Egad!
Our three gentlemen, Trevor, Ross, and Jacob are on their way from the Stafford Hotel in Charleston to join their ladies, currently hiding in the synagogue basement.
Two are eager. One is hesitant.
Our ladies, Catherine, Joann, and Ruth are cleaning the basement kitchen after the weekly food ministry meals.
Two are eager and one is hesitant while waiting for the gentlemen to return.
“So, tell us, Ruth. Why do you think Jacob hates you? What’s your story?” Catherine’s red elbows were still soapy from the depths of hot rinse water. Her hands looked like prunes, but her heart felt full. With the help of the volunteers, they had fed over one hundred fifty needy souls, either lunch or dinner and some came for both. “Come on, Ruth, humor me. It’ll make cleaning up move along faster. I’m imagining that tiny cot in our room, and it has transformed into a four poster with satin covers that feel like dream clouds.”
“Oh, all right! Your friendly interfering is wearing me down.” She hung three more wet towels on a crowded wooden drying rack standing beside Catherine’s deep porcelain sink.
Catherine playfully ginned down at a metal serving ladle. “Ah, she speaks!” She flung some soapsuds off the ladle toward Ruth who promptly ducked out of the way, allowing the flying suds to give Joann an unexpected facial.
It was their laughter that greeted the gentlemen. Ross hugged Joann from behind and buried his face in her neck. Her gleeful surprise had her turning in his arms and they appeared to plan on staying that way. Catherine’s laughter took on a different tenor. Trevor had pushed the hugging couple out of the way, walked past a frozen Ruth, and mischievously smiled at Catherine. She met him halfway with a furious hug. He countered with a kiss that checkmated her strength.
Ruth quietly slipped past the passionate couple, out of the kitchen, and into the hall.
Needing air Catherine turned around in Trevor’s arms, intending to introduce their new friend. “She’s gone. We’ve embarrassed her.” Taking his hand, they found her sobbing in a dark corner.
They barely heard her explain, “I can’t seem to find my room.”
Catherine slipped her arm around her shaking shoulders. “Walking with tears in the dark, well, I’ve always found that to be difficult. Come back with us to the kitchen. We all need introductions, refreshments, and a massive strategy session.”
Jacob had settled on a stool by the time the others had assembled in the kitchen. He kept his head down as he concentrated on the old dents and scratches in the wood table. His hands were clasped together on the tabletop.
Catherine handled the introductions, “I’m sorry to say we know little about our Miss Ruth other than she’s a friendly and helpful worker in this kitchen. However, we also know very little about your afternoon activities, gentlemen. Shall we begin with you, Ross?”
“Not much to report until just a short while ago when these two decided to finally show up at the hotel. Before that I could describe the patterns in the rugs or the designs in the ceilings.” Throughout his sarcastic commentary, Ross didn’t stop hugging Joann.
“A bit concerned were you?” She smiled up at him.
“A bit,” he kissed her cheek and moved her closer.
Trevor continued, “Jacob and I started out with an interesting lunch, but before we go on, welcome Ruth. You’ll make a fine companion to our gang.”
“She’s not a companion!” Jacob pounded the table and started to leave.
Joann surprised them all with her own brand of soft fierceness, “She is now, if we’re to go on.”
Enough! (until later)
Eleanor Tatum 