Ruby's Choice (Ditch Lane Diaries Book 1)

by D. F. Jones

  The colored lights and music Ruby had loved just moments ago were now making her nauseous. She shouted, “You’re a liar! He drove to Knoxville two days ago.” The music was ringing in her ears. Surely Reed wouldn’t hurt her.

  “What time did he leave?” Brent waved for the waitress, as he leaned closer to Ruby, placing his arm on the back of her chair.

  “No, you tell me what time Patti was supposed to have seen him.” Ruby’s foot was tapping so fast on the floor it sounded like Morse code.

  Brent lips were close to her ear, and she could feel his warm breath against her cheek. “Patti saw Reed come out of Tammy’s apartment around lunch time. Patti was getting in her car when she saw Tammy wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him. Patti remembered Reed from the night we saw you guys at Tony’s.”

  The waitress came over and asked, “May I take your order?” She smiled at Brent, leaning over to show her cleavage and Ruby rolled her eyes.

  Brent said, “Two whiskeys and a couple of Cokes on the side, please.”

  Ruby lowered her face into her hands and began to cry. She thought Brent was lying, but Reed had left her house at eleven. The timeline was there. Brent placed his hand on her shoulder, but she brushed it off.

  “Why did you tell me this, Brent? Do you hate me so much? Do you love to hurt me?” Ruby wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.

  The dance floor was shoulder to shoulder with people. Sandy danced with the man who had bought them a round from the bar. She spotted Ruby, sitting with Brent, and was making her way across the floor to her.

  Brent leaned back in his chair and then threw his hands up in frustration. “Hell, no, I hated telling you. But you deserve the truth, whether or not you ever go out with me again.” The waitress set the drinks on the table and Brent paid for them.

  Ruby reached over, grabbed the whiskey and drained the glass. She blinked her eyes several times and then chased the whiskey with Coke. Ruby’s stomach had flipped several times when Brent said Reed had kissed Tammy. How could Reed? When the waitress passed by again, Ruby touched her arm and said, “Bring me another whiskey, please.”

  Brent swore under his breath. “Ruby, don’t do that. You don’t need another whiskey. You rarely drink alcohol.” Ruby nodded to the waitress in the affirmative; the waitress nodded and left their table.

  Ruby threw her head back and laughed loudly. Anger began to hotly surge in her veins. “Oh, Brent, sure I do. Don’t you want me drunk? I’ll be easy, isn’t that what you want?” Ruby rested her forearms on the table with her fingers linked together and twirled her thumbs.

  Brent shook his head sadly and covered her hands with his. “I shouldn’t have told you about Reed. I see that now. Maybe it was innocent.”

  “Oh, now that’s rich, really rich. You’re taking up for him.” Ruby couldn’t believe Brent was actually taking up for Reed. It was ludicrous.

  The waitress set down the whiskey. Ruby looked up to the waitress and then pointed to Brent. “He’s got it, and he’s paying for all of my drinks tonight. As a matter of fact, just start us a tab, honey.” Ruby picked up the whiskey and drained another shot. The warm liquid rushed down her throat and she instantly relaxed. At least her hands weren’t shaking anymore.

  Damn Reed, he had seen Tammy. He had been inside her apartment minutes after leaving her to go to Knoxville. She remembered seeing the strain in his eyes the morning he left and thought it was there because of his mother. Ruby guessed it was stressful stringing two girls along at the same time. She intended on getting blind, stinking drunk.

  Sandy joined them at the table. “What the hell are you doing, Ruby? I’ve been watching you, missy. That’s the second drink you’ve shot in less than fifteen minutes. You’re going to be drunk and sick. I don’t like cleaning up puke.” The club had gotten so crowded that people were standing behind their table or walking past their chairs, bumping into them occasionally.

  “Okay, Mom. Aren’t you the one who’s always telling me to let loose?” Ruby was so mad, the sides of her hands tingled. She wanted to punch somebody, and punch them hard. Maybe Tammy would actually show up tonight, and she could beat the living crap out of her. Just visualizing kicking Tammy’s ass made her laugh again. Brent and Sandy both looked at her like she had lost her mind.

  Sandy narrowed her eyes at Brent. “What did you do, slip her a mickey?”

  “Hell, no, I didn’t slip her anything.” Brent placed his hand on Ruby’s thigh.

