“Sexual assault?” There was a long silence. Finally, he said, “Did he…Ruby, did he rape you?”
“No. Not rape,” Ruby murmured. “He beat me up and forced me to…” she swallowed over the lump in her throat. “…to, to, to give him head.” She burst into tears. She had cried every time she’d had to talk about this today. Maybe she would make an appointment with that rape counselor the policewoman had recommended.
Ruby heard Sean yelling over the phone while she wept. He muttered, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” which made her cry even harder.
She finally regained control. “See?” she croaked. Her nose was all stuffed up. “The charges are so serious; I doubt he’ll get bail.”
“Murderers get bail,” Sean said. “Child molesters get bail. So do rapists. If he gets a soft judge, or a good lawyer—”
“He will. He’s rich and white.”
“Then he’ll get bail. Bet on it.”
“Tomorrow’s Saturday. Let’s spend the day together—wait! I almost forgot Tara’s funeral! And tomorrow night was supposed to be your dinner party,” he said. “I’m sorry you have to cancel—”
“Why would I have to cancel?”
“…Because of all that’s going on?”
“I need to keep busy. Otherwise, I’ll just focus on,” she swallowed. “You know.”
“If you’re sure?
“I’m gonna sleep late, then start cooking. We’ll go to your house after the party. Okay?”
“Are you sure you’re all right? At least let me come keep you company until you leave for Hilary’s.”
She wished she wasn’t having this surprise party. She forced a yawn. “I’m leaving now, actually. Don’t worry about me. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
She groaned. She had so much to do before the party! She texted Hilary her shopping list, used an app to send her money, rolled up her sleeves, and began hanging decorations.
▬▬▬
When Ruby finally heard the knock, she was running on fumes. She hadn’t slept well in days, and last night she and Hilary had party prepped until almost four. This morning, she’d set her alarm for eight and forced herself to get up and send her new cartoons to her syndicate. It only took five minutes, but that was five minutes wasted on a super busy day.
If Sean didn’t like his surprise party, she was hurling herself down the stairs.
She looked out at the odd group of people in her living room and put her finger to her lips.
“Coming,” she called, as his friends scattered for cover. She had a sour taste in her mouth that disappeared when she looked out the peephole and saw her love. Her heart started fluttering madly, and she hoped that her reaction to him would never go away.
She threw one last look around her now empty looking living room and opened the door.
Sean had one hand behind his back, and when she stepped out on the porch, he flung it out to reveal a bouquet of sunflowers. She clasped her hands together, eyes shining, already planning to dry this bouquet, the first gift he’d ever given her, and save it. Her hand shook as she reached for the flowers.
Instead of handing them over, he enveloped her in a hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay!” he murmured into her hair, stroking her back one handed. Ruby forgot the people waiting inside, as she clung to him. She began to weep.
“Let’s go inside so we can talk before your friend arrives,” he said, handing her the flowers. He was steering her over the threshold when she remembered the crowd.
She wiped her eyes and tugged him to a stop. “Hold on. Let me get myself together.” Why was she having this stupid party now? She needed to be alone with him.
“But I thought…” He looked into her empty yard. “Is she already here then?”
Obviously, it had been a great idea to make everyone park down the road a ways. She sniffled. “Not yet. I just need a moment in the fresh air to compose myself.”
“Okay.” He put his arm around her, drew her into the light from the porch light, and peered at her face. “Wow. Your cheek’s swollen, and so’s your eye, but if I wasn’t looking for it, I probably wouldn’t even have noticed.”
Ruby didn’t want to discuss her wounds here, with all of his friends listening in. “I’m wearing lots of makeup,” she said under her breath. Then she said, loudly,” Let’s go in now.”
“Okay.” He kept his arm around her.
“How was the funeral?” She led him into the middle of the living room.
His eyes were sad. “It was—”
Before he could answer, everyone jumped out and shouted, “Surprise!”
