Relieved she could be direct with Emma and open about her intentions, she relaxed against the kitchen counter and let her hands hang loose at her sides. “I need to leave, get out of town. The other night when Jason left with Mike he gave me the sweetest hug as he was saying goodbye.”
“I saw it. I was in the window.”
“He loves my Peach. Now he’s getting attached to me.” She shook her head. “Mike sees it, too. I can tell.”
“I’ll bet he’s torn, Rubes. How Mike feels about you is written all over him.”
“How he thinks he feels,” Ruby corrected. “Ever since I walked through your door and settled in that lovely room, I’ve been sifting through these last few years, you know, writing my thoughts. Clarifying where my job went wrong. Admitting I burned out and figuring out what to do next. I never expected to be sifting through my feelings about Mike, too. Do I even know the guy anymore?”
Emma impatiently gave her a “don’t give me that nonsense” look. “That’s the kind of question you only feel obligated to ask. As if you don’t already know the answers.”
“I don’t know all the answers, Em. Really.”
“What’s so different about today’s Mike versus the eighteen-year-old one? Except that he’s even cuter now than he was back in high school.”
“So I’ve noticed,” Ruby said wryly. “But he’s a dad now. That responsibility sits square on his shoulders and guides everything he does. There’s no telling how long Jason will be silent. We don’t know what kind of lasting problems Jason could have.”
“Like that would scare you away. Rumor has it you know a little something about trauma.” After a long pause, Emma blurted, “For all that happened to you and Mike and your parents, he’s a real grown-up man. Surprise, Rubes, you’re all grown up, too.”
Ruby laughed in spite of the gloomy mood settling over her. “Maybe so, but he’s not a golden boy with endless potential trying to make partner at a big firm. He’s got a couple of clients for small jobs. And he knows he could fail. For all his talk about this being home, how long is he going to stick around here and try to make a go of it?”
Emma scoffed. “Ha! Another adventure for Ruby. You’re not tied to this place, either.”
“You have an answer for everything,” Ruby said, rolling her eyes.
“I suppose I do.” Emma grimaced, as tears pooled in her eyes. She quickly brushed them away before they ran down her cheeks. “I’m sad because Neil got cheated out of a second chance. Being mismatched with me didn’t mean he was a bad guy.”
Ruby squirmed in the chair. “I’m sorry, Emma. You’ve been through so much.”
“I should back off.” Emma pressed her temples and gave her head a little shake. “I don’t know what gets into me sometimes. You’re right. I have no way to know what you and Mike could be in the future. Maybe I’m the one stuck in your old dream.”
Not really.
“If we don’t leave for the Halloween party I’m going to lose the urge to go.” Emma braced her hand on the table and got to her feet. “Besides, I’m tired of trips to the doctor. And physical therapy shouldn’t be the highpoint of my week. I want to see the little kids in their costumes. Especially Jason.”
“I’m kind of curious about Dr. Jason myself. It’s kind of fun that we’re all dressed up and we actually have somewhere to go.”
Fifteen minutes later, they joined a stream of other people arriving. The committee had decorated the town hall’s community room with orange and black streamers and cutouts of skeletons and witches covering the walls. Pyramids of pumpkins filled the corners. These town-sponsored parties were apparently new—well, a dozen years new—and were a way to make the holiday safe for the kids. Ruby remembered a couple of parties at Mike’s house with lights illuminating ghostly sheets arranged in the trees. They were little kids then and, typical of Mike’s mom, everyone in their class had been invited.
The glass atrium-style walkway that linked the town-hall building to the library was filled with adults who’d deposited their kids for the first activities. Ruby spotted Mike talking to parents and other volunteers, directing them to different corners of the community room. He was wearing ordinary clothes. Ruby took a quick look around. Only a few of the adults wore costumes, and those were the adults leading Halloween bingo in the corner or one of the other games set up on the far side of the room.
“Mike isn’t in a costume, Emma,” Ruby said, staring at her pinafore. “I thought you said the adults show up in costumes.”
“Well, some do. I didn’t say Mike would. I see a few adults in getups.” Emma pointed to a woman in an orange body suit and green hat. “She’s a pumpkin.”
The woman was supervising a game of “Pin the Face on the Pumpkin.” Ruby sighed. “I’m reminding myself I did this for Jason.”
“And you had fun putting it together. Trust me, he’s going to get a big kick out of it.” Looking at Ruby’s shoes, she added, “And so will Mike.”
“Oh, look at those ghosts,” Ruby said, as she followed Emma to an empty spot near rows of chairs off to the side. She pointed to a group of kids around Jason’s age. A few were dressed as zombies, but the others were a mix of witches and superheroes. The kids were tucking cut-out ghosts about a foot high into the cardboard branches of a tree covering one section of the wall. Some of the paper ghosts peeked out of the branches with their mouths forming a perfect oval of surprise. Others had big impish smiles, but a few had frowns between their eyes, but not too many and not too fierce. It all added up to a fun display.
“They’re like ghost emojis,” Emma remarked. “So many kids. Wow. It’s bigger every year. That’s good news.”
Ruby pointed out Mike, who spoke into the microphone to get everyone’s attention.
