The next morning, I found my door still unlocked. As I got ready for the day, relishing the ability to use the toilet in peace, I debated whether I should go downstairs for breakfast. I could hear Mrs. Jennings and the Coles already at breakfast. My hands began to sweat at the thought of Mrs. Jennings scolding me and locking me up again. I cursed myself for being such a coward. Two weeks ago I had been convinced nothing could intimidate me anymore and now I was afraid of an old biddy? Grow a spine, Lucy.
I crept down, careful to avoid the creaky boards as if I was sneaking around at night. Fortunately, I was able to escape the family's notice. Anne greeted me with a curt nod and real butter for my toast, her way of saying she was happy to see me. I smiled back, not daring to speak lest I draw any unwanted attention from the Coles.
After breakfast, Anne went over the list of groceries she needed me to buy at the shops. A collection of clothing tokens was included amongst the tokens for turkey, eggs, potatoes, and carrots. A trip to Lilies of the Field would be necessary, an uncommon errand since both Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Thorpe preferred a personal tailor to make most of the family clothing. The Marthas were due for a new set of dresses and aprons.
As I placed my wings over my cap to fetch Jade from next door before the Thorpe's Martha headed out in her stead, Mrs. Jennings grabbed my wrist. I froze with my arms in midair not trusting that the mere task of lowering them wouldn't provoke her wrath.
"Where do you think you are going, Handmaid?" she snapped, her pale eyes burning.
I lowered my gaze and mustered as neutral an expression as I could manage. "I was going to do the shopping, Mrs. Jennings. Mrs. Cole gave instructions for me to go instead of the-."
"I'm sure she did no such thing," she interrupted. "My daughter knows better than to let a Handmaid in your condition leave the house without proper protection, especially one of your temperament. I expect to keep my eye on you and two Angels at the very least."
She went off in search of Mrs. Cole despite her claim of certainty. I debated rushing for the door and getting far enough down the road before Mrs. Jennings could follow, but dismissed the idea as foolishness immediately. My heart sank as I pictured the bulky escort since I would need to start convincing as many Handmaids as possible to go with their Commanders to the Committee meeting. I only had a week to find out whose Commanders would be in attendance and Handmaids would need time to convince them. I couldn't do that with Mrs. Jennings breathing down my neck. I'd be lucky if I could get one person to join me at this rate.
To my infinite surprise, Mrs. Jennings returned with only one machine gun-bearing Angel and announced that she was going to give me a second chance. She was to stay behind and help choose a mural for the nursery wall rather than accompany me. I tried to not make my sigh of relief too obvious as I double-checked the position of my wings and nearly ran out the door with my basket, Angel following silently behind.
It took several minutes of standing in the sweltering heat of the day before Jade made her way to the gate. She evidently hadn't expected me to show up. Neither had I, really.
"Blessed be the fruit," I said with a grin.
"May the Lord open. What happened to you and what's with the shadow?" she replied, nodding at the Angel behind me.
"The Commander's mother-in-law came to stay until the baby is born. We don't get along. She sent him with me to make sure I don't damage the goods." I gestured to my protruding belly. Even with the loose dress it stood out by a mile. It occurred to me that it had been awhile since I'd seen my toes.
"Well praise be that you're back. I was going insane cooped up in that hellhole."
We walked a while in silence as we passed another pair of Handmaids on the sidewalk. I kept listening to the Angel's footsteps behind me to make sure he was out of earshot. Once I was sure, I whispered to Jade.
"Commander Thorpe is taking a trip next week, isn't he?"
She turned sharply to give me a wary look but continued walking. "Whatever it is, leave me out of it. Mrs. Thorpe barely let me leave this morning because of you."
I fell out of step, taken aback. "What? Why?"
"You've earned yourself a reputation, disappearing for so long this far out from the birth. Word got around you'd tried to hurt the baby and were locked up. I asked Ofbrian if she knew whether it was true or not, and she confirmed that Mrs. Cole and her mother were worried you'd starve the baby to death."
I gritted my teeth in frustration. Of course they would label me a baby murderer. As if convincing others to join me wasn't difficult enough already.
"Mrs. Cole was lying. Surely, you know I'd never harm a child, and certainly not my own!"
Jade laughed bitterly. "Either way, I wish you hadn't come. At least while we were both locked up I was off the hook for spying on you. Your pardon is my punishment, remember?"
How could I forget when Jade's mangled stump of a wrist was on clear display every time we met? I could scarcely remember a time when she didn't look at me with venom. Despite that, she'd promised to protect me from the Thorpes' wrath at her own expense. She was still my closest friend, tenuous though it was. I had to risk telling her, even though she could do the most harm to me of all the Handmaids.
"It won't be for long, if you are willing to listen." I said, lowering my voice to barely more than a whisper so the Angel wouldn't overhear.
Jade's fist flexed around her basket, the knuckles going white.
"What is it?" She said tightly.
I needed no further encouragement. "Commander Thorpe is leaving next week. I heard from Commander Cole the whole Council would be meeting in D.C. then, along with many others. If you can convince the Commander to bring you along, I can get us out of here. We'll be free."
Another pair of Handmaids crossed our path and we fell into formation behind them. That Jade remained silent gave me hope that she wouldn't betray me. It was the better part of half an hour before the pair in front of us peeled off for a shop.
Jade leaned towards me. "Help me retie my shoelaces."
Checking to make sure the Angel kept his distance, I knelt down as best I could around my inflexible belly as she sat on a nearby bench. The laces on her boots were in perfect order. I looked up expectantly. Her expression was grim.
"I can't guarantee that I can convince him to bring me," she said. "You know what it will require. If he gets suspicious or your plan doesn't work, we're dead."
"Better dead than trapped in this hellhole for a lifetime," I replied, pulling the bows on her boots loose and retying them. " I have connections that can get us and any others we can convince to Canada. Trust me, it'll work."
"Isn't that what I've been doing this whole time?"
"This time I'll need more help than a pair of eyes and silence," I warned her. "We need to find out which Commanders are leaving without raising too much suspicion. Only ask Handmaids you trust to keep their mouths shut. Can you do that?"
She nodded.
"Praise be," I said, finishing off the last bow with a flourish. "Now help me up. I'm stuck down here."
She smiled faintly as she pulled me up with her good arm. I couldn't remember the last time she'd smiled. If all went well, I'd make sure she smiled every single day.