Revelations(74)
“Harlot!” before the door closes behind them. I’m not worried; she’s a tough cookie, as they say. She can handle herself. I fall back onto the cot, as if my legs no longer wish to hold me, and I grip the edge of the bed tightly, taking a deep breath, willing myself not to cry. I can do this, I tell myself. I have to do it, for Judas’ sake.
Forcing myself to my feet, I approach the bars, looking toward the clock so that I might ascertain the time. Almost five. Not much longer and Judas will be here.
Knowing him, he’s already parked outside, merely waiting for them to leave before he comes in. The very idea brings a smile to my face.
“You look happy, Joshua.” Kathy Kaplan’s voice breaks into my thoughts, and I find myself blushing. I can see her daughter sitting on the sheriff’s lap, being tickled by him, eliciting delighted giggles. Such a lovely family, I think. Very happy. They’re very lucky to have one another. I try to focus on Kathy’s words, as she approaches my cell. “I thought you’d be more upset at missing out on the concert and everything, being with your friends and all.” Her eyes search my face as if she can read my mind, tell what I’m thinking. “Won’t Mr. Jarvis be there with them?”
At that moment, with the most exquisite of timing, in walks my sweet Judas himself, and for a moment I’m speechless. My heart thumps so loudly I’m sure it must be clearly audible to one and all, as I watch his entrance. He must have gone back to camp, he’s changed his clothes. Gotten rid of the braids. And no, he’s not wearing any special suit, nothing fancy or expensive, no designer label tonight—
he’s donned his own robes, his beautiful blond hair flowing loose. And I can’t help but think he’s never been as beautiful as at this very moment.
I find my tongue, aware I’m being inadvertently rude in not answering her question. “No, he’s going to stay here tonight.” Is my smile growing bigger with every syllable? My eyes are all for him as he crosses the room, and his are fixed upon me as well. As if we’ve tuned out everyone else in the world but one another.
He approaches my cell now, his hands reaching through the bars to grasp mine, and I grow hot and cold at his touch.
“Good evening, Mr. Jarvis,” Kathy greets him. I can hear bemusement in her voice, but it isn’t a bad thing, not at all. Everything else simples falls away.
Nothing else matters at this moment but Judas.
“Call me Jude, please,” he responds with a smile. His voice has taken on its most charming timber, the one I know and love so well, the one that makes me shiver, in private. He knows how to be good when he wants to be. Why can’t he want to be more often?
“You look very nice,” she compliments him. “Both of you. In fact, you match now, that’s so cute.”
My attention is caught by the young lady, who has leapt off her father’s lap in order to run to us. She’s tugging at Judas’ robes. “Jude,” the astute child addresses him, which earns her his attention. He glances down toward her, brows raised inquisitively, listening. “Mr. Jude, do you love Jesus?” Her mother manages to look nonplused for a moment at the unexpected question, and I must admit I’m curious to hear what he’s going to say to the child. Maybe he’ll tell her everyone loves Jesus—I’ve heard him use that line before. But his actual response causes my heart to flutter even more.
“I do, Sarah,” he affirms solemnly, offering the child his serious consideration.
“I love him very much. Do you think that’s a good thing?”
“Yes.” She giggles. “Why don’t you marry him?” That I hadn’t expected, and I’m not sure which of us is more dumbstruck—Kathy or me. But it isn’t Judas.
Releasing my hands with a reassuring squeeze, he kneels beside the wise child, giving her his full attention. “Someday I will,” he promises her. “I think that’s a very good idea.” She giggles some more, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt this happy in my life before, hearing those heartfelt words. They give me hope that someday, some time, he and I may indeed be united in the bonds of holy matrimony. ’Til death do we part. If he’s still speaking to me, that is.
“Come on, honey, we have to go home and get your stuff,” Kathy is saying,
“sleepover at Jenny’s house tonight, remember?”
Sarah wraps a slender arm about Jude’s neck and spontaneously kisses him before turning back to her mother, taking her hand. “Okay, Mom,” she says, “let’s go. Bye Jude, bye Jesus.”