Page 1 of Together at Ruby's

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Enjoying the warm June sun on her face, Liza Martinez walked through the busy, open-air corridors of the outlet mall a half hour south of her home in Portland, Oregon. Navigating the throngs of people all eager to find a good deal, she was flanked by Allie and Rey, her two best friends. All three had a spring in their step after some very successful shopping. All the summer fashions were already on discount, and Liza was particularly pleased with her finds, especially a pair of strappy, white and tan sandals that would go perfectly with the light green sundress she planned to wear that evening. Being a Sunday, it was date night with the love of her life, Tate Nilsen, and she knew the woman was especially fond of the color, particularly on Liza.

The trio headed for the parking lot, laden with multiple shopping bags from a variety of stores, yet Liza saw one more place she needed to stop by for a minute or two. “I know we said we would be out of here by four p.m., but can we please take a look at the jewelry shop?” Liza asked. “Only for a second, I promise.”

Allie laughed. “Now why are you interested in going there?” she teased, and Liza smiled at her friend’s question.

“You know exactly why, Allie Dawson,” she answered, but before she said anything more, Rey playfully bumped her shoulder.

“It wouldn’t be to look at engagement rings, now would it?” Rey asked. “For the hundredth time.”

Liza gave her friend’s comment some consideration.I think I may have looked more than a hundred times,she thought.I’m an expert on diamonds now.She stopped walking, and when the other two did the same, Liza looked from one friend to the other. “Tate is going to propose to me any minute, I just know it,” she said. “But I have no idea what kind of ring she bought, so I need to look at some examples. I think you should both be rather interested too. It’s not like you two don’t have special people in your lives.”

Rey’s eyes widened. “I think that’s a little more than I would expect,” she said, but Liza saw a hint of a blush on her cheeks. She was so happy Rey and Marty were finally a serious couple and not only roommates. They seemed to take forever to figure out their true feelings, but then the two were not like Liza. She never hesitated to say how she felt about anything. When she met Tate, Liza knew immediately that she was the one. Years ago, Allie had invited her to what had been the Ruby Slipper after the college class they shared. One look at the quiet and handsome, dark-haired woman sitting in the horseshoe booth along with all Allie’s closest friends took Liza’s breath away. She had been quick to let Tate know it, and luckily, the feeling was mutual.

Starting to walk toward the jewelry store, Allie shook her head. “I don’t expect anything either,” she said. “But it’s always fun to look.”

“Thank you,” Liza said, always loving getting her way, even when it was only with her best friends. “We will be in and out quickly. Ten minutes tops.”

Rey held the door open for Liza and Allie. “We’ll see,” she said, but there was a twinkle in her eye. “I just love seeing you so happy.”

Wipingaway the sheen of sweat on her face with a white gym towel, Tate worked to catch her breath. Her heart had a rapid beat, but she felt it slowing already. After setting a personal 5k running record on the treadmill, she felt good, really good. She took pride in being physically fit, more muscular than average, but also never wanted anyone to think she showed off. Her friend, Nikki, teased her at times about the attention she attracted when she bench pressed a considerable weight, but the act was never intended to draw a crowd. According to her friend, more than one woman in the gym had their eyes on Tate. That meant nothing to her. She was only interested in one person, the woman who made up her world, and that was Liza Martinez.

“New personal record today?” Nikki asked as Tate joined her at the weight bench.

Tate nodded. “Yes,” she said. “By eleven seconds.”

Holding up her hand for a high five, Nikki grinned. “Outstanding,” she said as Tate slapped their hands together. She appreciated her friend’s excitement over the accomplishment. They worked out early almost every morning at Tate’s favorite gym. If she could call anyone her best friend, it would be Nikki Vander. Although the woman was tall, blonde, extremely attractive, and had a body almost as fit as Tate, Nikki was surprisingly humble and had a heart of gold. If Tate ever needed anything, she could turn to her friend any time day or night. In fact, all the friends in Tate’s closeknit circle knew Nikki would always be there for them. In some ways, the woman was the glue that held their group together. That and the bar called Ruby’s, which aside from her love for her gym, Tate considered a second home.

