by Jenny Bloom
She laughed. “All right, fine—I'm very proud.”
“That's my girl. Have you told Lynda?”
“Well...we're still not really on speaking terms.”
“Oof, that sounds rough.”
She shrugged. “It is what it is.”
“But you'll be on speaking terms soon, right?”
“I figured she just needed space.”
“That's fair. But don't give her too much space. Then, she might think you've completely ditched the idea.”
“Well, now that I've got this job...”
She felt her anxiety rise into her chest.
“At least seek a resolution,” Ernest suggested. “That could heal you enough for a friendship.”
“At the very least, a friendship.”
“And who knows? Maybe it's meant to be and everything will fall right into place.”
“I'm not so sure about that.”
He chuckled. “The witch isn't sure about things falling into place...that's funny.”
“Well, I don't really know what the universe has planned for me. I'm going with the flow of the river at this point.”
“Clearly, the universe has some great things planned. This is amazing news, Ruby. When are you going to tell Mr. Cloher?”
“As soon as possible, of course. I figure two weeks is enough time to hire my replacement.”
“That's more than enough time. We'll have to plan your going-away party! And we'll have to accompany you to the airport. And there's always the matter of determining what you're taking. Will you keep your apartment?”
Ruby blinked at the black dragons decorating the wall in front of her. She gaped at them blankly while trying to determine which question to answer first.
Ultimately, she shrugged. “God, I have no idea, Ernest.”
“Well, I'm here to help you figure it out.”
“I forgot all about my apartment.”
“Ruby, you live there. How could you forget?”
She laughed nervously. “I was too excited to consider anything else!”
“Acting on impulse tends to do that, eh?”
“I think my next step is just packing and letting Mr. Cloher know what's going on.”
“And Lynda—don't forget to talk to Lynda.”
She sighed. “Not like you'll let me forget.”
“You can't avoid that conversation forever, Miss Vamp. It's crucial.”
“I know. I just don't see much of the point.”
“So, you want to ditch her like your ex ditched you?”
Ruby's eyes widened. “Ouch.”
“Sorry, but I think that needed stating.”
“You're right. I hate that you're right, but it's true. I don't want to treat her like that, even if we did have a fight.”
“I'm just looking out for you, buddy. I don't want to see you hurt or hurting others, you know?”
She smiled. “I appreciate that. I'm lucky to have such a good friend to call me out.”
“I would hope you would do the same.”
“Oh, I have done the same! Do you remember when you dated Parker? And you wouldn't stop asking me if it was okay to check his phone? That was a day to remember.”
“Oof, don't even remind me.”
“Hey, but you needed me to tell you the truth.”
He laughed. “I did need it. And I only checked his phone once.”
“And what did we learn?”
“That it's disrespectful.”
“And have you done it since then?”
“Hell no!”
She laughed. “Good man.”
“So, are you doing anything tonight? Do you want to go out and grab a few tasty drinks?”
“Hmm, that might be a decent idea.”
“I have them from time to time.”
“Let me settle some things here first. I want to make sure I'm not leaving my grandmother hanging by leaving the apartment suddenly. I have some loose ends to tie up and then I can meet you at the bar.”
“Sounds good to me, buddy.”
She grinned. “All right, I'll see you in an hour.”
Click.
She set down her phone, feeling the heat slowly leaving her ear where her phone was sitting. She rubbed her ear idly while looking over the packet again.
Two weeks, she thought. That seems so close, yet so far.
The rest of the packet held all the information she needed to know about the castle before arriving as well as her plane ticket that could be redeemed at any time between the day it arrived and Halloween.
“Leaving on Halloween seems so somber,” she whispered. “But it also feels just right. After all, it's the new turn of the wheel that night. That's the perfect time to start a new chapter of my life.”
She tapped her chin for a few moments before setting the bundle back down. Since she had opened it, everything in her apartment looked foreign, even the spooky decorations she had made over the years. Everything felt useful and simultaneously useless like it wouldn't matter if it stayed or left with her.
She hummed.
Silence enveloped her as she stepped forward to touch the ornaments on the mantle. She traced the edge of the fireplace gently as if she hadn't seen it in years. When she lifted her finger, she found a layer of dust. She laughed.
Not like it matters if I clean. I'll just be leaving.
She spent another ten minutes wandering around her apartment, inspecting every item she owned. She withdrew a large traveling case from her closet and placed it on her bed, then rummaged through her closet for important clothing.
“What's the weather like over there? Chilly? Cold?” She shook her head at each skirt she plucked from its hanger. “I'll need tights. I'll need jeans. Why don't I own a pair of jeans?”
After tossing a few items into her suitcase, she went to the mirror to fix her makeup. She added black wings to her eyes, accentuating the orange and green that already decorated her lids. She waved her hand over the multitude of lipstick sitting on her vanity and settled on green, applying it expertly to her lips.
She stepped back from the mirror and smiled.
She collected her bag and slung it over her shoulder as she headed for the door, grabbing her keys along the way. The walk down to the porch was quiet and slow, as strange and surreal as holding the acceptance letter. When she reached the porch, she turned to lock the door behind her and listened to the wind whipping through the trees.
