Page 35 of Shadowed Rubies
At the Waters’ Christmas Eve dinner, Dr. Waters announced that life was too short to work all the time, so she would be retiring from her practice in January. Giving her daughter a watery-eyed smile, she said, “If you’d like to take over at the office, nothing would make me happier.”
“Really?” Dani asked with a hope-filled gleam in her eyes.
Her mom nodded and the two enjoyed a long hug. Dani had been planning to apply for a job in one of the area hospitals after the new year, but I knew this solution would be a better fit for what she wanted in the long-run.
Dean was the first to ask his mother the obvious question. “What are you going to do with all of your free time, Mom?”
I’d never seen the serious woman look so ornery as when she said, “Mimi and I are going to gather some of our girlfriends and take off on some adventures in our travel trailers.”
The woman’s face glowed with radiance as she talked about their grand plans. She’d had a really rough year, so it was wonderful to see her looking so carefree and happy. She certainly deserved it.
Our second dinner of the evening, at my parents’ house, was less eventful, until it came time for presents. Dani and I had agreed to exchange our presents there, and I was beginning to feel nervous about what I’d gotten her.
It felt too soon to give her an engagement ring, even though I was ready and knew I wouldn’t change my mind. Instead, I had wrapped a key to my place with a ruby bejeweled letter ‘D’ keyring that matched Bruiser’s collar. I hoped she wouldn’t be disappointed by the gesture, since we’d been staying there together every night anyway.
She bounced with anticipation and insisted on giving me the present she’d gotten me first. I slowly opened the beautifully wrapped long, narrow box. When I lifted off the top, I stared at the gift, unsure what to make of it.
Wondering if it was some kind of gag gift, I lifted the gaudy green Christmas tree necktie up to my chest. Dani was well aware that I rarely dressed up enough to wear a tie, but even if I wore one more often, I couldn’t imagine sporting this over-the-top, hideous thing.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my parents give each other a look as if they, too, were wondering what was up with this weird gift.
Not seeming to sense that anything was amiss, Dani reached over to turn it on before saying excitedly, “Look, it lights up!”
Trying not to seem ungrateful, I said, “Wow, look at that.”
Giving her a genuine smile and saying thank you, I decided as we hugged that perhaps gift giving was the woman’s singular flaw.
Feeling much less nervous now about what I’d gotten her, I handed her the tiny, wrapped box. I’d made sure the thin square wasn’t a shape that could be misconstrued as a ring box.
Once she ripped the paper open, she stared down at the key ring for so long that I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. When she finally looked up, she asked me, “Can Bruiser come, too?”
I smiled down at the soft rat-sized dog that was curled up and dozing peacefully in my lap before saying, “I wouldn’t have you without him.”
39
Dani
Isnickered as I thought about Max’s feeble attempt to act impressed by the cheesy tie I’d given him for Christmas. I’d known it would cause that reaction, but he had no idea what I had in store for him. I was ninety-nine percent certain he would love it.
Since he was working, I spent most of Christmas Day puttering around his apartment––make thatourapartment––unpacking the boxes I’d retrieved from my studio in Boston and trying to find space to put stuff away.
Rubbing a hand over my favorite, soft purple cashmere sweater in its packing box, I breathed a sigh of relief at once more having my own clothes. It was generous of my mother to share her wardrobe with me after the fire, and I was lucky that we were now the same size, but we had different tastes in fashion.
After hanging some of my clothes next to his in the closet, I realized that we were quickly going to outgrow this space and need to move.
“Yep, we’ll definitely need a new place. Maybe we can get a house!” I said to Bruiser as I wrinkled my nose when I took note of the fact that Max’s shower only had one tiny shelf. I liked to have a buffet of hair and cleansing products to choose from, so this definitely was not ideal.
Bruiser blinked up at me as if he understood every word. He’d already made himself at home in this new space, and I tried not to be jealous that he got more excited when Max came home each evening than the dog ever did upon my return. It was great to see the two main men in my life bonding with each other.
Glancing at the clock, I realized it was almost time to get ready. My nervous energy had kept me bouncing around with busy work all day, but now I needed to get serious. Max was the love of my life, and it was time for me to show that to him.
I put my thick terry-cloth robe on over my outfit and paced nervously back and forth across the living room. The lights were dimmed and music was playing at a low volume. I even had a pine-scented candle burning. Everything was ready. Now, I just needed Max.
Each time I heard even the slightest noise outside, I ran to look out the window to see if he was here. Although I knew I was probably pacing ruts into the carpet, I couldn’t seem to stop.
This night was bound to be monumental for our relationship. I just hoped that I didn’t chicken out and make an ass of myself.
When I finally heard the crackle of Max’s truck tires on the gravel drive, I seriously considered running to the bathroom to change into flannel jammies. My fists clenched and unclenched as I stood there trying to work up the nerve to execute my plan. It was now or never, but fear had iced my veins making me immobile.
