The nights Boaz came and went from Ruth’s quarters, she would lie in bed and listen for Naomi. Every time, Boaz would call out not Naomi but Ruth’s name. Every time, as her mother-in-law fucked her husband, she would take a photograph when he called her name. On their backs, she inscribed, So cold and far away. They are a random assortment of photographs, most of them blurred and dark.
But Ruth loved those photographs as she loved Boaz.
During the day, Ruth had no obligations. She wandered around town, buying this and that. Then, she would return home and read or nap. All that was expected of her was that she dine exclusively with Boaz. It was not too much — he said — to ask of his own wife. And so for breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner, Ruth would trek to the main house, where Boaz and Naomi lived, to eat with her husband. During those meals, Boaz would tell her about his day, his business ventures, his unconditional love. During those meals, Boaz would explain to Ruth how Naomi was not his wife. Surely, he could recognize his luck in having two beautiful women but what he wanted most was Ruth.
Ruth would listen and occasionally clarify her plans for the day if they conflicted with his.
Naomi was never invited to dine with them. Instead, her meals were brought up to her room, which although it was in the main house, was in a separate wing. Boaz insisted that his room should be shared by no one but his own wife.
Yes, of course, Naomi was jealous. And she did not know how to moderate her jealousy.
There were days when Naomi was so enraged that she would wedge herself into the china closet, just to spy on the married couple’s mundane conversation. There were days when Naomi would ravage Ruth’s room, looking for proof of infidelity or foul play. There were days when Naomi would gather strands of the married couple’s discarded hair and stroke them against her face and stomach. She thought, Even their hair in better than mine. Then, there were nights when she would not lay with Boaz, arguing that she is at once his in-law’s in-law and his mistress, and although she has at times been content with that, she can no longer tolerate it. Those nights, she would give Boaz an ultimatum, but before she could finish speaking, he would tell her he chooses Ruth.
Those nights, Naomi would laugh at him and say, Ruth! She’ll never be the wife you want! She was my son’s wife, and during that time, not once did she touch him. Not even an embrace!
Those nights, Boaz would laugh back and say, There is more to love than desire, Naomi. That’s why I don’t love you.
Somehow, those nights would end in fucking.
Every morning, Boaz goes for long walks in his garden. He carries a pair of shears with him so that he can collect flowers for Ruth. Even in the winter, even when snow erases any semblance of color, Boaz brings Ruth a bouquet of fresh flowers. It is a small gesture of affection that a husband shows his wife.
Ruth is not without kindness. Although she offers Boaz neither flowers nor jewels, after dinner, she cleans his feet with warm soapy water and rubs them with lavender oil. It is a small gesture of affection. For them, this is more intimate than anything that could happen behind locked bedroom doors.
Ruth takes scores of photographs, many of which cannot be aptly labeled, So cold and far away. These photographs litter the walls of the main house. Boaz has each one professionally matted and framed. Even when Naomi wants to escape, these photographs stand as reminders that Ruth will always be first.
For their one month anniversary, Boaz gave Ruth a tripod.
For their one year anniversary, Boaz built Ruth a dark room.
Each day of the month that marks the day of their marriage, Boaz gives Ruth a gift relating to photography. Sometimes, it is something small — a new memory card, a new strap for her camera. Other times, his gifts are more extravagant.
The truth of it is that Ruth does love Boaz. She often thinks her love for him could literally kill her. And that is why she refuses to show it.
This is not say that Boaz has given nothing to Naomi, nor that she does not expect sumptuous gifts.
But Boaz makes sure whatever gift he gives Ruth, he gives one of at least one-third the value to Naomi. He came upon this formula rather arbitrarily, and he rarely speaks of it.
Still, all the craftsmen and jewelers know Boaz and his preferences. As such, whenever he goes shopping, everyone knows to offer him selections in mismatched pairs: diamonds and topaz, necklaces and a pair of earrings. Everyone knows that Boaz will give Ruth the better selection, which she will only reluctantly accept, shyly, as if she were not even his wife, and he will give Naomi the lesser present, which she will wear with pride, as if she were not his wife’s mother-in-law and his lowly mistress.
Although Ruth followed her mother-in-law across many lands when her husband died and although Ruth was given the choice — and let the record reflect that she was encouraged to go back to her family rather than stay with Naomi — she did not hesitate.
So long ago, ages ago, Ruth had said, For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried.
She would come to regret this decision almost immediately, but at that moment, Ruth understood that Naomi was a lonely woman, one whose husband and sons had died, one who was left with neither money nor family. So when Ruth told Naomi she would follow her anywhere and be the faithful daughter she’d never had, she’d had no idea what to expect. But this arrangement! This was beyond any reasonable expectation for a faithful daughter.
Then came the day Ruth learned she was with child. That day, she locked herself in her closet and refused to emerge. She pulled her sweaters, hats, and scarves down to the ground and built a barricade. There, she softly sang songs of mourning and death to herself and to her child. Even then, she knew it was impossible. Although her own mother had never taught her, Ruth knew where babies came from, and she had never done the necessary deeds to make a baby.
More importantly, however, Ruth understood that Boaz would never believe her fidelity. He would never trust that this child was his. He would call her a whore, as she’d wanted to call Naomi so many times, and banish her from his home, and Ruth would have nowhere to go. Worst of all, Ruth understood this baby, this child, would restore all authority to Naomi.
But perhaps even worse than the previous worst, Ruth thought, was the essential truth that she was faithful to Boaz, that she loved him immensely, and even worse than all that was that she could never say any of these things to him.
For three days, Ruth stayed in her closet, and those were the first times since their marriage that Ruth did not eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Boaz.
The first morning, Boaz waited patiently, unwilling to touch his eggs Benedict until Ruth arrived. The eggs eventually became so cold that when the maid came to remove the dish, the yolk had fully solidified.
For the first time in his entire life, Boaz missed breakfast.
More hurt than concerned, Boaz went about his day. Then came lunch.
Boaz sat at the table, his fingers drumming the hard wood of his chair. He was hungry. He was angry. But he refused to eat.
Then, finally, Boaz realized, almost by epiphany, that something must be wrong. He is a quick one, this Boaz.
That first day that Ruth stayed hidden in her closet, Boaz personally went to the kitchen. In many ways, he was surprised he even knew where it was. Boaz asked his cooks and his servants to prepare the most delicious meal for two and deliver it to Ruth’s home. He told his butlers to enter quietly and set up a table and chairs, candlelight, the finest silver. He arranged for a cellist to serenade them. But when they arrived in Ruth’s house, they found no one there. Still, they set the table and chairs, the candles, the finest silver. They arranged the meal so that no servants would be necessary and Boaz could have complete privacy with Ruth. Even the cellist was instructed to perform in the main house and speakers were set up at the foot of the table, so to provide mood without being obtrusive. It was perfect. Boaz had not forgotten even the smallest detail. Except, of course, Ruth.