“My cousin hates showers,” Judith explained to a
startled Corinne. “She never can manage the taps.”
“She manages quite well with her mouth,” Corinne
noted with disapproval.
“Uh . . . yes,” Judith replied, maneuvering her way
under the showerhead. Though she was unsteady, the
rush of warm water felt wonderful. For a brief time,
she submitted her body to a sense of total cleansing,
as if her anxieties were flowing right down the drain.
Confidence as well as strength seemed to grow
within her. She vaguely heard Corinne say something about having to step outside for a moment.
Then Judith found the shampoo and began to wash
her hair.
“I’m done,” Renie announced grimly. “Are you
okay?”
Judith peeked around the curtain. “Yes, I’m almost
finished.”
Renie finished putting on her gown and robe. “I’ll
get Corinne to help you come out.”
Judith rinsed the shampoo out of her hair, then fumbled with the taps. She wasn’t quite sure which way to
turn them, but eventually figured it out before scalding
herself. She shook herself as vigorously as possible,
then reached for the towel that Corinne had left on a
peg just outside the stall. Judith was awkwardly drying
off when she heard a noise nearby.
“Coz?” she called, wielding the towel. “Coz?”
Renie didn’t answer. Nor was there any response
from Corinne. Puzzled, Judith rubbed at her wet hair,
then wiped away the moisture that had gotten into her
eyes. When she finished, she blinked several times to
bring her vision into focus.
Then she screamed.
SUTURE SELF
281
A man’s hand appeared from the other side of the
shower curtain and was reaching out to grab her.
As strong masculine fingers wrapped around her
wrist, Judith screamed again.
EIGHTEEN
“MOM! WHAT’S WRONG?”
Judith’s mouth hung open as she gaped at her son.
“Mike?” she gasped, squeaking out his name as if
she were more mouse than mother.
“Didn’t you hear me call to you from outside?”
Mike asked, gallantly trying to avoid peering into
the shower stall.
“Ah . . . No.” Judith swallowed hard, then did her
best to wind the towel around her body. “The water
was running.”
