Free Catch Me When I Fall by Westerhof Patricia

her.” Alida handed him the Today devotional. He opened it and read aloud the short passage without taking much in. Something about God speaking not only through Scripture but through history. Alida stacked the plates and took out Tupperware for the leftovers. Klaas thumbed through the devotional booklet and thought about fishing. Ruthie had loved fishing. One overcast day in early June when he had fieldwork to do and Ruthie should have been in school—she must have been in grade ten or eleven that year—he told Alida a half-lie. “I need Ruthie’s help this morning with the calves.” Alida left for her part-time job in the church office, and he and Ruthie had all the calves moved to their new quarters by 10:30 AM. “Time for fishing?” he said.
    â€œYes!”
    He remembered her grin. Her wheat-coloured hair had been long then, usually tied back into a loose ponytail. She wore blue jeans and T-shirts on her sturdy, compact frame. No makeup. To him she looked capable. An uncomplicated woman—someone you could rely on. As his older daughters had gone through their teenage years, he often pitied their various boyfriends, even as he scrutinized them for potential vices or failings. His girls were handfuls. Spirited and skillful at getting their way. But Ruthie was different. Maybe a bit sulky around her mother, but calm and down-to-earth with him. Practical. He thought she would make some guy a great wife. Maybe she didn’t have her older sisters’ allure, but she would be a genuine helpmeet and companion.
    Now he suspected he just hadn’t understood her. She was a completely different person than he’d thought. With secrets she hid from him, not trusting him. He stood, shoving the devotional booklet into the kitchen drawer with the others.
    â€œWant to play crib?” Alida asked. She was running the cloth over the already gleaming countertop, watching him.
    He had chosen well, he thought. “Sure. I’ll set up the board.”
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    The phone rang at lunchtime on Saturday. Alida picked it up. “Hello?” Klaas watched Alida’s face flatten.
    â€œWhere are you now?” Her voice was pitched high, the words squeezed out, the way she’d sounded during labour.
    â€œJust a minute. I’ll ask your dad.” She covered the mouthpiece and looked at Klaas with dazed eyes. “Ruthie’s here. In Poplar Grove. She wants to come over. And to bring someone.”
    He frowned and mouthed, “Who?”
    Alida uncovered the mouthpiece. “Who is with you?” She listened a moment, then covered the mouthpiece again. “She says, her partner, Beth.”
    Partner . The word was foreign; it twisted his tongue.
    â€œShe’s at Eliza Zylstra’s.” Alida’s eyes held his and pleaded. He knew what she meant. Eliza Zylstra was kind but not discreet. If he said no, soon everyone would hear it. And judge them.
    â€œOkay,” he said.
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    His heart wrenched as he watched Alida speed through the living room. As if the premier were coming over. She picked up stray stuffed animals left by the granddaughters, smoothed the crocheted afghan over the couch, ran a dust rag over the coffee table, moved the morning’s newspaper to the mudroom.
    â€œI don’t have any fresh baking,” Alida said as she dashed back into the kitchen where he was finishing his ham sandwich. She looked distraught.
    â€œTake something out of the deep freeze and microwave it,” he said.
    â€œI will,” she said. “But if I’d known she was coming, I’d have made the peanut-butter bars she likes.”
    â€œWell, she didn’t give us any notice.”
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    There was more news to absorb when Ruthie took off her coat. Alida sucked in her breath. Audibly. “Well,” said Klaas, staring at Ruthie. He had meant to hug her,