Red and the Wolf

by Cindy C. Bennett

  Ruby cringed. “I’m so sorry about that, Rafe.”

  “Don’t be,” he said. “It’s not your fault he drinks like that, Red.”

  Her heart twisted at the nickname.

  “This way,” he said, taking her elbow and leading her down an alley. She glanced up at him. There were no eateries this way. They came to a steel, gray door and Rafe knocked. Ruby’s gaze narrowed and he smiled, dipping his head slightly toward her. “Trust me,” he said.

  The door was pushed outward into the alley by Tanemahutu Fa'amasino, a big Samoan man whose gentle nature contradicted his fierce appearance. A tattoo covered the right side of his face and both massive biceps. His black hair was pulled back into a tight bun. His colossal size made even Rafe appear diminutive. A welcoming smile lit his face.

  “Malo, my friend,” Hutu said in his deep baritone, placing a beefy hand on Rafe’s shoulder. Rafe grimaced a little at his squeeze. “Welcome home.”

  Rafe placed a hand over Hutu’s. “Thanks, my friend. It’s good to see you again.”

  “You’ve been gone too long,” Hutu laughed, pulling Rafe into a brief but smothering bear hug. He rubbed his knuckles on Rafe’s head, and Ruby laughed, drawing Hutu’s attention. “You’re as beautiful as ever, Mumu.”

  Hutu had called her Mumu for years before Ruby discovered it was the Samoan word for “red”. Previously, she’d thought he was calling her chubby, as in muumuu’s worn by his own rather large mother.

  “It’s good to see you, Hutu.”

  “Why don’t you come by anymore?” he asked her as he escorted them both into the storage room of his Polynesian restaurant. Ruby wasn’t sure why they’d had to come in the back door.

  Ruby shrugged. “I’ve been busy.”

  “Uh-huh.” Hutu didn’t sound convinced. Rafe looked at her, brows pulled together as if trying to figure something out.

  “Are we not allowed in the front door of your restaurant anymore, Hutu?” she teased.

  “Your man has a surprise for you,” Hutu announced.

  “He’s not—”

  “I didn’t want to come in the front,” Rafe interrupted her denial, “because we’d never get any privacy if we did. Everywhere I go, everyone wants to talk to me, ask me where I’ve been. So Hutu arranged for us to have some of his fine food without any interruptions.”

  “I didn’t arrange anything,” Hutu said. “Your man did. I just said yes when he called and asked.” Hutu laughed as if in some private joke.

  “He’s not my—”

  “Rafe, my second son!” Hutu’s mother, Ali’tasi, came in, throwing her substantial arms around Rafe. “I’m so happy you’re home. The place isn’t the same without your handsome face to brighten my doorway. All I have to look at all day is Tanemahutu’s ugly mug.”

  Hutu growled, the sound holding no weight with the smile still in place.

  Ali’tasi turned to Ruby. “And you, child, where’ve you been? We don’t see you nearly often enough.”

  Ruby let Ali’tasi squeeze her with her mother-bear gentleness. “It’s good to see you, Ali’tasi.”

  “Tanemahutu, get these children their dinner, and then leave them alone,” she commanded, turning to her son.

  “Yes, ma’am,” the giant man said, winking at Ruby. He pointed to the right. “Take your lady over there, my friend.”

  “I’m not . . .” Her words died as she was left talking to empty air.

  Rafe touched her elbow. “Guess we better do as we’re told,” he grinned.

  They went around a couple of tall shelves piled with supplies, and Ruby saw the small table sitting between another two shelves. It created an intimate, private area which left her feeling edgy. The wide table had a tablecloth and two place settings, with two chairs. She lowered herself into the first one and Rafe sat across from her.

  “What is all this?” she asked, waving a hand to indicate the table.

  “An apology,” he said.

  She stared at him, perplexed. Before she could ask what for, Hutu came back in, bearing a tray overloaded with Polynesian food. Ruby’s mouth watered at the smell. The Fa'amasino’s could cook like no one’s business. Hutu lowered the tray down and placed dishes of food on the table: fa'alifu fa'I, made with plaintains to compliment the oka, the only kind of fish she liked, supasui, and her favorite, pulusami made by umu. She hoped he planned to give them fausi for dessert, though pumpkins weren’t quite in season yet so it wouldn’t be as flavorful as it was in the fall.

  “Looks delicious, Hutu,” she enthused.

  “It is delicious, Mumu,” he stated matter-of-factly.

  “Your humility astounds me,” Rafe said dryly.

  Hutu laughed, pounding Rafe on the back. Rafe’s chest bumped the table’s edge with the movement. Ruby doubted anyone else could do the same to someone Rafe’s size.

  “Enjoy,” Hutu said, bowing and leaving them alone.

  They scooped the different foods onto their plates, not speaking. Once Ruby had tasted—and savored—several bites of each different food, she asked.

  “You said this is an apology. For what?”

  Rafe’s gaze locked on hers as he laid his fork down, and she suddenly wished she could take the words back.

  “For leaving the way I did. For being gone for so long and not answering your letters.”

