Part Seven
Part Six
“What’d ya read?”
“You’re the one who told me to read it. You should know.”
“Tell me anyway.”
She shrugged. “Fine. It’s the story where Jesus washes his disciples’ feet. I’ve heard this story before.”
“Did ya get th’ point of th’ story?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Yeah. I’ll demonstrate for ya what th’ story means.”
He opened the door again, then squatted down to pick up what it was that he had left outside the door. He straightened and beheld a pitcher of water with thin wisps of steam rising from the surface and a towel draped over his arm.
“What’s this?” she wondered aloud.
“Jus’ lemme do this. Please don’t say nothin’.”
She agreed with a sigh, then watched him as he continued. He went to her brass washstand and set the pitcher on the shelf next to it. Then he removed the china bowl from the stand and removed the towel from his arm. He set the towel across the bed by Camilla’s feet, then set the bowl on top.
He then turned around and took the pitcher and poured the heated water into the bowl. When he put the pitcher back on the stand, he took the purple bar of lavender soap that Camilla used in the mornings to wash her face with. Lavender was her favorite flower, as was its lush, spring scent.
He took the bar of soap and set it next to the bowl on the towel. Then he looked up at Camilla and grinned.
“Put your feet out.” He ordered gently.
Curious of his intensions, she did so cautiously. And when her feet were completely stretched out, Snitch placed them in the bowl of water. She gasped as the heat quickly slipped from her toes all the way to her shoulders.
“Too hot?”
“No, no, it’s just fine.”
Nodding, Snitch cupped his hands and began pouring the water over her feet and swollen ankles. He had noticed over the past few weeks that her ankles swelled at the sudden excess weight the baby brought on and had hoped that this would help to ease the swelling.
Once her ankles and feet were wet completely, he took the bar of soap and began rubbing it softly on her skin. The soap began to lather and create bubbles and he set the bar aside and began stroking the bubbles to create more suds. He worked the foam in between her toes, on the soles of her feet, into her calves, and finally to her ankles, diminishing the swelling the tiniest bit.
He worked so tenderly and efficiently that Camilla felt the feelings she had for him building and expanding in her brain. With every stroke and touch, she felt a shiver in her veins. Why was he doing this? Her feet didn’t need to be cleaned. She had taken a bath not two days again. Did he anticipate a need she did not know of?
For some odd reason, she felt so relaxed and not the least bit uncomfortable. He was washing her feet out of the kindness of his heart and working as though it was his soul’s desire. With every washing, she seemed to feel those feelings of regret and humiliation being stripped away. It seemed as thought they were disappearing every time he poured water over her feet.
Once he had rinsed her feet completely, he set the bowl aside on the hope chest and picked up the towel. Since only a few drops of water had splashed outside of the bowl, the towel was mainly dry. He took it and rubbed it softly to dry her feet.
He set the semi-damp towel back on the bed after her feet were dried, then set one of her feet down on the towel. With the other foot, he readjusted himself to a kneeling position and he held her heel with one hand and pressed his thumb into her sole with his other hand. Then he began to massage her feet with the greatest of ease so that Camilla was so peaceful she felt ready to fall asleep under the physical comfort and the weight her feelings for him held on her shoulders.
With every rub and knead in her feet, she could feel tickles in her muscles. He had not only cleaned her feet, but he had removed any and all filth from the lowest part of her body and now eased the muscles. He had all but kissed her feet to complete his task.
He massaged her other foot not long afterward. She enjoyed the sensations so much that they seemed to pass in so short a time. When he set her foot down, her eyes opened and she raised her foot again.
“Please,” she spoke softly, “don’t stop.”
The grin that spread across his face made her scalp tingle. “I ain’t done yet.”
He turned around and reached for a container of her favorite lotion. Of course, it was lavender scented. He removed the lid, dipped his fingers in the lotion and began to rub it into her feet.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked when he began applying lotion to her other foot.
“Do ya understand th’ Bible story now?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Jesus washed ‘is disciples’ feet.”
“I know that.”
“Didja read th’ part ‘bout what it meant?”
“He said something about it being some kind of cleansing process, I guess. Something about if he didn’t wash their feet, they wouldn’t be a part of Him.”
“Ya got it.”
“How is that significant?”
“Jus’ picture this as th’ same process.” He pressed his thumbs into her sole and rubbed the lotion in. “Since ya got pregnant, ya’ve only been aware of what’s been done an’ how it ruined ya.”
“Why are you saying this?”
“I’m sayin’ this cuz I wanted this t’ be my way of saying that ya don’t need t’ hold on t’ that anymore. Jesus said all He hadta do was wash your feet. I jus’ washed yours t’ letcha know that ya don’t need t’ see yourself as defiled anymore.”
“You mean…you’ve taken that away from me?”
He chuckled some. “Of course not. I can’t do that. Ya know that.”
“Then why did you wash my feet?”
“T’ let ya know that everythin’ that happened t’ ya doesn’t matter t’ me at all.”
“Why would it concern you?”
“Because I love you.”
Her eyes widened at his statement, and she was struck speechless. When he raised her foot to his mouth and kissed her pristine toes, she knew that every word he spoke was spoken from sincerity. He was being completely and totally honest with her.
“I’m not th’ only one who don’t see ya as defiled.” He stated.
“I know that now.”
“So now ya know that it’s time for ya t’ concentrate on your future now, an’ not what happened t’ ya.”
“Yes.”
“So ya know ya’ll never hafta feel upset or guilty about that anymore?”
“I believe so.”
That grin of his that she loved so much appeared. “Do ya mean that?”
“I do.”
