Page 175 of Phoenix's Fire

"Can I help you?" I asked, looking between them all.

"Callah," Ms. Lawton said, "Mrs. Porter and Mrs. Hinton would like to invite you to the wives' laundry area. Since you're to be wed soon, we want to make sure you get the chance to learn where you'll be expected to handle your chores."

"As our way of saying thank you," Mrs. Porter said, giving me a shy smile. "So grab your laundry, because Deenah and I would love to help you."

I looked back at Ms. Lawton in confusion. No one had come to show Meri where the wives did things. Already, I was using some of the adult facilities, simply because there were too many girls in the ones closer to my rooms. It was allowed - and I'd been trying to see Meri initially. So why were they here?

Was it because I'd been caught at something? Was I in trouble? There were so many things I could be accused of that I almost wanted to refuse, worried this was some test I'd likely fail. Yet the smiles on these women's faces convinced me I was merely being paranoid. I'd helped Helah Porter when her husband had abused her, so this had to be because of that.

"Thank you. One moment," I said before turning back to collect my hamper.

There wasn't much. I only had a few dresses, and most of them were alreadyused. Just because I could, I tossed in a few of my underthings, then came back to the door. The three women were still smiling at me kindly.

"I'm ready," I told them.

"Let me get your door," Deenah Hinton said, reaching around me for the knob.

"We've got her now, Ms. Lawton. This way, Callah." Helah gestured ahead of us.

"I'll catch up with the ladies when I'm done here," Ms. Lawton assured her. "Callah, this is a privilege, so be respectful."

"Yes, ma'am," I said, following Helah as Ms. Lawton headed the other way.

But before we made it more than a few steps, Helah leaned in and lowered her voice. "We told Ms. Lawton how you helped me. She agreed it would be permissible to introduce you to a few of the other wives, since you're to be wed in only a few weeks."

"Less than that," I grumbled.

"I'm sorry?" Helah asked, glancing at the doors around us. "I thought you turned in November?"

I hadn't meant to say anything. The words had just slipped out! "Sorry. Anxiety," I assured her.

"No need for that, dear," she promised. "We just want to make sure you're not on your own once you're married. That is the hardest time for a woman, you know."

"I'd feared so," I mumbled, not sure what else to say.

She gently patted my arm in assurance and led me on. Soon enough, Helah guided me into the washroom, with Deenah following behind us. Surprisingly, there were more than a dozen women lined up at the wash basins. I hadn't expected so many at once, and while the hum of conversation was soft, it also felt jubilant. I even heard someone laugh!

"Ladies!" Deenah said, clapping her hands twice to get their attention. "I would like to introduce all of you to the Atwood girl, Callah. We've invited her to do her laundry with us today."

"A girl?" someone asked skeptically from the side of the room.

"My friend," Helah replied. "Miss Atwood helped with my head when Mr. Porter punished me. Ms. Lawton hadn't heard a thing, which means Callah knows how to keep from spreading vile gossip."

"And," Deenah added, smiling at me proudly, "she's a rather accomplished healer."

But a brusque woman sneered, "Aren't you one ofthem?"

My eyes were wide, and my head was whipping around as I tried to follow everything that was going on. I knew this was a rare privilege, and one my friends hadn't gotten. Still, I didn't understand the question.

"I'm sorry?" I asked, my voice much too high.

The woman glared at me as if trying to see into my soul. "The heathens who were banished. Aren't you the girl who shared a room with them?"

"Yes, ma'am," I breathed, dropping my eyes to the ground and bracing to be thrown out.

There was no point in denying it. Everyone knew both of my childhood roommates had been banished for breaking God's commandments. If I tried to explain it away, that would only make me look guilty of doing something wrong too - which I was.

"Do you know how they did it?" she demanded.

---