Do Unto Others

Ruth said, her voice sweetening. “And I have a selfish reason for calling, too. I hoped you might be able to come by the hospital now. I have a matter I’d like to discuss with you.” “I don’t know, Ruth. We just reopened the library and I’m pretty backlogged.” “I’m sure Candace can handle that. She seems extraordinarily capable of taking care of all those mundane, boring details,” Ruth said. “Please, Jordy, it’s important. I’ll expect you here in about fifteen minutes. Meet me in the front lobby.” I hesitated, then decided to take her up on her offer. “Okay, fine. I’ll be there. Goodbye.” I replaced the phone receiver in its cradle. I looked at the trio before me. “Shannon Harcher’s in a coma right now, but they think she has a chance. She’s undergoing brain surgery.” That last part seemed a good segue, so I added: “They need me to come down to the hospital.” Candace’s eyebrows arched. “They do, do they? Are they looking for a brain donor?” “Yes, I mean, no,” I muttered. “Look, Candace, can you keep this place open just another hour or so? I really do need to go down to the hospital and see how Shannon’s doing.” “Sure, why not?” she said. “It’s not like I had any other pressing engagements this evening.” I thanked her, and thanked Gaston and Old Man Renfro for their help. Picking up my notebook on Beta, I dashed into the late afternoon sunlight. I hate the smell of hospitals. I tried to ignore the heady mix of antiseptic, bland food, and general illness that pervades that mecca of modern medicine, Mirabeau Memorial. Ruth met me in the front lobby, holding a Baby Ruth candy bar that she said was her snack for a quick break. She munched on it as we walked through the hallways. “Junebug has Shannon Harcher under police guard,” she told me. “Whoever hurt her isn’t going to get another try.” “You know they’ve made an arrest?” I asked. She shook her head. I told her about Eula Mae. For a moment, there was complete shock on Ruth’s finely featured face. She blinked and the surprise dropped away like flaky makeup. “I suppose they must have had good reason for that. Yes, I can see Eula Mae killing someone.” I stopped and waited for an overweight aging candy-striper to lumber past us, out of earshot. “Really? I thought you looked surprised there for a second. Were you expecting someone else to be arrested? Bob Don? Matt? Me?” “I’m sorry Eula Mae was arrested. I know she’s your friend. You don’t have to take your anger out on me.” Ruth pouted, her pretty little lip trembling. I frowned. I don’t like pouters and I especially don’t like fake pouters. “Sorry.

Didn’t mean to blame you. Now what was this business that was so darned important, Ruth?” The lip slid back in like it was automated.

Ruth took my hand, looked both ways down the empty hospital hallway like she was crossing a street, and led me into a room. It was an empty private patient’s room, the only light burning a dim one from the bathroom. She leaned against the heavy door and it slowly closed.

“Ruth-” I began, but her mouth didn’t let me finish. She pulled my head down to hers, kissing me hard, tangling her fingers in my hair.

It’s no excuse, but I hadn’t been kissed like that in ages. Her mouth tasted of warm chocolate and caramel. My body responded while my mind continued to mull over the implications. Her hands ran across my body, feeling, lightly exploring. Fingernails nipped playfully at sensitive areas and I gasped, pulling her closer. She broke the kiss but kept her mouth scantly off mine. “See there? We make a good team. I knew we would,” she breathed softly into my face. “See? I can help you and you”-she squeezed my buttocks-“can help me.” “Okay, Ruth,” I said, restraining the urge to kiss her again. This sounded more like negotiations of commerce than declarations of affection or even lust.

“What do you mean by all this?” She kissed me hard again. I pulled back. “How would you like,” she said, pressing her breasts against me, “to be sure your mother’s never in a home?” It wasn’t the question that I was expecting. My mouth opened in surprise and she covered it with her own. She pulled away and flicked her tongue across my bottom lip. I closed my mouth and pulled away from her. “What do you mean?