  Ruby pushed Brent’s hand away and then started rolling with laughter so hard that tears were streaming down her cheeks. “He didn’t slip me anything, but the truth.”

  Anna walked over to the table and pulled a chair up beside Ruby. “What the heck is going on over here?”

  Brent was practically yelling to be heard over the crowd and music. “It’s my fault. Patti saw Reed come out of Tammy’s the day he left for Knoxville.”

  Anna’s and Sandy’s heads shot up at his revelation. They both looked at Ruby like their dog had just died.

  Ruby wasn’t going to sit here and let the news of Reed’s infidelity ruin her night. She stood up, swayed just a little, but then braced herself on Brent’s shoulder. “I want to dance. I wanna dance all night long. Come on, life’s short and then you get screwed!” Her laughter continued as she danced her way back to the floor, while Brent, Sandy and Anna followed her.

  Sandy punched Brent in the arm. “You’re such an asshole. Why did you have to tell her? Did you think by telling her about Reed, it would change her mind about you?”

  Brent, Anna and Sandy were dancing together. He just looked at Sandy and shrugged, while he kept his eye on Ruby.

  Ruby twirled her dress around and then closed her eyes as she got into the groove of the music. She danced with her hands in the air. A guy on the dance floor could see Ruby didn’t have a partner so he came up behind Ruby and circled his arm around her waist. He pulled her next to him. Ruby didn’t even turn to see who it was; she just danced next to him, provocatively.

  Brent stepped in between the guy and Ruby. “Back off, dude, if you know what’s good for you.” The guy looked at Brent’s size, turned, and went looking for another girl.

  Ruby moved her hips back and forth, pressing against Brent. She felt his muscles tighten as she ran her fingers over his chest. She reached up, placing her arms around his neck and whispered into his ear, “Do you want me, Brent? Do you want to make love to me tonight?” She ran her tongue around his ear and he covered her mouth with his.

  Brent dropped his arm around her waist and shifted his angle to press kisses on her neck and then brushed his lips across her cheek. “Yes, sweet girl, I want to make love to you tonight.” As they danced, he pushed his knee in between her legs and they moved back and forth in slow circles with his hand resting on her bum.

  When the song ended, Ruby said, “Let’s blow this taco stand.” Ruby grabbed his hand and headed for the door.

  Sandy ran up behind Ruby, grabbing her arm, and jerked her around. “Don’t do this, Ruby. You don’t know what really happened with Reed. Don’t leave with Brent.”

  “I know all I need to.” Ruby turned to Brent. “Do you still have keys to your grandparent’s cabin at the lake?”

  “Yes, I do. You want to go to the cabin?” He kissed the back of her hand.

  “Yes, I do. I need to get the hell out of this town.” Satisfied with her decision, she said to Sandy, “Reed is coming home tomorrow. Tell him I’m out of town. I need to make some decisions before I talk to him again.”

  Sandy frowned at Ruby. “I won’t make promises I can’t keep. You’re drunk and making a big mistake, girlie. I’ll remind you later what an idiot you’re being tonight.”

  Ruby lifted one shoulder toward Sandy. “Suit yourself.” Ruby looked back to Brent. “Let’s ride, Clyde.”

  Ruby started out the door when Anna ran up to her. “Ruby, are you sure about this? You love Reed, and I know he loves you.” Anna hugged her tightly.


  “Anna, honestly, I’m not sure about anything, except that I want to get the hell out of Dodge. I’ll see you tomorrow, sometime. Love you.”

  Anna replied, “Love you more.

  Chapter 11

  Get Away

  Ruby had Brent stop by her house on Bell Street to pick up some clothes. She quickly changed into jeans and sweatshirt and then grabbed the overnight bag she normally used when she spent the night with Reed.

  Reed—how long had he been seeing Tammy? Had he ever stopped?

  Ruby’s head was swimming from the accusations and the alcohol. On the way to Centerhill, they stopped by the all-night store for groceries. After they had Brent’s car packed, he pulled onto Highway 96 toward Centerhill Lake.

  Ruby gazed out the window, her head in a fog as they passed farmland and subdivisions. Her mind kept playing over the day Reed had left for Knoxville. She remembered making love to him early in the morning and kissing him before he pulled out of the driveway. But instead of driving straight to Knoxville, he had taken a detour to Tammy’s. Ruby brushed a tear away with her shoulder.