“Then after all this is over an’ the baby’s born, ya wanna make me th’ happiest man alive ‘n’ marry me?”
The tingling feeling was now completely awash over her body. She began to tremble at the emotions that could now never deny. The baby kicked, and she smiled widely with her response.
“I will.” Before he could respond, she added: “But what about the baby? Are you sure you want to be the father of a child that isn’t yours?”
“But she is mine.”
“No she isn’t. She isn’t of your blood.”
“It ain’t blood that matters. It’s the fact that I am an’ was here for ‘er, an’ I cared ‘nough for ‘er t’ stay by both her an’ ‘er mama’s side.”
Her heart beat quickly. “But I’m not even sure if I want to keep her. Papa would never approve, and I’m not ready to be a mother yet.”
“I’m leavin’ that all up t’ you. She’s really truly your kid. Therefore, it’s your decision on what ‘er life’s gonna be about. If ya give ‘er up, ya’ll still have me. But if ya decide to keep ‘er, then I’ll be th’ best daddy she’ll ever need.”
His responses only made her fall deeper in love with him. “Then I’ll need more time to consider. It may even have to wait till she’s born. But as long as you’ll be here, I won’t be afraid.”
He kissed the ball of her foot and smiled widely. “And I’ll always be here, no matter what happens.”
* * *
‘Two more weeks.’ Camilla thought to herself. ‘In two weeks, my baby will come and I can marry Dean. Maybe I can have both at the same time.’
She had felt the change within her since Snitch had washed her feet. The Bible story, Snitch’s words and his interpretation of the story had all worked together perfectly. And she no longer saw herself as the innocent girl used against her will and impregnated with an illegitimate child.
Instead, she viewed herself as a simple victim of worldly lust by a man who was a victim himself of his own sinful nature. When he had taken her, she had felt a darkening hatred for him. Now, she only pitied him that he had not had control over his ways and hoped that he may some day change his life and leave his lifestyle for a new outlook on life.
Having Snitch at her side now made her even more content with herself. Though she knew that some may view her as nothing more than a common prostitute for carrying a child outside wedlock, she could feel her heart swelling with pride at the baby she would give birth to. The feelings she felt were the same as a mother would have for her first legitimate child.
This time when Camilla looked in the mirror, she felt the exact opposite as she had a few weeks before. She noticed the color that now filled her face as a bloom of pride in her daughter. Her favorite personality trait of her baby was how her heel was lodged directly beneath Camilla’s ribcage and protruded far out for her to grab the heel. When she would grab it, the baby would kick madly to free herself.
“Camilla?”
Her door had been left open a crack, and Snitch had peeked in. She grinned at him.
“You can come in.”
He shut the door behind him and went to Camilla, who watched him by his reflection in the mirror. When he stood directly behind her, she smiled.
“I feel so different now.” She said, smoothing her hands across her rounded belly. “I used to look at the mirror and hate what I see. And now, all I can see is a girl about to become a mother and not having any fears at all.”
“I’m glad t’ hear that.”
“Oh Dean, I don’t know how I’ll ever give her up.” She sighed. “Part of me still doesn’t want her. But my heart…I know that if I let her go I’ll never be the same again. A part of me will always be missing.”
“Ya don’t need t’ come t’ me. It’s your decision.”
“I guess I won’t know what I want until she’s born.”
“Well, if ya wanna keep ‘er, ya know I’ll be happy. An’ if ya don’t wanna keep ‘er, I’ll be fine with that.”
She looked over her shoulder. “I would like to tell Papa about us. If we did, I know he’d feel more sympathetic to my decisions. But you know how stubborn he is. He would never accept my baby the way she was conceived. You know that.”
“Then maybe if we convince ‘im that it’s not jus’ any baby, but ‘is granddaughter, he’ll feel th’ same way you do.”
“I’m sure he would.”
“So, ya plannin’ on doin’ anything in th’ next two weeks?”
“Having the baby.”
He snickered. “Besides that.”
“Nothing, really. I need to take it easy. I’ve been feeling sick again.”
“Keep Valentine’s Day free. Th’ newsies are havin’ a party at th’ lodgin’ house then an’ we’re invited.”
Her face dropped. “Oh dear.”
“What?”
“That’s when the baby’s due. The exact date.”
“Aw, don’t worry. Kids never come when they’re due.”
Her brow raised. “Oh? And how would you know this?”
“Mrs. Connick told me. She says kids always come earlier or later than expected. Ya’ll be fine.”
“And what if she comes early?”
“Then…I guess we can jus’ cancel then.”
“I’ll try to make it. If the baby comes before then, you know what we should do. But if she doesn’t come by then, then let’s go.”
Snitch grinned. “Good. I need t’ catch up on th’ bet.”
“Which bet?”
“Th’ one Race started a couple months ago. ‘E was bettin’ on when Seven ‘n’ Bumlets was gonna have kids.”
“Ah.” Camilla nodded. “I remember now.”
“Wanna piece ‘f th’ action?”
“No thank you.”
“Two years ago, ya would’ve jumped at th’ bet.”
She shrugged. “I’m still not myself, and I probably won’t be until I decide what to do with the baby. But maybe I can pitch in on the next betting pool.”
“That’ll probly be on who’s gettin’ married next.”
“May I ask you a question?”
“Shoot.”
“How long did you bet on, for that bet for Bumlets and Seven?”
“Five months.”
“And how long has it been already?”
“Almost four ‘n’ a half months.”
She laughed. “I hardly believe you’ll win this one.”
“It won’t matter. I already beat out Goosey ‘n’ Itey!”
* * *