She heard the crunch of leaves. Her ears perked up immediately at the sound and she swung around, holding her keys between her fingers.
Lynda stood at the bottom of the porch stairs.
“Oh,” Ruby sighed with relief while releasing her grip on her keys. “I thought you might have been...well, I didn't know it was you.”
“I didn't mean to scare you.”
“Well, I do like being scared, so it's fair.”
“No, not really.” Lynda twiddled her thumbs. “Do you have a minute?”
Ruby took a breath. She held it for a moment as she formulated her response, unable to really get out of the dream she had stepped into as soon as she had opened the Ireland packet.
I guess now is as good time as ever, she considered.
She exhaled and nodded. “Sure.”
“That didn't sound confident.”
“Please, come sit with me.” Ruby waved Lynda over to a swing at the far right of the porch. “It's a really nice night.”
Lynda sat tentatively next to Ruby, causing the wooden bench to squeal under her weight. She appeared to wince against the sound as she settled in, turning slightly to face Ruby.
“Are you all right?” Ruby asked. “You look like you've seen a ghost.”
“I've seen several.”
Ruby nodded slowly. “Does this have to do with the other day?”
“It does.”
“Tell me about it.”
Lynda looked confused. “I don't understand.”
“What don't you understa
nd?”
“How can you be so calm and welcoming when I hurt you?”
Ruby shrugged. “Everyone has their demons. I figured you were dealing with one of yours that day.”
“But I don't get it. I was so rude to you.”
“Yes, you were.”
Lynda looked hurt. “It's chilly out here. Could we go inside?”
“Actually, I'm on my way out. I figured out here was best.”
“Oh, well...” Lynda bit her lower lip. “I can make it quick.”
She looks so upset, Ruby considered with silent guilt. I should really listen. She seems like she needs it.
She dropped her shoulders, placing her hands gently in her lap. She breathed slowly, with determination, before meeting Lynda's gaze.
“No,” she said. “I don't want this to be quick. Come upstairs.”
Chapter Twelve
Lynda
Once Lynda had decided she needed to talk to Ruby, her feet carried her to Ruby's apartment without a second thought. It was like she was on autopilot or driven by an invisible hand. Whatever the cause, she felt confident as she marched down the sidewalk with her bag over her shoulder and warmth in her heart. She went through every scenario possible, all of them involving her apology. She felt like she could do it—she could really bare her soul to someone.
But when she reached the porch, she froze.
Ruby was already outside. Lynda hadn't anticipated that. She had expected to call or ring the bell, to ask Ruby to come down. She wasn't entirely prepared to meet Ruby here, but here Ruby was and Ruby was already turning around.
When she saw Ruby's face, her legs solidified. She became as still as a statue with her hands hooked to the shoulder strap of her bag.
She gulped.
And then, time sped up. Within seconds, she was on the bench with Ruby, staring at Ruby's glowing green lipstick in the pale moonlight.
“Come upstairs,” Ruby had said.
To Lynda, it sounded so far away, the invitation. She was captured by Ruby as she had been during their initial encounter and she founded herself following Ruby upstairs without so much as another word.
She nestled into the couch, tugging her legs up to her chest. Her bag was still wrapped around her torso and part of the zipper was digging into her side, but she ignored the sensation in favor of giving Ruby every ounce of her attention.
When Ruby sat down, Lynda sighed. She placed her hand on her own cheek as if to comfort herself—or to hide. “Can I tell you something?”
“Of course. I'm all ears.”
“I've never really known how to let people in. I learned from my mother at an early age that emotions were generally useless when it came to mastering a career.”
Ruby blinked. “Is that what you wanted to tell me?”
“No, there's more.” Lynda licked her lips nervously. She dropped her gaze for a moment, closing her eyes to see the familiar casket sitting behind her lids. She frowned, furrowing her brows together.
It won't go away until I say it, she thought. I just have to say it.
“So,” Lynda continued. “I spent a number of years swallowing all of my emotions and shutting people out.”
“That sounds like a lonely existence.”
A pang of hurt rippled through Lynda's chest, but she pressed on regardless of the alarms ringing in her brain: “It is—I mean, it was until I met you.”
Ruby nodded with understanding.
“I hate Halloween because my grandmother got sick when I was about eight. She died shortly before the holiday and I had to spend the day going to her funeral instead of going out with the other kids,” Lynda explained. “And even after the funeral, I couldn't go. I didn't want to dress up or get candy. It seemed like such a useless thing to do.”
Ruby took a deep breath and held out her hand. Lynda took it gratefully, squeezing Ruby's hand with the weight of her memory.
“There were so many kids outside laughing and playing,” she went on. “They were having fun while I was sitting up in my room confused about life. I didn't know how to cope. My mother was useless in that department and my father was a complete mess. He couldn't help if he wanted to.”
“That must have been hard.”
