Page 22 of No One's Like You
"I'm going to share an apartment with Crystal, remember her?"
Ruby nods. She's a coworker of Amelia's who went through a difficult breakup a couple of years ago.
"The apartment she's renting is quite large, you know, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, balcony..." she explains and widens her usual smile. "It's very close to the supermarket, so I won't have to move my car; plus, it works well for both of us to save money. I bought a plane ticket to Thailand for the August vacation, and sharing an apartment is perfect for me."
A tear falls down Ruby's face without being able to stop it. One of the things she liked about Amelia was her intense desire to live. She never wanted to study anything after high school and, despite her parents' disapproval, opted for simple jobs with decent salaries because she doesn't need much, just to enjoy life. She postponed that trip to Thailand for several years because Ruby was swamped with the bar, then her father's death, and her mother's subsequent depression. Amelia waited all that time, but no more.
"I hope you send me lots of photos from your dream trip," Ruby answers with a broken voice as she wipes away the tears that now flow freely.
Amelia hugs her again while nodding affirmatively. She adores Ruby and is glad that, despite the pain they're both going through from the breakup, they're willing to be friends later on.
When Amelia leaves and Ruby is alone, she sits on the sofa. Hundreds of thoughts attack her, and it doesn't take long to reach a painful reflection. Everyone is moving on with their lives, everyone except her. Jerome got his heart broken, and two weeks later, he was traveling to Los Angeles to hook up with a Puerto Rican model he'dconnected with on social media. Ellie separated from Marcel and is already dating attractive men with fake teeth. Amelia has found a new place to live, seems very happy, and, finally, will fulfill her dream of visiting Thailand. All of them have turned the page, and Ruby remains in love with the same girl for over twenty years. She keeps dancing to Ellie's music and stays alone on the dance floor when her business partner doesn't look at her as someone to love. She decides, raises her face to the ceiling, and decides.
"This ends here," she affirms. "I'm done with Ellie Trahan; starting today, the plan is to forget her."
Chapter 13
Ruby arrives at her mother's house that morning to have breakfast with her before she leaves for work at Odette Bergeron's home. Since breaking up with Amelia and showing up crying that night, Adele has been more attentive to her than after any of her previous breakups. She calls more frequently and insists that Ruby drop by her house at almost any hour.
"Hi, mom," Ruby says, kissing her mother's cheek.
She avoids her gaze and opens the cabinet to grab a couple of mugs while Adele finishes taking out the toast, but her daughter's evasive movement doesn't prevent her hawk-like stare and maternal instinct from activating as she perceives the sadness her daughter tries to hide.
Adele pours coffee into the mugs and sits across from Ruby while answering the questions her daughter asks about Odette. She doesn't have much new to report; the woman's behavior remains the same, with the only difference being that they now go for walks.
"What about you?" Adele asks. "Have you done anything new these days?" her mother probes.
Ruby shakes her head firmly.
"No. You know, the usual. Being at the bar and meeting up with Jerome the other day."
Ruby grows thoughtful when she remembers Chris Fox's visit to the bar. She considers telling her mother about the problem she and Ellie now face, but that involves talking about Ellie, and right now she wants to keep her out of her thoughts.
"Well, yesterday I saw Amelia. She came to pick up the things she still had at my place."
Adele leaves her toast suspended in mid-air.
"How is she? I really care about her," Adele admits.
Ruby smiles bitterly.
"She's fine. She's moved in with a coworker and bought a ticket to travel to Thailand," Ruby's eyes shine with a mixture of sadness and happiness.
"Oh, I'm so happy for her," her mother says.
"Yeah, me too," Ruby responds, grabbing her coffee mug to drink until she almost chokes.
"How did you feel seeing her?"
Ruby's breathing stops.
"Me?" her throat tightens. "I'm fine, we did what we had to do. I want Amelia to be happy, and with me she was stuck, mom."
"Then, I guess you're this sad because of Ellie, right?" her mother throws out, leaving Ruby paralyzed.
Her lungs close up and words get stuck in her throat. Ruby has never told her mother what she feels for Ellie, but she knows her mother is aware. A mother senses these things, and she, apparently, is an open book in that regard, to everyone except Ellie herself.
She shrugs and her eyes moisten. She doesn't know what to say; at this point, she feels so low that she prefers not to talk about it.
