CHAPTER 40-3
693 Words
Mee-Kyong wrapped Benjamin’s sweatshirt around her shoulders, hugged her knees, and prayed to whatever deity might exist the Sterns wouldn’t follow her. Benjamin sat down next to her on the bench, keeping a considerable distance between them. “Want to tell me what happened?”
Mee-Kyong glared at her bare toes, the cold bite of winter stinging her wet skin. “I couldn’t do it,” she whispered.
“The baptism?”
She nodded. “I thought I was ready. But I was there in that huge tub, and he was about to dunk me ...” She glanced around and heard Mrs. Stern calling her name. Please let them just leave me in peace.
Benjamin frowned and adjusted the sweatshirt so it covered a little more of her shoulders. “Nobody made you.”
Mee-Kyong shook her head and rocked slowly back and forth on the bench. “It wasn’t supposed to be such a big deal.”
“Maybe that’s your problem.”
Her teeth started to chatter. “What do you mean?”
“Baptism is a big deal. Supposed to be, at least.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t see it that way.”
“Then you probably weren’t ready.”
Mee-Kyong was shaking too hard to argue with the security guard who got drunk every weekend. “I was at least hoping to make it through the whole winter.”
Benjamin wrinkled his brow. “What?”
“I don’t want to be on the streets again. Not with winter coming.” She glanced at the fence that shielded them from the road and wondered how long she had before the first snowfall. Oh, well. Her reprieve had been nice enough while it lasted.
“Nobody’s turning you out, Mee-Kyong.” The way he spoke her name made her turn toward him again. “Stay as long as you want.”
“That’s nice of you to say, but last time I checked, this wasn’t your house.” She rubbed her legs and found she could barely wiggle her toes.
Benjamin leaned in just slightly toward her. “Don’t have to get baptized just to stay here.”
She shrugged. “Isn’t that what you did?”
He looked down into his lap. “Maybe at first. But I’ve learned more now.”
“How nice for you.” She stood up, trying to figure out if there was a way to sneak back to the house for some clothes without running into the Sterns.
He reached out for her wrist. She tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong. “Please.” He loosened his hold just enough so it stopped hurting. “Go in with me. We’ll talk to them. Together. Nobody’s sending you away.”
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Juliette yanked the barrette out of her mess of hair and slammed it on the counter. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into baptizing her.” She ran her fingers through her curls, but they only made it halfway before catching in the tangles.
Roger came up to hug her from behind, his breath warm on the side of her neck. Her sweater scratched against her skin. He took in a deep breath. “I guess she just wasn’t ready.”
Juliette rolled her eyes. That was so like her husband. No matter what the problem was, he’d find a way to understate it. If she had only listened to her gut and never mentioned baptism to Mee-Kyong in the first place, today’s fiasco would have never happened. She jerked her glasses off her face, and pointed them at Roger’s reflection in the mirror. “I hope you’re impressed with yourself. I really do. Guilt-tripping a traumatized little girl ...”
Roger sighed. “She’s not a little girl.”
She threw up her hands. “Not a little girl? Oh, that’s right. She’s not a little girl because you found her in a brothel. Is that what you’re saying? That because she used to sell tricks to earn money for someone else she’s corrupt? Disgusting? Un...” Juliette’s face was hot. Her throat failed her. She swallowed and tried again. “Un...” Roger was there, his hot breath smoldering her shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. Juliette flung her glasses aside and tried one last time to swallow away the cry that threatened to betray her. “Unredeemable.” The word came out as a whisper, and with it came a torrent of fears and frustrations. Her husband didn’t say a word, but held her in his arms while she sobbed.
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- Writer