Nights when she wasn’t working late, she would meet Liza at Ruby’s and check in with her friends. Unfortunately, over the last two years, those opportunities were few and far between. As much as she wished it didn’t, her job consumed her life as she scratched and clawed her way up the ladder at the large, international financial firm where she had worked since she was a college intern a decade ago.But that’s all about to change, she thought as she picked up one of the large, round metal plates to slide onto the waiting barbell.Because tomorrow I’ll be the new Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions.A smile spread across her face simply thinking about how much better life would be after tomorrow morning—hers and Liza’s.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, my friend,” Nikki said from where she stood beside the weight bench ready to spot Tate when she was ready to lift. “But from that smile, I think it’s pretty damn good.”

Taking her place on the bench, Tate lay back and positioned herself under the heavily laden bar. “You’re right,” she said. “It is.”

“That’s all I get?” Nikki asked while Tate got a good grip.

“Yep,” she said in her usual stoic style. As much as she wanted to share the news with her friend, Tate didn’t want to jinx getting the promotion. She knew most people would find that line of thinking silly, but she grew up in a house where superstitions were taken seriously. Her mom even went so far as to perform a little “white magic” from time to time. Tate remembered candles of various colors lit on specific occasions, finding crystals in odd places around the house, and attending celebrations at the solstices and equinoxes. Only Liza knew the truth about the new position, and Tate had sworn her to secrecy.

As Liza,Allie, and Rey discussed the pros and cons of each sparkling engagement ring in the jewelry store’s many glass display cases, Liza hardly contained her excitement. Tate was certain to propose to her once she got her new position at work. More than once, Liza had to bite her tongue to keep from blurting out the news of Tate’s upcoming promotion. Only her promise to Tate kept her quiet. The woman had made her cross her heart that she wouldn’t say anything before there was a done deal.Another one of her crazy superstitions, Liza thought as the trio moved to the last case where less traditional rings were on display.I will never understand how someone so focused on the world of facts and figures can believe all that stuff.Still, she loved Tate, even for her sometimes peculiar ideas, and would never break her word to her.

Stopping to look, Liza took in the sight of her favorite. A one and half carat, round-cut diamond rimmed with rubies that seemed to glow under the perfectly placed lighting. The beauty of the ring against the cream-colored velvet always made her stop and appreciate it.

“That’s the ring, isn’t it?” Allie said in a hushed voice, as if the bit of beautiful jewelry needed to be revered.

Liza nodded. “I think the ring is about perfect,” she answered. “Not too big, not too small.”

“It is very beautiful,” Rey agreed before tilting her head. “But how will Tate know you like this one so much?”

Sighing, Liza stepped away from the display case to lead them to the exit. “Well, I have dropped hints now and then about what I like in rings, but I am never sure what sinks in with Tate,” she replied. “She’s always so calm about everything.”

Allie followed Liza and Rey out the door of the jewelry store. “I always wondered if she was as quiet at home as she was at Ruby’s,” Allie said.

“Tate is the epitome of the strong, silent type,” Liza replied as they started for the mall’s vast parking lot. “But it’s probably for the best, you know, considering.”

Both Rey and Allie laughed as they all scanned the crowded lot for Liza’s blue Subaru. “Do you mean considering your… hmm… outgoing personality?” Rey asked, making Liza snort a laugh.

“Well put, Rey,” she said, always impressed at how her friend could find the right thing to say in any situation. Thankfully, the woman’s tact helped get Liza out of hot water more than once. “But yes, exactly that. No matter how mad I get or what I say, Tate very rarely gets ruffled. It takes a lot for her to lose her temper.” If Liza had to describe her partner in a sentence, she would say that Tate was her rock. Regardless of what whirlwind of trouble Liza stirred up, she could always turn to her for unconditional love and support. They were the perfect balance, with only one thing causing trouble between them—how much Tate worked.But that’s about to change,she thought as they reached the car.She promised me her schedule would be much more normal after she became the Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions. No more working sixteen-hour days.Liza couldn’t wait.

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