Chapter Thirty-Six
Taz lurched. Oh Christ! Couldn’t be– Or could it? Taz recalled Theodore Bell’s obit– he was survived by a wife and daughter.
After, once the dishes had been washed and stacked, and with long shadows stretching across the floor, Taz sat with Ruth on the mattress and stroked her hair. “How long have you been married?”
The girl stiffened. “I married Nathaniel three years ago.”
“And he took you into his bed?”
“Yes. Me and my mother. It is customary for the mother to attend for the first time. To help out.”
“You and your mother slept with him. Together.”
“Yes. Is this important for you?”
The question grounded Taz and a wave of embarrassment lifted into her cheeks. “No. I suppose not. But to me, that behavior is depraved, barbaric, and it is hard for me to understand.”
