It Happens in Threes
by Denise Robbins
Published by L&L Dreamspell
Spring, Texas
Visit us on the web at www.lldreamspell.com
Copyright 2009 by Denise Robbins
All Rights Reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the copyright holder, except for brief quotations used in a review.
This is a work of fiction, and is produced from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real people is a coincidence. Places and things mentioned in this novel are used in a fictional manner.
ISBN- 978-1-60318-087-0
Published by L & L Dreamspell
Produced in the United States of America
Visit us on the web at www.lldreamspell.com
Dedicated to my parents, Keith and Mary, who taught me to believe I could accomplish anything.
Thanks, Mom and Dad, for encouraging me to pursue my dreams.
Love ya,
Denise “Sweet Cheeks”
ONE
A warning whisper in the back of her mind didn’t stop Ruby from pushing open her fiancé’s bedroom door.
“Thomas? Where the…” Her voice broke off at the sight of her fiancé under the covers, in a position that told her he wasn’t sick and he sure as heck wasn’t alone.
Shock bolted her to the spot. Her stomach cramped. Ruby wanted to heave. More than anything, she wanted to get the hell out of there.
“I guess I should have made dinner for three.”
Startled in mid-thrust, Thomas fell out of bed. Groping around the floor for his pants, he hit his head on the nightstand. “Shit.”
Good, she thought as she pivoted and ran from the room.
“Ruby, wait…”
“Go to hell!” she yelled back at him as she raced down the stairs.
Before she reached the front door, Thomas grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him. Rage shook her but Ruby managed to shoot daggers at him until he released her arm.
“What? What could you possibly say that would make me feel any better? Don’t give me some cliché about it not being what it seemed. Do I look that stupid to you?”
“Let me explain. You have to listen to me.”
Stabbing a finger at his chest, she said, “No I don’t, you despicable, slimy, two-timer!”
“I’ll fix it. You know we’re perfect together, sweetheart. I love you.”
“But you don’t love me enough to keep it in your pants! How do I know you will once we’re married?” She thumped her palm against her head. “What the hell am I saying? Of course you won’t. If you’re doing some bimbo now, you couldn’t possibly be faithful—ever! Once a louse, always a louse.”
“I needed…I just needed…”
“It looks as if your need was taken care of, and since you don’t need me,” she set the paper bag down. “Here.” She struggled to get the engagement ring off before it burned and branded her.
“Ruby, don’t, please don’t. You’ll change your mind, I know you will.”
She stiffened, looked him straight in the eye, and kneed him in the groin. Thomas screamed in pain, grabbed himself, and fell like dead weight to his knees.
“While you’re down there, here’s your ring.” Ruby ripped the offending band off her finger and threw it at him.
She bent down, pulled the lasagna out of the bag and with the aim of a Harlem Globe Trotter, dumped it over his head.
“There’s your surprise dinner, you son of a bitch.”
Yanking the mahogany door open, Ruby heard it bounce off the interior wall as she flew out of the traitor’s house and to her car. She listened to the click of the locks, shoved her key in the ignition, and started it up. The engine roared to life. She paused, looked at the boxes of personal possessions that came from her office desk, and then beat her forehead against the steering wheel, trying to make reality disappear.
Through tear-blurred eyes Ruby saw Thomas exiting the house, hopping on one leg, still zipping up his pants, tomato sauce dripping down his face. Noodles slithered down his bare chest like the snake he was. Slamming the car into reverse, she revved out of the drive and back onto the main road.
“This can’t be happening! I don’t deserve this. First, I’m fired from my job. Then Thomas slips the big-one to some bimbo, giving a feeble excuse of needing. What did he need? More of her time and attention? According to the boss who fired her that couldn’t be true. According to her ex-boss, she was too pre-occupied with her personal life to do her job. What the hell is next?” Two down and one to go. She knew there would be something, because everything happens in threes.
TWO
The shrill ringing of the phone disturbed Ruby’s fitful sleep on the sofa. At the insistent sound, she peeled open her eyes and blinked. A new morning had arrived, but she still couldn’t deal with anyone. Let the machine pick up the message. At the sound of Thomas’s voice, astonishment made her sit up and listen. She groaned, hating her return to reality.
“Ruby? Ruby, are you there? Sweetheart, answer the phone. We need to talk. Everything can be worked out.”
“Ha! In your dreams, buddy.” Jerking the cord from the wall, she disconnected the phone, and cracked the faceplate.
“What a mess.” Ruby’s head dropped into her hands.
How had her life changed so drastically, overnight? Yesterday she’d had a job and was engaged to Mr. Right. Today was the worst day of her life.
Little did she know her ex-fiancé had extra curricular needs. Apparently it wasn’t her that he needed. At least she hadn’t made the mistake of actually marrying the lying, cheating bastard. Who the hell knows what would have happened if she had made that blunder.
Ruby was saving herself for marriage. Well, except for the one mistake of sleeping with high school sweetheart, Michael Augustson, but that didn’t really count. Once again, her judgment of men had failed her. That damn poor judgment was the reason she didn’t sleep around.