  Ruby swallowed loudly. She dropped her gaze, pushing the food around on her plate with her fork. She clenched her teeth, refusing to give way to the tears that wanted to fall, or to the anger that simmered just below the surface.

  “Remember the last time we were together, before I left?” he asked.

  Of course Ruby remembered. How could she ever forget? That was the night he kissed her.

  It was a week post-graduation and they were walking in the woods that lay to the north of Piera. Ruby was well aware that her heart was lost to this boy who’d been her best friend always. Lately, she’d been getting vibes that he returned her feelings, though she wasn’t yet entirely sure.

  They walked together between the towering trees on the ground damp from the melted snow. As they walked, their hands swinging side by side, Rafe suddenly took her hand in his. A thrill rode through Ruby at his touch.

  Ruby was telling him that Marina hired her to work with her at the bakery.

  “You’re not going to school?”

  Ruby shook her head. Her father, who’d begun drinking at the unexpected death of her mom six years earlier, had gotten significantly worse. He was missing enough work she knew it wouldn’t be long before he didn’t have a job. She’d been paying their bills and taking care of the house and him. Without her, he wouldn’t make it.

  “No, I think I’ll work with Marina for a while and see how things go. You?”

  Rafe seemed to be considering his answer. He ran his free hand through his hair while chewing his bottom lip. “Yeah, I’ll probably go away for a while.”

  Ruby felt saddened by his answer, though not surprised. She’d miss him terribly, but he’d come home for the holidays surely. Suddenly, Rafe stopped, stopping her as well by his grip on her hand. She looked up at him. She was stunned by the tortured look in his eyes as he gazed at her.

  He leaned down, and her stomach tightened with the knowledge that he was about to kiss her. He didn’t relinquish his hold on her hand, only brought his free hand up to caress her cheek. Then his mouth was on hers, sending a pulsing heat from her lips to her toes as he tilted his head, deepening the contact. Releasing her hand, he wrapped his arms around her waist as her arms came about his shoulders and he lifted her from her feet, standing to his full height.

  Now, sitting across from him, having him recall the memory to both of them, Ruby’s cheeks flushed. His kiss had sent her home on a cloud of air, only to be flung crashing into the earth the next day when she went to his house and found that he’d gone.

  “Why would you ask me that?” she whispered, her voice trembling from a mixture of fury and agony.

  “Because
I need you to know, Red, that I didn’t leave lightly.”

  Ruby shot a glare at him. “Could’ve fooled me,” she spit out.

  Rafe jerked back in his chair as if she’s shoved him. His gaze dropped, and he gripped the table’s edge. He inhaled deeply then looked at her.

  “I missed you more than you can imagine,” he said quietly. “If I could have, I would’ve come back.”

  Ruby blinked. If he could have. Then it occurred to her. Maybe he couldn’t afford to come back. She’d thought his family was well enough off with the farm, but she didn’t know for certain. Maybe they couldn’t pay for him to fly back and forth. Of course, that didn’t excuse everything. Stamps were cheap. He had a cell phone. He could’ve made sure she had his email.

  “You didn’t write back,” she murmured.

  “I know.” He didn’t offer an excuse, just held his gaze steady on hers. She tried, she really did, but a single tear escaped against her will. Rafe lifted a hand and wiped it away with his thumb. He took her hand in his and lightly rubbed her knuckles.

  “I’m asking you to give me a chance,” he said.

  “A chance?”

  “I’ve missed you, Red. You were my best friend. I came back for you.”

  Ruby jerked her hand from his. She stood and strode away from the table. The pull of Hutu and Ali’tasi’s cooking was almost strong enough to bring her back to the table, but her anger at Rafe was stronger. She pushed open the metal door to the alley, wishing it were lighter so that she could have the satisfaction of banging it against the outer wall. Instead, it opened halfway, slowly drifting closed.

  “Ruby, wait!”

  She was aware of Rafe’s pounding feet hurrying after her. She ignored him, not stopping. He easily caught up with her and stepped in her path, forcing her to halt.

  “Is it Lowell?” he asked.

  The question was so completely unexpected that she looked up at him. “What?”

  “If you . . .” Rafe swallowed audibly, jaw ticking once before he blew out a breath. “If you want to be with him, I’ll step out of the way.”

  “What are you talking about?” Ruby was incredulous.

  Rafe’s expression turned to confusion. “You . . . and Lowell.”

  “There is no ‘me and Lowell’ you big . . . dumb . . . jerk!” she yelled, walking around him.

  He easily kept pace with her.

  “There isn’t?” There was no mistaking the happy note in his voice, causing her to look up at him. His arrogant grin angered her more.

  “What is wrong with you Wolfe brothers?” she demanded irritably. “There is no me and Lowell, and there is no me and you.”

  Rafe stepped in front of her again and unexpectedly wrapped his arms around her waist. Then his mouth was on hers, and though she fought her desire, she responded almost immediately, wildly, her hands tangling in the nape of his hair. He kissed her deeply, thoroughly. Lifting his head, he smiled at her.

  “I’m going to do everything I can to change the last part of that,” he said.

