Well Behaved Wives(85)

As the women relaxed and waited for Carrie to show up, the house filled with laughter and conversation. Important, life-changing topics were discussed, like the Diamonds’ dislike of raisins, Heidi’s toddler escapades, Shirley’s schnecken recipe, Ruth’s bar exam studies.

The telephone rang and Ruth skittered to the kitchen. “I’ll get it.” She lifted the receiver. “Hello?”

“Ruth? It’s me.”

“Carrie?”

“Yes. I’ve changed my mind. I want to leave Eli.” Ruth heard rustling on Carrie’s end of the line, suggesting Carrie was prepping to be on the move. “I’m packing a few things; I’ll be there soon.”

Ruth was terrified and relieved at the same time. Her head filled with questions about what had changed since yesterday, when Carrie had sounded fine. The fact Carrie was calling was a good sign, though. If she were badly hurt, she might not have been able to talk. Yet something serious must have happened if she wanted to leave her husband. Twenty-four hours ago, Carrie had been certain her life was on track. “What happened?”

“I’ll explain when I get there.”

Goose bumps crawled up Ruth’s arm, but right now it didn’t matter what had happened. Time couldn’t be wasted. Carrie should leave, but she had to be careful. Eli must not discover she planned to go. “Carrie, don’t stop to pack, just—”

Rumbles and a crash reverberated through the receiver. Ruth’s heart sank. She had to remain calm for her friend, had to assess the situation. “Carrie? Are you okay?”

Click.

The dial tone buzzed in her ear. Ruth tapped the chrome cradle several times. “Carrie?” she yelled into the receiver, and then hung up. She turned around. The group had congregated in the kitchen. “We have to go!” she said in a fear-soaked whisper. “Carrie’s in trouble!”

“What happened?” Shirley remained calm and went after the facts. “Is she hurt? Does she need an ambulance?”

“I don’t know. She didn’t say. Just that she wants to leave Eli.” Ruth hurried to the coat closet but shook with fear and was unable to grip the knob. “We have to go!” Her timbre and tenor had returned, but not her grasp. Shirley stepped up beside her and, with her hand atop Ruth’s, opened the door.

“The line went dead.” Ruth fought back tears, had no other words.

Lillian put a hand on Ruth’s shoulder. It comforted her, reminding her she wasn’t alone. “I’ll drive.” Lillian herded the group out the door and into the rain, now heavier than ever.

Shirley stopped at the door. “I’ll be right there. I have to make a quick telephone call.”

Riding in Lillian’s passenger seat, Ruth anticipated every stop and turn on the way to Carrie’s. A more direct route would have been the footpath that cut through the breezeways between the smaller houses. But they needed to take the car for speed, and in case Carrie needed to be driven away.

Ruth shuddered as all the reasons that Carrie might have called ran through her mind.

Hurry, hurry, she thought. What was the point of this fancy vehicle with its dials and buttons and knobs if it couldn’t help them get to Carrie in time? In time for what, Ruth didn’t know.

Couldn’t Lillian drive any faster?

Ruth leaned forward as if to add some momentum, as if she had the power to speed up their journey. Rain rushed past on the windshield and side windows, making visibility a challenge. She gritted her teeth to stop them from chattering.

The car stopped and Ruth fixed her gaze on Carrie’s front door. She had to help her friend, but fear of what she might find, or what danger she herself might face, made her hesitate momentarily. At Legal Aid, she’d seen the wicked things men could do to women. Yet this was different from working with strangers in New York.

Carrie was her friend.

It shouldn’t have made a difference, yet it overwhelmed her.

This wasn’t researching laws. This was being in the heat of the moment with a man who was cruel, unlike the kind father and brothers she had, the sweet husband she’d married.

Eli was the type of man who could kill a woman, and there were few laws to protect women from the Elis of the world.

Ruth stared ahead through the rain and shivered. What if they were too late to help Carrie? She squeezed her eyes closed. The women at Legal Aid were safely in front of Ruth when she saw them. But now she was at Carrie’s house. What if it was too late to save her friend’s life?

The passenger door swung open. Shirley was standing on the other side. “Come on. We can’t just sit here. Let’s go.” Her words snapped above the rain’s whoosh and patter.

As Shirley’s hand tugged Ruth’s arm, chilly rain landed on Ruth’s leg.

She broke out of her trance. She stepped out and under Shirley’s umbrella. Two car doors slammed. Ruth wasn’t alone. Right. Besides Shirley, she had Lillian, Irene, and Harriet there. If Eli was on a rampage, it would be five against one. Relief flooded her veins.

Together, they could do this.

Huddled next to Shirley, Ruth looped her arm into her mother-in-law’s, and she was grateful she’d made peace with her and had her strength beside her. She’d had support through life from her father and brothers. Now she had it from a . . . well, a mother-in-law.

Shirley patted her. “Follow me.” She detached herself from Ruth and marched ahead up the path. Ruth followed, shifting between a run and a walk, while the rain slowed to a drizzle. Behind her, she heard three sets of feet splashing their way up the path. She and Shirley reached the front steps, and Ruth took them two at a time. She looked back at Shirley. “Tell me what to do.”