Speaking of poor judgment. Where was Michael? What was he doing? “Are you nuts?” She shook her head at her foolishness. She thought about him way too much. Compared everyone to him. Had the previous evening’s events caused her sanity to slip? She just got out of one disaster and already she thought of the one person who could cause her even more hurt. “Are you nuts?” she repeated.
Her life had been figured out, but now was in complete disarray. She liked change but this was ridiculous. She felt out of control, resentful, restless. She wanted more.
The dark skies outside her bay window overlooking the Merrimack River mirrored her gloomy reflections. The incessant buzzing of the doorbell yanked Ruby back from her thoughts.
She dragged herself to the door and opened it to gape in bewilderment at the dozens of lavender and fuchsia roses that greeted her. Lined up in sparkling crystal vases, the soft subtle fragrances of the bouquets brought a small, unbidden smile of delight to her lips.
After setting the vases on the dining room table, she noticed the card attached to each bunch of flowers. She plucked the first envelope from its plastic holder and opened it. Ruby read the message, ‘Your heart belongs to me’ and cringed. Six cards contained the same exact phrase. She ripped the cards into tiny bits and let the pieces spill to the floor just the way her life had tumbled out of control.
Stinging bitterness swept through her. She scooped up the bouquets, crammed them into her trash compactor, flipped the switch, and crushed them as Thomas had crushed her love.
Thomas hadn’t gotten the not-so-subtle hint and the effort of avoiding his relentl
ess phone calls, voicemails and emails exhausted her.
* * * *
Returning from a morning jog, Ruby drew to a halt when she saw a pink rose petal on the front sidewalk. A warning tingle crept up her spine, the hairs on the back of her neck raised, and she looked around for signs of more petals or of anyone. Not seeing either, she slipped her key into the deadbolt. Her hand froze. The door was unlocked. She could have sworn she’d locked it. A flicker of alarm coursed through her.
Her fingers wrapped tightly around two keys ready to strike in self-defense. Ruby opened the door and surveyed the living room. Finding no indication of a disturbance, she blew out a sigh of relief. Hard to believe, but she must have left the door unlocked.
In her bedroom, she stripped off her sweat-soaked jogging outfit and tossed them into the hamper. Still in her bra and panties, Ruby turned toward the bathroom and froze. Something caught her eye. She didn’t know what, but something was wrong. Her relief died a quick death.
Gnawing on her lower lip, she perused the entire room. On the canopied four-poster bed, she spotted the foreign items. And stepped closer.
There was a letter, a single pink rose and a sheer pale blue, silk teddy. Her hands shaking, she picked up the blue note and read. ‘I look forward to seeing you in it’. A blood-red heart circled the words ‘Always and Forever’.
Thomas!
Ruby jumped at the shrill ring of the phone. Her breath stuck in her throat, her heart pounded. She swallowed hard, managing a feeble answer. “Hello?”
“I didn’t see the flowers. Did you get them?” Thomas’s low voice asked.
“Yes,” she croaked out.
“I meant it. Your heart belongs to me, always and forever. When are you going to come back to me?”
“That’s not going to happen,” she stated with some resolve back in her voice.
“Yes, it will.” The force of his seething reply stunned her. Fear and anger clenched tight in her stomach.
“It’s over, Thomas. Stop calling me, stop emailing me, and definitely stop coming into my house!” She banged the receiver down cutting off any further dispute.
***
At eleven the next morning the locks on her doors were replaced. The locksmith had just left when there was a soft knock. The locksmith had locked himself out, she thought, smiling. Without checking the peephole, she opened the door.
A boy with sandy-red hair and freckles smiled nervously up at her. “The guy asked me to give these to you.”
She peered around the corner, but saw no one. “Where is he?”
“He’s gone.”
The little boy pushed the purple rose and a blue piece of paper at her. Not wanting to upset the boy, she took them from the small hands extended to her. She tipped him, watched as he stuffed the money in his pocket and hurried down her steps. “How could he use a little kid to do his dirty work?”
She shut the door, engaged her new locks. In the kitchen, she thought about burning the letter without opening it, but for some peculiar reason felt compelled to read it.
It wasn’t the one-liners like the previous emails and notes. She scanned the letter:
Dear Ruby,
I’m working on our wedding plans. I know you are saving yourself until we are married, but I crave you. I will not let anyone or anything keep us apart. You will always belong to me. You were meant to be mine. We were meant to be together.
Until death do us part,
Thomas
Thomas’s declaration of love twisted her insides with icy fear. Ruby dropped the note, ran into the bathroom just in time to toss her cookies into the toilet.
After heaving twice, Ruby gargled, splashed cold water on her face and caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror above the sink. She looked like she’d been in a fight. Her face splotched with red, her eyes puffy with dark circles, and tears left mascara streaks.
“You look like hell girl. Get a grip. Take charge.” A sudden realization snapped her out of her funk and into action.
She snatched up the phone from her nightstand, sat on the edge of her bed, called the airlines, and made a reservation. Next she called her dad and told him of her arrangements.
