Our Kept Hearts by Tennille Marie

Author:Tennille Marie [Marie, Tennille]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Purple Iris Printing LLC
Published: 2023-11-29T16:00:00+00:00

As Joel pulled into the driveway, Hazel saw Ruthie run onto the porch. Her face was white, and she squinted from the glare of the truck's headlights. When he put it in park, he leaped out and offered his hand to Hazel. She slipped her hand into his, feeling his rough skin. Her head felt light and dizzy as he helped her out of the truck. Before she could thank him, Ruthie ran from the porch and lunged at her. She wrapped her arms around Hazel. She squeezed Hazel’s neck, cutting off her air.

"I was so worried! Where have you been? I thought something terrible had happened."

Hazel patted her back. "I'm fine. It's okay."

Ruthie pulled back. Her head shook back and forth, and her nostrils flared. "No, I called everyone. Alice hadn't seen you or heard from you. Ms. Faye either."

Hazel's heart dropped, "Did you call Daddy?"

Ruthie stopped and looked at Hazel for the first time. Her eyes grew as big as saucers. "Your hair! You cut your hair?"

Hazel felt panic rise in the back of her throat. "Ruthie, did you call Daddy?"

"No, no, I was about to though."

Hazel released a long breath and her heart started to beat again. Joel came and laid a hand on her shoulder. She turned to face him.

"I better be getting home. Thank you for the company."

Hazel felt her cheeks grow hot.

"Did you know about this?" Ruthie asked Joel.

He kicked at the gravel in the driveway. "Nope, but I sure think it looks good. I'll be seeing you soon Hazel. Have a nice night, Ruthie." He nodded his head at them, then got in his truck.

Hazel could feel Ruthie side-eyeing her, but she didn't care as they watched Joel pull out of the driveway. When Hazel walked toward the house, Ruthie was on her heels. Inside the house, Ruthie talked with her hands and paced around the living room. Hazel sunk into the old sofa. She barely felt the hard spring dig into the back of her leg.

"You have no idea how worried I was. I've never been that scared in my whole entire life." Ruthie paused and looked at Hazel. "I can't believe you cut your long hair."

Dazed, Hazel reached up and touched the end near her chin. "You don't like it?"

"I love it! You look just like Sophia Loren in that movie we saw with Daddy." She snapped her fingers. "Houseboat, that was it. I just can't believe you didn't tell me, and you let me worry so much. Why would you do that? I just don't understand."

Just then, a jolt of memory hit Hazel. "Oh! I nearly forgot," she said and reached into her skirt pocket. She pulled out a wad of bills and held them out to Ruthie.

Ruthie took the money. Her mouth pulled tight. "What is this?"

"It's thirty dollars. I noticed last week a sign in Ms. Debbie's store at the Clip and Cut. She was offering to buy hair so she could make fancy wigs. You know, the ones she ships to New York.

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