  As the car climbed elevation, Ruby’s ears began to pop. Ruby’s head had started aching. But it wasn’t her head that caused her the real pain. Nothing could stop the pain in her heart, because she was desperately in love with Reed. Ruby tossed a glance at Brent. Crap, she had told him she would sleep with him.

  Brent handed her a bottle of aspirin. “Go ahead and take a couple of these before your head gets worse. Let me know if you think you’re going to be sick.”

  Ruby took the aspirin bottle and popped a couple in her mouth. She drank down some Coke to swallow them. “Brent, do you still love me?”

  His hands gripped the steering wheel hard as the muscles flexed in his biceps. He glanced at her and then back to the road. “I never stopped, Ruby.”

  Ruby didn’t believe him or Reed. She wouldn’t be surprised at all to find out they were still playing the damn Tap It game. She had been an idiot and fell over the cliffs in love for the hot and pretty damn scrumptious Reed Jackson. She was still crazy about him. But Brent and Reed were too much alike to be faithful. She didn’t love Brent. She should be feeling guilty for using Brent. She should feel guilty for being here with him. But didn’t because she was too mad.

  Halfway to the cabin, Ruby began to think maybe this had been a bad idea. It seemed like a great idea when the whiskey had been talking. “Brent, I’m sorry, but I want to go home. Will you take me back home?”

  Brent left one hand on the steering wheel and the other squeezed her thigh. “I’ll take you home, honey, if you really want to go. You’re safe with me, sweet girl. I want to make love to you, but I’m vain enough to want you to love me back. Let’s drive up, no strings attached. I’m just happy you’re here with me. The leaves will be beautiful this time of year over the lake.”

  Tears threatened to spill over her cheeks. “I don’t want to hurt you, but you deserve the truth, too. No matter what Reed has done, I still love him. I’m just so mad and hurt, I didn’t really think about how it would affect you. I’m being selfish. Thank you for understanding and for telling me. I mean it. I’m glad you told me about Reed.”

  He reached over and held her hand. “I’ll always be here for you, baby girl.”

  * * *

  The car spiraled up the winding, wooded driveway of the cabin, and Brent parked in front of the garage. They got out of the car and walked to the trunk. Ruby picked up her bag and Brent grabbed the groceries.

  The cabin had been built in the early ’70s and was surrounded by dense woods. It had a wrap-around deck with rocking chairs that overlooked the lake. As she walked inside, she glanced up at the loft ceiling, which had exposed crossbeams running the length of the cabin. Ruby walked through the den, passing through the kitchen before walking into the master bedroom with her overnight bag. Brent’s grandfather loved duck hunting, so the cabin was filled with framed duck art, and he had several prize ducks, stuffed and hanging on the walls.

  Ruby walked back into the great room and joined Brent in the kitchen. She helped him put away the groceries in the fridge and cabinets. In the den, one wall was dedicated to the rock fireplace with a solid oak mantle. The wood bin was full of cedar logs. Brent started a fire, while she sat on the couch. She wondered what would have happened between Brent and her had she never met Reed. Would she still be with him? Would he have been the one she made love to?

  Brent walked over and rustled her hair. “Hey, kiddo, don’t look so gloomy. Things always happen for a reason. Everything will be okay in the end. You want some hot chocolate?”

  Ruby smoothed her hair out of her face and then stood. She walked to the fireplace and stretched her hands out to feel the warmth from the blaze. “Sure. I can make it if you give me the ingredients.”

  Brent loosely slung his arm around her shoulder and pulled her away from the fireplace as they walked back into the kitchen. “Let’s make it together.”

  In the kitchen, Brent set out the cocoa, sugar, vanilla, milk and marshmallows. “Hey, look under the stove and pull out a small pan.”

  Ruby opened the kitchen cabinets and rummaged through the pots until she found one she thought was suitable. “Will this work?” He nodded yes.

  Ruby pulled the drawers out and found the utensils and then she measured out the sugar and then the cocoa and mixed the ingredients together, adding milk and stirring occasionally.

  Brent chuckled watching her. “It looks like you’ve made that a time or two.”

