Page 39 of No One's Like You
Ellie walks and when they enter, she stands by the door not knowing what to do. She feels foolish, it's Ruby, for God's sake, not a stranger she's had a fling with and now doesn't know how to act around.
"I know the situation is weird for you, but Ellie, I'm still me," Ruby points to herself, reinforcing the very words Ellie was just thinking. "Take all the time you need, I toldyou yesterday and I'll say it again, but what I don't want is for you to act like this, as if we don't know each other."
Ellie nods, but her eyes continue wandering around the room.
"We've both been honest," Ruby continues. "I've been feeling this way for a long time and I know we can act normally. We're mature women and we don't have to feel uncomfortable."
"You're right," she finally says. "I'm sorry, this is all too new for me."
Ruby understands, so when she passes by her before leaving the office, she touches Ellie's shoulder affectionately and smiles at her.
The morning doesn't improve. Ellie remains stiff as a lamppost whenever she has to share space with her business partner. She can't help but observe her, and each of her movements accelerates her soul. She continues piecing together this incredibly complicated puzzle that apparently she's kept in the closet for years and only now is starting to make sense. Her heart has been deceiving her for twenty-four years, beating desperately for Ruby, but to the tune of a friendship that clearly goes beyond that. She thinks that perhaps all these years with men have served as practice, although she's more certain it's a cruel joke of fate because having the woman she's in love with by her side her entire life and not seeing it has no other name.
"I'm going to my mother's for lunch," Ellie announces when she enters the office to get her purse. "You know how she gets if I don't visit."
Ruby finishes reviewing an invoice and turns to look at her.
"Say hi from me."
Ellie hesitates, but doesn't overthink it. She takes several steps and plants a kiss on Ruby's cheek. It's something very much their thing and, despite their current situation, doesn't have to change. When she feels the warmth of her best friend's skin, she gets startled and turns quickly to rush out of the Early Bayou.
Upon arriving at her mother's house, she's still nervous and appreciates that her parent distracts her by telling her all about the latest beauty treatment she's invested in; this way she forgets a little about Ruby and her full lips.
"Dermal exosome therapy," Margaret explains, touching her face coquettishly. "The latest in skin rejuvenation."
Ellie sees her looking exactly the same and suspects her mother has been scammed. No surprise; Margaret lives squandering her husbands' money and divorce settlements on treatments to live forever. She doesn't care about the price; according to her, she deserves it.
"But enough about me," she says after spending an hour telling her even the smallest details of what she's done in recent days. "Did anything happen with that friend you told me about last time?"
She knew it, Ellie knew her mother wouldn't let the subject drop. Despite it being a thorny issue, she feels it might do her good to get some of what she's carrying inside out. After all, she only has Ruby to unburden herself to,and she's precisely not the most appropriate person at this moment.
"The truth is I don't know what to do, Mom," Ellie says with slumped shoulders. "We've talked a little about what we feel and I'm very confused."
"And what do you feel?" Margaret asks, leaning her body forward to gain intimacy.
"Ru... Rob is in love and I think I am too."
Ellie's mother almost jumps up and dances with joy. In her mind, she imagines where her daughter's wedding will be and what she'll wear. She has been through four ceremonies, so she's quite the expert. She needs to call the planner and make room because she estimates that in about a year or so this Rob will ask for Ellie's hand and some six months later they'll be joined in matrimony. These things need to be looked at with time, just ask her and that woman, Jodie, Jane? The flower lady who ultimately failed her and she had to decorate the hall with roses from Costco. Horrible.
"Life isn't meant for wasting time being alone," Margaret moves her body, victim of a shiver at the thought of singlehood. "You know my motto: the end of one marriage is the beginning of another."
Margaret nods affirmatively, emphasizing her words.
"What I don't understand is your confusion, darling. What worries you?"
Ellie snaps out of her trance; she hasn't decided whether to start a relationship yet and her mother is already marrying her off.
"We're very good friends, Mom, and I don't want to lose the friendship we've built by starting a relationship that I don't know will work."
Margaret waves her hand, shooing away imaginary mosquitoes around her.
"Ellie, honey, don't worry about that. You're friends, yes, but it's not like you've been inseparable your whole lives."
"But it's still a friendship," Ellie repeats.
"I would worry if you were really like you and Ruby, who have been together your whole lives, have a business together, and it seems like if one isn't around, the other can't breathe. So relax, give Rob a chance and make your mother a happy woman."
Ellie's ears are buzzing. She wasn't looking for her mother's support, just to have lunch with her and clear her head, but what she's found is the boogeyman looking at her sideways. Of course it's crazy to get involved with her best friend, even Margaret knows that, and mind you, she's not one to value friends because she didn't hesitate to cut off her friendship with Adele after what her father did, even though she had no fault or involvement, and yet, Margaret is quite clear that starting a relationship with Ruby is the story of an inevitable tragedy.
