The World of Myth Magazine

Saturday

“You almost got one,” Reuben told the little girl leaning on crutches. “Try again. Take your time.” He helped steady her when she let go of her right crutch to throw a dart at the balloons tacked to a board on the wall. A loud pop echoed through the room. “Wow!” he exclaimed. “You got it. Great job, sweetie. And you won a stuffed animal, too.”

Giggling, she dropped her crutches and launched herself into his arms. He caught her as she threw her arms around his neck, then hugged her back.

Beryl had to turn away from the sight to wipe her eyes. When Reuben approached her, grinning, she forced herself to act normal. “We've worked for the same company for years, but I didn't know you were so good with kids,” she told him.

He shrugged. “I love them.”

Half an hour later, Beryl watched him finger-paint with a little boy in a wheelchair. Despite the fact that she'd been dreaming of having children for years, she'd chosen to be on birth control the entire time she'd been with Travis. It was the only thing she didn't regret about that marriage. Seeing Reuben's gentleness and patience with the disabled kids sent a new round of wistful thoughts running through her mind. A powerful longing shot through her, and she hurried away before he caught her ogling him like an obsessed groupie.

“Beryl,” Alan called from the hallway. “Do you have a minute? If so, will you come here?”

She stepped out of the main room and gasped, “What happened to you?”

“I think it was a plant,” he replied. “Maybe.”

“Since when are you allergic to any of the ones here?”

“Never.” Alan grimaced at his arms which were covered in a thick, bright-red rash. “I've never been allergic to anything in my life. This is unbelievable!” He scratched his left forearm, then winced. “It itches like crazy, Beryl. I don't know what to say, but I've got to get this checked out. I won't be able to take the girl — oh, geez. My brain's scrambled. What's her name?”

“Valerie.”

“Sorry. Well, I can't take Valerie on the trail today. You'll have to get someone else.”

Beryl watched him dash toward his truck and shook her head. First Mary and Ellen got chicken pox, and now Alan was gone. She'd scheduled herself to take little Alex down the nature trail but couldn't push both his wheelchair and Valerie's at the same time. Neither of them deserved to be disappointed, but now it seemed one might be.

Hurrying toward the remaining volunteers — all occupied with kids — she wondered who she could possibly ask for help. Everyone was busy. However, she caught sight of Reuben waving goodbye to the boy he'd partnered with in the pushed-wheelchair race. “Is he leaving?” she demanded.

“Yeah,” Reuben replied. “His parents said something came up.”

Consulting her clipboard, Beryl took a deep breath. “That means he won't be here for the checkers tournament. Do you think you could help me with a different child instead?”

“Of course.”

Twenty minutes later, Beryl pushed Alex's wheelchair down the gravel pathway leading to the woods behind the church. Beside her, Reuben maneuvered Valerie's. The church members had put in a nature trail two years ago. Part of it ran alongside a natural stream feeding into a pond, and they'd later added a small grotto. The trail currently had a small botanical garden, a wishing well, a gazebo, and a covered pavilion.

Alex and Valerie chattered excitedly. Before the kids and adults reached the forest, though, shouts ran out from behind them.

“Beryl!” someone yelled.

They turned around to see two volunteers running from the church. One, an overweight man, panted upon reaching them. “A couple more kids left early.”

The woman with him nodded. “Someone said you could use help. We can take these children if you want.”

“Thank you,” Beryl said. Before she knew it, the volunteers were moving the kids' wheelchairs ahead on the path.

Reuben said nothing as he watched them disappear, but for a moment, Beryl thought she saw regret in his eyes. Her own disappointment already crushed her. She'd been looking forward to the nature trail, mostly because she'd wanted to spend time with Reuben and show him around.

Knowing she should head back to the church to start the cleanup, she frowned but didn't move. She didn't want to go back.

When Reuben turned to leave, she blurted out, “I really wanted to show you the trail.” Immediately, shock and horror filled her. She wanted to clap a hand over her mouth before anything else slipped out. Why in the world had she said that out loud? But then she saw his face.

Reuben smiled at her, looking delighted.

Her heart fluttered and she couldn't help but smile back. “I'd still love to see it,” he said.

They didn't say anything else until they entered the woods. “I'm glad you asked for volunteers,” he told her. “I've had a great time. What you're doing here is wonderful. I think doing things for others, especially those who can't do certain things on their own and need our help is one of the best ways we can reflect God's love. And honor Him.”

“That's exactly how I feel,” she replied fervently. “And the world sees these children as impaired, but it's almost like they've been given extra love and joy.”

This sparked animated conversation between them as they walked. Several minutes later, Reuben said, “Beryl, I don't think I've ever told you how much I admire you.”

“Thank you,” she replied without thinking. Once she processed what he'd said, her heart leaped within her. However, she saw he was frowning. “Is something wrong?”

He flushed although he still gazed warmly at her. “I didn't plan on telling you that. I mean, it's true, but I didn't mean to say it out loud.”

Happiness and hope surged through her. Basking in his regard, she wondered if her delight was as obvious as it felt. “I admire you, too,” she confessed. Strangely, she felt better for having said it aloud. But an unexpected gust of cold air hit burst through the trees right then, and she shivered.

“It got cold fast, didn't it?” he exclaimed. “I thought it was supposed to be warm all day. Good thing I was busy with the kids and forgot to take off my jacket.” Reuben quickly removed it and placed it around her shoulders.