  “I love hot chocolate.” Ruby kept stirring until the hot chocolate began to steam.

  Brent walked back into the den and turned the stereo on. He added one more log to the crackling fire and stoked the logs with the fire iron. He walked back into the kitchen to join Ruby. He pulled two mugs out of the cabinet and then he sat at the kitchen counter watching her.

  Ruby began to feel a little better about being up here alone with Brent. She loved this cabin. They had had fun up here last summer. Ruby poured the steaming hot chocolate into the mugs over the stainless steel sink. There was a window over the sink, which looked over the lake. Brent had flipped on the back porch light and she could see snow flurries floating in the air.

  Ruby turned to Brent and grinned. “It’s snowing.” He jumped down from the counter and peeked out the window, placing his hand on her side. Tingles shot up her spine.

  “Yep, it’s snowing. It won’t stick, but it’s nice to look at, isn’t it?” He placed a light kiss on her cheek.

  They sat in front of the fireplace, on the couch. Ruby kicked off her tennis shoes and crossed her legs. She held the mug in her hands and took sips of hot chocolate while she stared into the hypnotic fire. The night had emotionally drained her. The warmth of the hot chocolate and the fire made her sleepy. Brent placed his arm around her. Ruby sat her cup on the table and leaned back against his shoulder.

  “You can go to sleep, sweet girl. I’ll be here when you wake up.” Brent stroked her hair and she drifted off to sleep.

  * * *

  Ruby stood inside the old Methodist church that sat on top of Campbell Ridge. The church had been built in the late 1800s. It had a wooden lectern and pews. The stained glass windows cast warm golds and reds across the sanctuary. The double doors at the entrance of the church were wide open as the brilliant sunlight streaked inside the foyer. As she walked to the entrance, she noticed a few hymnals that had been tossed on the seats of the empty pews.

  Ruby had never attended this church. The congregation had moved in the middle 1960s to a more modern building, but Ruby had always loved this old church building more, because it was homey.

  As Ruby neared the opening, Reed came up behind her and caught her hand. A beautiful little girl ran up to her and said, “Mama and Daddy, can we go for ice cream, today? Please, please, please?”

  Ruby studied the little girl’s face. She was a pretty little thing, with Reed’s dark brown hair and eyes. Ruby placed her hand li
ghtly on the girl’s shoulder. “Well first, young lady, I think you need to give your Mama a kiss, don’t you?”

  The little girl stretched her arms out wide to be picked up. Ruby picked her up and gave her a kiss. She held the child in her arms. Reed held out his hands, and the little girl went from Ruby into his arms. He kissed the little girl, and she placed her head on Reed’s shoulder. Ruby, Reed and their daughter walked into the sunlight and disappeared.

  Ruby sat up quickly and looked around the cabin. Brent had fallen asleep. He had his legs stretched out and his head lay back on the couch cushion. She stood up and walked over to the fireplace, picked up the poker, and stirred the logs to a blaze. She added one more log to the fire and stared into the flames.

  Ruby had life and death dreams. Her life dreams were always about a pregnancy. Her death dreams coincided with the passing of someone she loved. Tonight, she had dreamed about her own child. She placed her hand over her abdomen.

  Ruby had been on the pill all summer. Was she pregnant? How could she be pregnant? She knew one girl who had gotten pregnant on the pill. Her high school friend Cathy had been on the pill for two years when she had gotten pregnant with her daughter, Becky. Becky was now three and so precocious.

  The sweet little girl in Ruby’s dream looked like her Reed. Ruby ached for Reed. How could Reed hurt her so by being with Tammy?

  Ruby quietly walked into the kitchen. The time on the stove said five o’clock. She didn’t want to wake Brent. She grabbed her coat and walked through the master bedroom door and onto the deck.

  Ruby stood on the deck, drinking in the view across the lake as the sunrise kissed the horizon. The sun was a crimson red as it faded out into the palest pink, spilling across the sky. She wondered what would happen the next time she saw Reed. When she did see him again, he needed to tell her the truth about Tammy. He needed to make up his mind, one way or the other.

  She had had lingering doubts about his fidelity after seeing him with Tammy in the bookstore. She should have asked him then. To his credit, when Reed was asked a direct question he told the truth. But, right this minute, she would believe anything he said, if they could only go back to the way things were only a few days ago.