Sean leapt back, and a big smile spread over his face. “What’s this?” he asked, taking her hand and gazing into her eyes.
She felt herself melting. “Happy thirtieth birthday,” she whispered. He leaned over to kiss her, and then Nick was there, clapping Sean on the back and taking credit for the entire party. “Can you believe I got a hold of all these folks for you?” he said. “And on such short notice too!”
“He helped with the guest list,” Ruby admitted, hiding her scowl in her bouquet. Why had Nick horned in on her glory? He’d contacted everyone, but she’d done everything else, from baking the three birthday cakes, to decorating her house, making all the food, buying all the alcohol, blowing up the balloons, and stuffing the piñata. This was her idea and her party, and she didn’t appreciate all the credit he was taking. Asshole.
Sean thanked his brother and squeezed her hand. “Thank you,” he said softly, as he became surrounded by a circle of old friends.
Ruby left him and went to stand beside Hilary, a knockout in a tight dress like some supermodel. Though no real supermodel would hover nervously near the hallway fluttering her hands like she was about to take flight.
“What do you think?” Ruby asked confidently, staring at Sean.
Hilary looked around and said, “You’ve done a great job. He’s sure to love it.”
“No! I mean, what do you think of him?” Of course, he’d like the party. What wasn’t to like? “Don’t you just think he’s the most perfect man ever?”
“Oh. Well, I haven’t met him yet,” Hilary hedged. “But he certainly is…popular.”
Ruby looked around at his crowd of friends. That he was. “Yes, but isn’t he gorgeous as well?” Her eyes drank him in. He wore a white button-down shirt, khaki pants, and brown loafers. He was the most beautiful man…
“Sure. He’s cute.”
Cute? Ruby stared at her. ‘Cute’ didn’t begin to describe him. He was an angel on earth. Well, Hilary had no taste. Just look at Tom with his weathered face and callused hands. Not exactly Mr. America, that’s for damn sure.
She started to walk away, and Hilary grabbed her arm. “What were you guys doing on the porch for so long? Everyone was getting antsy.”
Ruby watched Sean throw back his head and drink the last sip of beer from a cup someone had handed him. He held the empty cup absentmindedly as he chatted with a small group of people. He needed a refill right away!
“Ruby?”
“We had a quickie,” she tossed over her shoulder, before hurrying away.
She went into the kitchen, put her flowers in a vase, and filled another cup for Sean from one of the kegs. She saw Hilary’s parrot bottle opener in the sink and looked furtively around, hoping Hilary hadn’t seen it. She shoved it into the bottom of the garbage can and washed her hands.
She turned to head into the living room again and watched as a friend of Sean’s named Jenny, who happened to be tiny and bubbly and blonde, snuck up behind him and tapped his shoulder. He turned and grinned, and they hugged fiercely enough to make Ruby clench her teeth.
As soon as she’d met that slut, Ruby had known she was trouble. Well, she was messing with the wrong woman’s man.
Ruby marched over to them. “Honey, I’ve brought you a refill.”
They broke apart, and he took the cup from her. “Thanks.
You read my mind.”
Ruby put one arm around his waist, leaned close to his ear, and said, too loudly, “I can’t wait ‘til later. I bet you’re hard just thinking about it.” Her other hand cupped his crotch for a second. Jenny stepped back, looking uncomfortable, and Ruby smiled in triumph as she watched Sean’s face and neck flush bright red.
She insinuated herself under his arm, which he obliged her by putting it over her shoulders. His face was still crimson, and he didn’t look at either of them as he cleared his throat and said, “Well then. …Ruby, have you met my friend Jenny yet?”
“Of course.” She took the other woman’s hand and shook it. “I was the one who set up this entire party. How’d you guys meet?”
His blush faded, and he looked relieved. “We went to high school together, and then we were roommates in college. Along with my friend James.” He pointed out a balding, chubby guy across the room. James was talking to Hilary, who held one of her candles and an order form. Was she… pitching to Sean’s friends? At his surprise party? Fucking Hilary…
“—haven’t seen them in a few months,” Sean was saying, “so it’s nice to catch up.”