Meaning to thank him, Beryl glanced at him and found herself unable to speak. It was as if she were caught in a spell. Time stood still as she gazed into his blue eyes which studied her so intensely. Surely the warmth — no, the heat — she saw in them was real, not something conjured from her own need and loneliness. Her gaze fell to his lips, and Reuben stepped closer. Wishing with every fiber of her being that he'd kiss her, she closed the gap between them. However, it dawned on Beryl what she'd done, and she tore her eyes from his and stepped away.

Reuben swayed, appearing a bit dazed. Shaking his head, he blinked, cleared his throat, and put more space between them.

Aphrodite shook her head. “Stubborn things,” she muttered. Hearing a faint sigh behind her, she whipped around to glare at the thicket. “Get your nosy self out here.”

“Sorry,” Eros offered as he stepped into sight. But then he grinned. “I knew you couldn't resist. And they did need your help.”

“What do you mean — did?” she snapped. “They still do. I will not let some strong-willed female thwart me now that I'm trying to help her.”

“He's resisting, too, isn't he?”

The Goddess of Love grimaced. “Yes.”

“I can fire a few arrows...”

“No. No need to force what already exists. They just need a — little nudge.”

Beryl led them down the trail in silence, Reuben a few steps behind her. She wondered what he thought of her now — if he considered her actions brazen, even though she'd stopped herself.

Strains of classical music floated through the woods, and they stopped beside the stream to listen.

“How odd,” Beryl murmured.

“I like it,” Reuben said.

“I do, too. I just meant — the church had this trail wired for sound so they could make announcements out here. The last thing I heard, though, the sound system had stopped working. I had no idea they'd fixed it.”

“Sounds like it's working just fine.”

“Yeah, it does.” They watched the water running past them for a few moments, just listening. “This stream leads to a little pond and a grotto. There's a wishing well, too. We tell the children it's magic.”

Reuben smiled. “I bet they love that.”

“They do. So do their parents. Everyone comes with pennies to throw into the well.”

They walked for a few more minutes before coming to a fork in the trail. Beryl took the right-hand turn, rounded a bend in the path, and saw the pond.

“That's beautiful,” Reuben murmured, his voice infused with awe. “I bet people enjoy the picnic tables and benches, too.”

“This spot is everybody's favorite. People come to sit and read. Or just to relax and listen to the water. The stream was already here years ago, but the church had it cleaned up and widened a little. Then they built the pond.”

“I definitely see why the place is so popular.” Reuben studied it for a few moments. “It's peaceful. Soothing. Most getaways like this charge admission fees.”

“Well, some church members donated the funding to have all this done, and the church decided to make it free for everyone. Oh, and the wishing well's over there.” Beryl pointed to their right. “It's a little hard to see from here.”

Reuben took off in that direction and Beryl followed with a smile. Soon, they came upon the small stone well embedded in the ground. Reaching into his jeans pocket, Reuben pulled out coins. He tossed a penny into the well, then closed his eyes for a moment.

She assumed he was making a wish. Prepared with pennies of her own, she took one from her shirt pocket, stepped up beside him, and dropped it into the wishing well. She closed her eyes too and made her wish.

They both stood there with their eyes shut, enjoying the sound of water and birdsong all around them. When Beryl finally opened her eyes again, rays of moonlight glinted off the sparkling water. She blinked. “How long have we been standing here?”

“A few minutes.” Reuben frowned at the darkness around them and glanced at his watch. “It's too early for the sun to set. Was a storm supposed to come in today?”

“Not that I know of.”

The running stream sounded louder, and the music swelled around them. Then a glow illuminated the grotto. Beryl tilted her head back and gasped to see the moon directly above them.

“It looks so close, doesn't it?” Reuben asked, his eyes wide and wondering. “Almost like I could reach out and touch it.”

Strains of a deep, throbbing violin played, and the tinkling water now seemed a part of the music. Even the twittering birds and rustle of the forest added to the harmony. Then a woman's voice began to sing.

Beryl shivered, although she realized the air had warmed up quite a bit. “That song — it's an older one, but I've always loved it. I haven't heard it in years.”

“That’s “Muskrat Love,” right?” Reuben smiled at her. “It was my parents' favorite. They used to play it all the time, and I love it, too.” Beryl trembled. “Are you cold?” he asked. When she didn't reply, staring at him instead, he moved slowly toward her. “Beryl?”

His voice sounded low — raspy. Gazing into his eyes again, she thought the blue had grown deeper. Without thinking, she walked forward until they were almost touching. She froze and held her breath when she realized what she'd done. All her feelings for Reuben cascaded through her, rocking her with their intensity.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

In that moment, she saw the truth in his eyes, and her heart pounded. “You — you feel something for me, don't you?”

He reached out to gently touch her cheek with a shaking hand. “Beryl,” he whispered, “God knows I don't want to scare you or lose your friendship, but —” He bit his lip. “I'm crazy about you. You're an amazing woman.”

Her heart sang in tune with the melody around them. “I've never met anyone like you.” Saying the words aloud, she realized she was both terrified by her own temerity and grateful for it. The floodgates of her emotions opened. “I've been fighting the way I feel about you for so long,” she said. “Years.” All her pent-up longing surged through her, and she knew she had to tell him the truth. “What I feel — it's more than just admiration.”

Reuben opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He cleared his throat. “You deserve happiness and everything good in the world. I've dreamed of sharing your life with you, because…” Tears welled up in his eyes.

She reached out to caress his face. “I love you, Reuben,” she whispered.

Releasing a shaky breath, he said, “And I love you, Beryl.”

When he enfolded her in his arms and held her tightly against him, she let herself relax fully for the first time in so long — maybe ever. He kissed her forehead, and Beryl felt like she was home.

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