell Floyd everything.” She squeezes his hand. “I’d like to stay with your family, if you’ll still have me, if you think it’s best.”
“Good enough,” Arthur says.
She smiles and lays both hands over her stomach. “Her name is Elisabeth.”
Arthur stands and nodding his head, he says, “Elisabeth, it is.”
Chapter 20
Celia leans against the kitchen sink and rubs her tailbone. Two days since she fell in the hospital and it’s still sore. The aches and pains won’t last much longer but every time she kneads a sore spot, she feels Ray on top of her again, pressing into her thigh, smiling down on her. Wishing she had never suggested they meet Ray at the café, she swallows and tightens the belt on her robe. When Ruth asks if Celia is feeling all right, she smiles, embarrassed that Ruth would be worried about her, and turns to face her family. Arthur, wearing his denim coat and work boots, reaches up and catches the kiss that Evie throws from across the kitchen.
“You sure enough about me leaving today?” Arthur says, tucking the kiss in his pocket. Evie giggles.
“We’ll be fine,” Celia says and follows him to the back door. “Not much choice really.” Standing together at the top of the basement stairs, she kisses him and, as he climbs into his truck, she calls out, “We’ll lock up tight.”
Before walking back inside, Celia looks toward Ray and Ruth’s house. Ruth says he’ll drink for a good long time once he gets started but eventually he’ll remember there’s a baby to contend with, and he’ll come again.
Back in the kitchen, sitting at