  Fury zoomed up Ruby’s spine and she shoved away from him. “Leave me alone, Rafe. Why couldn’t you have stayed away?”

  She pushed past him, not waiting for a response, not looking back. She ran all the way home, slamming into her front door with the satisfaction denied her in the alley, locking the door firmly behind her. Her father, snoring in his chair, barely stirred at the commotion. The smell of alcohol pervaded the room. She went up the stairs into her room, closing and locking the door.

  She sat at her vanity and looked at herself in the mirror. Tears streaked down her cheeks from hazel eyes turned aqua with the wetness. Red curly hair tousled as riotously as she felt, her light freckles made prominent against her pale, drawn visage. She touched her lips, the memory of her two kisses with Rafe vivid in her mind. She threw herself on her bed and let the tears come. Sometime later, after darkness fell, she heard the wolf howling in the distance. He sounded forlorn, heartbroken. He howled the way she wanted to.

  * * * * *

  Ruby threw herself into her work. She felt guilty for having spent two days as less than useful to Marina, so she worked extra hard the rest of the week. She created two new flavors they hadn’t used before, orange clove and apple strawberry, and made sure all of her designs were exactly what Marina’s customers expected. She baked muffins and all the layers to a wedding cake that was being shipped to New Mexico, though she left the decorating of that to Marina.

  “Not that I don’t appreciate all the extra work you’ve done this week,” Marina told her on Friday, “but maybe you should talk about it and get it out of the way.”

  “Nothing to talk about,” Ruby said, smiling tightly. She’d been avoiding both Wolfe brothers like the plague, which hadn’t been easy. She’d even taken to sneaking out the back of the shop to avoid their waiting out front.

  “This is me you’re talking to, Rube.”

  “I know, so you can believe me when I say there’s nothing to talk about.” She swung her purse over her shoulder. “I’ll be in early tomorrow.”

  “Take the day off, Ruby. I think you need it.”

  “I’d really like to work,” Ruby said, panicked at the thought of trying to find somewhere to hide all day. “Please.”

  “Fine,” Marina capitulated. “You can do some deliveries for me. But don’t come until ten.”

  Ruby nodded. “Thanks, Marina.” She hugged her friend, then slipped out the back door, looking left and right before exiting.

  She’d only gone half a block when she saw him. She huffed out a frustrated breath as Lowell pushed away from the wall he leaned against. His dark clothing had blended with the dark color of the building.

  “Ruby.”

  She almost stopped when he called her by her real name, but only missed a half step before continuing on. He fell in step easily beside her.

  “Are you avoiding me?”

  “Is it obvious?” she shot back.

  “Yes,” he conceded. “What I don’t understand is why.” She didn’t say anything, so he continued. “Is it because of Rafe?”

  Ruby skidded to a stop and swung around on him. “It’s because of both of you! Since he’s returned you have pitted me in some strange tug of war between you, and I don’t like it. You’ve never paid so much attention to me before. Why now? I don’t need you to use me for whatever this game is that you’re playing. I want you both to leave me alone!”

  She stomped off. To her amazement, he continued to walk with her. What was with these Wolfe boys?

  “I’m sorry you feel that way,” he said. “But, Red, how can you not know that for three years I’ve been trying to get you to notice me?”

  Ruby stopped again, looking up at him in disbelief. “What are you talking about, Lowell?”

  He shuffled nervously, hands in his pockets, watching his feet. “I know that before Rafe left you had . . . feelings for him. I’d watched you guys together over the years. I was always jealous.” He glanced up at her to see her reaction and she snapped her mouth closed. His dark eyes, so like Rafe’s, glinted as he smiled. “I thought you knew that.” She shook her head. “I was jealous not only because you held my brother’s complete attention and were the friend to him I wanted to be, but also because he held your admiration. I wanted you to look at me the way you looked at him.”

  Ruby shook her head. “I had no idea.”

  Lowell shrugged. “I know. When Rafe left, I thought maybe that was my chance to show you that I could be as worthy of you as he was. More so. I wouldn’t leave the way he did.” Ruby dropped her eyes, not wanting him to see the pain his words recalled. “I didn’t want to push too hard, Red, because I knew you were hurting. I thought I had more time. I didn’t think Rafe would ever come home.”

  Ruby folded her arms tightly, looking off into the distance. She had prayed, daily, for Rafe to come home. She’d prayed that he would come back and would want her, that he would sweep her off her feet and make the ache left by
his leaving go away. Instead, he came home without any explanation for his silence, and without any promises that he’d stay. He kissed her, opening her heart to him once again, which meant that when he did go, she’d be left with a hole even wider than the one he’d created last time.

  Now, here was Lowell, who’d always been a nemesis of sorts, telling her he wanted her for himself. But why? They had nothing in common. Was it just because of Rafe, so he could prove to Rafe that he could have the one thing Rafe couldn’t?

  Though who was she fooling? She knew that if Rafe said the word, she’d be just foolish enough to give him the chance to hurt her again. Hadn’t she responded to his kiss as if three years hadn’t passed? He’d asked the other night for her to give him a chance, though he never said what for. A chance to break her heart again?