“I’ve missed you,” Jenny said wistfully.
Ruby narrowed her eyes. “How nice it is to be reunited with an old friend.”
“I guess I’ll go mingle,” Jenny said. “Nice to have met you—”
Ruby turned on the charm. “Oh, stay and talk to me. I want to know all of Sean’s friends. What do you do for a living?” she said, knowing cartooning would trump whatever Jenny did.
“I’m a full-time mom.” Ruby was astonished when she realized that the woman was serious.
“Yeah, Jenny and James have two, or is it three little rug rats now?” Sean said.
Jenny punched him lightly, looked at Ruby, and grinned. “Don’t you believe him! He’s the boys’ godfather, and he knows we have three. He’s just wonderful with them.”
“Only because I have such wonderful god kids,” he said.
Jenny and James were married. Good. Ruby felt herself relax. This boring hausfrau was no threat to her. Better to try and befriend her.
“How rewarding it must be to get to stay home with your family,” Ruby said.
Jenny’s eyes lit up. “It’s the best thing in the world.”
Ruby finally managed to tear Sean away from her ten minutes later, and from then on, the party was very pleasant. After they broke the piñata filled with condoms, obscene matchbooks with pornographic covers, and foam penises that grew in water, and before they brought out Sean’s birthday cakes and presents, Ruby turned off her doorbell camera and slipped outside unnoticed for five minutes so she could puncture the sidewall on all of Sean’s tires with her Swiss Army knife.
Afterwards, she made sure no one had seen her and slipped back inside. She eventually turned her doorbell camera back on. Nobody had noticed she’d been gone.
Perfect.
▬▬▬
“I’m sure Jeremy slit his tires. I’d bet my life on it!” Ruby said fiercely to the female officer, C. Martini who stood in her living room taking a report on the damage to Sean’s car.
Sean stood beside her, his arm protectively around her shoulders. The rest of the guests had gone home, and he was going to stay the night to help her clean up.
“Did anyone see anything? Did any of the other guests actually witness the tire slashing?” the officer asked. She vaguely resembled Velma from Scooby Doo.
How many times did they have to go over this? “I told you, no one saw a thing, but it has to be him. He’s been stalking me, he hates Sean now for dating me, he was arrested yesterday for assaulting me, and he got out on bail today.” It was almost 2 a.m. “Er, last night, I mean, so he had the motive and the opportunity. I want him rearrested!”
Officer Martini closed her notebook. “Let’s say you’re right. This Jeremy character slashed your tires. Problem is, there’s no proof. No one saw anything.”
Ruby stalked away from Sean, waving her arms. “I don’t believe this! Does he have to kill me before you stop him?” She was so angry, she almost forgot that she was the one who’d slashed Sean’s tires.
Sean followed and enveloped her in a hug, shielding her from the officer with his body. “Can’t you bring him in for questioning? She’s been through enough!”
“We will. But unless he admits it, and he won’t, unless he’s a moron, we’ll have to let him go for lack of evidence.”
“Where are my rights?” Ruby said.
The officer opened the front door to leave and stopped short. “Oh! You have a doorbell camera,” she said. Ruby’s heart stopped. “You want us to take a look at the footage?”
“No,” Ruby said. “It’s set so it doesn’t reach the yard, and it keeps glitching, anyway. Always turning itself on and off. We’ll look at it tonight, but don’t get your hopes up.”
The officer nodded. “One more question. How do you know he’s been released from jail? Did someone call to warn you?”
“No,” Ruby said with real bitterness this time. “And it’s criminal that they didn’t. I called them this afternoon. But then, who cares about the victim’s rights anymore?”
“It’s okay,” Sean soothed, patting her back.
“Have you considered getting a restraining order?” Officer Martini asked.
Ruby rolled her eyes and repeated, again, “I was granted an Emergency Protective Order and I’m filing for a temporary one tomorrow.”