The Florida Keys. The perfect place for escape. He’d never find her.
THREE
Arriving at the house in Key Largo, Ruby tipped the friendly cabbie and grabbed her own luggage. Before hauling it to the front door, she stood, eyes closed, soaking in the sights and sounds.
She breathed in honeysuckle and orange blossoms. The song of the morning dove brought back memories of her grandmother’s place in Iowa. Ruby opened her eyes and focused on the familiar Flamingo pink stucco house with the Spanish tiled roof. Her sanctuary. In front of the house, a large Palm tree stood surrounded by roses she and her mother had planted together.
With the key, Ruby let herself into her parents’ vacation home. It was open and airy with lots of windows and ceiling fans. All the rooms opened onto the lagoon pool area on the backside of the house. The ocean was just past the pool where she liked to sit and enjoy the most breathtaking views during sunset.
After putting her suitcase away, changing into clothing fit for Florida weather, shorts, T-shirt, and sandals, Ruby did a quick run to the grocery store.
Now, she sat on the lanai in a cushioned chair with her feet up. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes. The fans whirred above in the screen-enclosed area and blew a magnificent breeze, making her skin tingle. With the smell of ocean wafting in, Ruby savored the white wine, surrendered to vacation mode, and gave up trying to piece together her shattered life.
Maybe things would change for the better. Maybe she could handle whatever else came her way. What else could possibly happen?
She wouldn’t start thinking about her future, or anything else, for at least a couple of days. The need to relax, recuperate, and mentally checkout was more important.
Her parents’ vacation home was a healing place, one with good memories that gave her strength, a strength that wouldn’t allow her to grieve. At least not as much as she thought. The smell of saltwater off the ocean, and a typical Florida thunder and lightning storm evoked memories of sitting with her father on the lanai during college vacation breaks. Together, they’d watch the storms race across the sky.
Those were simple times. Times she missed more at this moment in her life than any other.
The lightning from the storm had electricity coursing through her. She felt alive with energy. The thought of stripping off her clothes and taking a dip in the pool appealed to her tremendously. A few minutes in the water would be exhilarating and tranquil.
She turned on the house stereo to the local jazz station, her father’s taste in music, and hers. The pool lights emanated a magnificent inviting glow beckoning to her, like the beacon of a lighthouse.
***
The door was unlocked. He pushed it open quietly, his instincts on high alert. He wasn’t expecting anyone else at Keith and Mary Goodman’s vacation home. The perfume assailed him. Her scent. Ruby. The fragrance overwhelmed him, triggering memories of her to flash through his mind.
He closed the door without making a sound. Noticing the glow from the lights, he crept over to the French doors that led from the living room to the pool. Leaning against the jamb, his eyes lighted on Ruby.
She stripped out of her clothes, tossed them aside, walked over to the deep end of the pool, and dove in. The water barely rippled as she slid below the surface. Lightning flashed in the distance and darkness rolled in all around.
Taking in the view, he watched the sleek woman with golden blonde hair skimming through the water. She appeared fluid and peaceful, looking like a mermaid, the siren of the sea. Lightning arced across the sky, danced on the water, and around the curves of her shapely body. She shimmered.
The last time he’d seen every naked inch of her, he had the same reaction of pain and pleasure. He showed up for her father’s 60th birthday party as a surprise and invited himself
to stay as Ruby’s roommate for the week.
One morning, he opened the bathroom door to see Ruby slipping out of sheer pink panties. He cleared his throat and she straightened, letting loose of the flimsy fabric so it fell to her ankles. She stood there, mouth agape while he admired her silky skin, perky breasts with delicious raspberry nipples, and golden hair until she determined he’d had his eyeful. Then she said, “Michael, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
Ruby swam to the edge of the pool. She would get out and he would see all of her, again, after two years. She wasn’t going to like it, but this time there wasn’t any door he could shut.
Grinning as Ruby stepped onto the last rung of the ladder to exit the pool, he held out a towel.
* * * *
“Michael.” Michael? What was he doing here? What was he doing standing here holding her towel, not handing it to her, but holding it out, away from her reach? And why did he smile like the devil smiled when he had you cornered?
She reached for the towel. The bastard inched it away. Ruby crossed her arms over her chest, not for modesty sake like he would probably assume, but to let him know she was irritated. “Michael Scott Augustson, you rat, give me that towel right this second.” Ruby stomped her foot for emphasis.
With just a slight curl of his lips his smile became a shit-eating grin. “No problem,” he told her and handed it to her, bowing with obedience.
She wrapped the burgundy terry around her body, tucking it between her breasts to put a barrier between herself and him as quickly as possible.
“Wha...What are you doing here?”
“What, no ‘Hi Michael’ with a hug?” He held his arms out in a mock gesture for a squeeze.
Calm, cool and collected now, she made no effort to move. She eyed him with suspicion and answered. “Hi, Michael. You can have a hug when I get some clothes on.” She hoped he’d get the hint and give her some room to walk around him, but he didn’t.
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