“So... that's why I've hated Halloween my whole life. I never liked the reminder that my grandmother had passed away during this time and that it completely ruined the holiday for me...forever.”
Ruby looked sympathetic. “I feel that, Lynda. I lost my parents in October. I know that exact feeling.”
“I didn't... I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was October.”
“No, it's okay. I've been able to cope with it by diving into Halloween, but I never considered how someone could cope by drawing away from Halloween.”
Lynda nodded. “I was so upset the day I ran into you. I was trying to get a project done that I hated and all I could see were those stupid ghosts and witches.” She shuddered. “I'm sorry. I don't mean to have so much disdain. It's just...”
Ruby squeezed Lynda's hand. “I understand.”
“I'm sorry I was mean to you. I shouldn't have said the things I said. It came from a place of hurt and anger. I just couldn't stand to see all the reminders of my grandmother's death.”
“If I had known all that, I would have never suggested going on a ghost tour for our first date.”
“But I wanted to spend time with you.”
“I don't want you spending time with me doing something that makes you feel angry or hurt, Lynda. I care about you. I care about how you feel.”
“I... I...” Lynda bit her lip again, blinking away tears. “I really care about you, too.”
“I'm sorry I wasn't more understanding.”
“No, don't apologize. I was the one who did wrong. I was the one who insulted you on purpose just so I wouldn't have to deal with my own anger.”
Ruby lowered her gaze, focusing on their entwined hands. She squeezed Lynda's hand again and patted Lynda's knuckles, her lips wavering between a smile and a frown. “There's something I should tell you, too.”
“What's that?”
“Well, I...”
Her gaze left their hands and swept across the room. Lynda followed Ruby's line of sight to the suitcase sitting on the bed.
Her heart leaped into her throat. “Is that... Are you leaving?”
“I am; to Ireland.”
“When were you going to tell me that?”
“Well, I had planned on telling you when we were on our picnic, but...”
Lynda fought against the sob rising in her throat. “But what? It didn't matter?”
“No, Lynda. It's not like that. We were having such a good time and I was trying so hard to blurt it out.”
“But you didn't tell me.”
“I know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just... Well, I wasn't planning for this. I didn't know someone like you would fall into my lap.”
Lynda laughed nervously. “Yet here I am.”
“Well, you're not in my lap exactly.”
“I... I don't know what to say, Ruby.”
“You don't have to say anything. I've been hoping this trip for the past few years.”
Lynda frowned. “But you never mentioned it. I was very candid with you about my plans after college.”
“To be fair, you didn't have solid plans.”
“No, I didn't, but that didn't mean I wouldn't have accommodated for you.”
“I figured after our argument that you wanted nothing to do with me. I wanted to give you the space you needed to process and I just received my acceptance packet today, so I wasn't planning on this specific timeline.”
Lynda nodded. “I guess I can't be mad.”
“No, you're totally allowed to be mad. I left you out of the loop and I'm sorry for that. I should have told you all my stuff up front.”
“I mean, I didn't exactly do that either.”
Ruby giggled softly. “Maybe we make a decent pair.”
“I though
t so, too. I thought that when we were on our first date.”
“Did you?”
Lynda hummed in agreement. “And I'm sorry I took so long to come back. I really like being around you. I love the way it makes me feel. It's almost like I feel... I think I can feel...”
“Magic?”
Lynda grinned shyly. “Get out of my head.”
“I can't. I like living up there. I want to stay there.”
“Even after you leave?”
Ruby sank slightly. Her demeanor appeared to sink as well, a frown taking over her face. She sniffled. “I feel so bad leaving when we've finally spoken.”
“You know, you're a really lousy witch for not seeing this coming.”
Ruby laughed suddenly, tugging Lynda into a hug. “You're so sweet.”
“I try.”
“Well, you're doing a decent job of it.”
Lynda embraced Ruby, inhaling Ruby's sweet perfume. She sighed with longing as she nuzzled into Ruby's neck. “You've softened me. Do you know that? You've made my heart beat again.”
“Have you been studying poetry?”
“That dreadful literature class has made me yearn for you.”
Ruby laughed. “How in the world does that make sense?”
“Nothing makes sense. But I know one thing for sure: I'm falling in love with you and I don't want it to stop.”
“Oh, Lynda...”
Ruby withdrew from the hug and planted her lips against Lynda's. She hummed as she kissed Lynda, indicating her hunger and desire. Lynda receptively took Ruby into her arms while fumbling to remove the obstruction of her bag's strap. She discarded it and returned to Ruby's lips, destroying the luscious green lipstick that had previously been so perfect.
When she surfaced for air, she sighed and pressed her forehead to Ruby's. “Why do you have to leave?”
“Because it's my calling. I've been training my whole life for this.”
“But this...you and me...it feels so right.”
“It does.”
Lynda frowned while nuzzling closer into Ruby. “What are we supposed to do?”
“Enjoy it while we can.”
“When are you leaving?”
“In a couple of weeks. We have plenty of time to spend with each other before I take off.”
“I'm going to miss you so much. I don't think I've ever loved someone like this in my life.”