“Bright and early,” Sean emphasized.
“It’s Sunday. Court’s closed,” Officer Martini said. “Do it first thing Monday though. And if you have any more problems, give—”
“You a call. Yeah. So, you can do nothing again. Sounds like a plan.”
Officer Martini left, shutting the door behind her.
Ruby shot the deadbolt home. “Bitch,” she muttered.
“She was just doing her job.”
“I know.” She shivered and rubbed her arms. “It would just be nice to be believed.”
“I believe you,” he said, coming up behind her and pulling her into his arms again.
Ruby leaned back into him and closed her eyes.
…That’s because you don’t know me very well.
CHAPTER 34
Sean moaned, “That feels so goooood…” as Ruby massaged the knots out of his shoulders. He lay face down on her bed, while she straddled his bare hips and worked on his back.
“It’s supposed to,” she murmured, wishing that she wasn’t, to use his term, on the rag.
She worked both her thumbs into the base of his neck. “You know, we’ve made love quite a few times now,” she began tentatively, “but we hardly know anything about each other.”
He started to roll over, but Ruby pinned him in place. “I’m not finished. We can talk while I do this.”
He relaxed underneath her again and said, “What do you want to know?”
“For starters, what’s your middle name?”
He chuckled. “That’s an easy one. It’s Walter. After my father. What’s yours?”
“Lou.” She’d hated that stupid name her entire life. She knew her mother regretted choosing it. She should’ve dropped it years ago. “After my father as well.”
“Ruby Lou. I like it. It’s cute.”
“If you say so.”
She tried to think of a way to bring up marriage and kids without scaring him, but she drew a blank.
“…Was that the only thing you wanted to know?”
Yeah right. “How’d you come to be a substitute teacher?” she said. “It’s…unusual.”
“I wondered how long it’d take for you to ask,” he said, sounding irritated. “That’s always a sticking point for everybody I date—”
“No!” She was mortified that he’d lumped her in with the other losers he’d dated. “I think it’s nice that you’re a sub! I was curious, that’s all.” She began kissing his neck to take his mind off her gaffe.
&n
bsp; He tried to turn over again, and this time she climbed off, pulled her T-shirt over her bare legs and hugged her knees to her chest. He put one hand behind his head to pillow it, and with his other hand he gently rubbed her back. He made no move to cover his naked body, which was fine with her. “I don’t mind telling you. I have a master’s degree in math, and I originally wanted to finish my Ph.D. and become a professor, but I changed my mind.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “I just got sick of the politics of academia. I got my teaching credential and followed Millie down to San Diego for a year to teach second grade. The kids were awesome, but it was expensive, and we really missed it up here. They always need nurses, but when we moved back, there were no teaching positions I was interested in available in the local schools…so I subbed.”
He looked thoughtful. “I actually enjoy subbing. I have plenty of work, I mean, it’s rare for me not to work five days a week. It’s nice to have a change every day. I get to teach different subjects, in different schools, with different kids, even different grades. I’ve already turned down a position at Tennessee Williams, and until a dream position comes open at one of my favorite schools, I’m content to sub. I love it, though I’m obviously not in it for the money.”
Ruby stretched out and cuddled against his side. She supposed that was okay for now. She made plenty of money. “Do you only teach math?”
“Mostly, in the upper grades, but I have a Multiple Subject Credential, so I can teach anything. How’d you come to be a cartoonist?”
She shrugged. “You read that article, right?”
“Yeah, but it was short.”
“It’s pretty much the whole story though. I’ve always been a good artist, and my mom encouraged me to pursue it.” She’d been telling this story for years, but it wasn’t the truth. Her mom had been a busy and distant woman who openly admitted she hadn’t wanted Ruby, her menopause baby with the grifter she’d stupidly wed. She doubted her mom ever knew or cared that her youngest daughter was artistic.
Drawn To You: A Psychological thriller Page 32