“Time for the costume parade to be underway.” He began directing parents to line up their kids in the library entrance before their trip through the atrium.
“Good.” Emma chuckled. “The parade is the main event, and then once it’s over they’re free to play more games. We can’t forget the table of treats! Caramel corn scarecrows, taffy apples and marshmallow spiders. And they have healthier stuff, too, of course.”
Ruby nodded, getting a kick out of the squeals and giggles of exuberant kids. She watched the sea of faces, some familiar, some not. It was as if she remembered adults she’d seen around town in her childhood but whose names she never knew. Other faces were the grown-up versions of people she’d known when they were all kids.
“The passing of the generations,” Ruby said, glancing at the parents and grandparents gathering. Somehow, the adults managed to get zebras and robots, vampires and zombies gathered all in one place.
“Let’s find a couple of seats in those rows of chairs,” Emma said. “We can see them all coming down the atrium from the library and they’ll parade around the room. Everybody can get their pictures. We’ll get a clear shot of Jason when he goes by.”
“It was sweet of Mike to volunteer to help herd the cats,” Ruby said.
Mike still hadn’t noticed them, preoccupied as he was with getting the kids in line. She scanned the hallway for Jason, but didn’t spot him. Fear started nipping at her. This was a lot of commotion for a boy who didn’t speak. Her mind jumped ahead to what could happen, what she’d seen happen, when overwhelmed children and adults were in crowded spaces. They panicked. Some ran, some hid. Did Mike know that? On the other hand, Mike probably volunteered to help out in part to stay close to Jason. “I used to think he’d be a volunteer basketball coach one day,” Ruby said to distract herself.
“It may happen yet,” Emma said.
“Funny, despite being levelheaded kids, Mike and I thought we could control everything, right down to the year we’d come back to town and raise a family.” Where was Jason?
Emma shook her head. “Better than having no vision at all.”
Ruby was saved from having to respond because two women came over to Emma. One gushed over Emma, telling her how great it was to see her at the party. Emma introduced them as mother and daughter members of a book club they’d been part of years before. They chatted about Em’s physical therapy and she showed her optimism in reporting her progress. Ruby listened with half an ear, but stepped out of their circle to try to catch a glimpse of Jason in the atrium or at the library entrance. She kept an eye out for Mike, who was no longer in her line of vision.
She brought her attention back to the conversation long enough to agree that yes, Emma was almost her old self again.
“I’m not going to be satisfied until the cane is gone. But I know it will take time.” Emma grinned at the women. “Ruby has to put up with all my complaining.”
In the next few minutes, Ruby skirted questions about her work, how long she’d be in town and what was next for her. Amused with her skimpy answers, Ruby patted herself on the back for some half-decent social banter that revealed very little information. Not that it mattered. To these women, Ruby was just a best friend who’d put her job-hunting on hold.
* * *
EMMA KEPT CHATTING with the two women, but Ruby heard another voice coming from behind. “Hey, if it isn’t Ruby Driscoll.”
The unfamiliar voice interrupted her rising concern about Jason. When she turned to the sound of her name, she recognized the face.
“Oh, Kristine. Nice to see you.” She gestured around the room. “You throw a great party.”
“And you put together a terrific costume.” Kristine gave her a prolonged pointed look. “Love the shoes.”
“I had fun with the glitter,” Ruby admitted.
“You and Mike are full of surprises, aren’t you?”
She had no answer for that, but her gut responded by tightening up. “I’m here visiting Emma. She just had surgery, but you probably knew that.”
“I looked up from the podium at the town-council meeting a couple of weeks ago and there was Mike. Now, I run into you. After so many years.”
And your point is? “Mike moved back—to stay, or so I understand.” Ruby hoped she sounded noncommittal. She gave Kristine a once-over. “And what about you? Looks like you’ve done well here in town.”
“Well, I started my accounting business—” she turned halfway around and back again “—and then local politics called my name. But what about you? You’re not back for good?”
Ruby dismissed that idea with a quick flick of her hand. “Oh, no, no. Not at all. I’ll be heading to Florida soon.” Home to Mom, she thought, but not for long. Just after midnight last night, she’d responded to an online job listing for an outreach-program specialist in Seattle and for one in the Virgin Islands. Neither were positions with school districts and both were in places she’d never been.
Kristine lowered her voice and said, “No mystery why you wouldn’t come back permanently. I understand. Same with Mike. But here he is. Go figure.”
Don’t take the bait. The snide message beneath the benign words was exactly why she’d sworn she’d never return to Bluestone River. Never.
“Oh, look, the kids are coming.” Ruby checked to see that the head of the stuffed dog was sticking out of her tote so Jason wouldn’t miss it when he passed by.
Then Mike came into view, patting Jason’s shoulder as he went on his way to join the other kids. Ruby exhaled, aware that she’d been holding her breath until she saw Jason.
Mike glanced in their direction and even from a distance she caught his face light up. His smile broadened as soon as he recognized her costume. But then his expression changed when his gaze took in Kristine standing next to her. Ruby couldn’t miss the apprehension flickering across his face. Recovering fast, he gave them a friendly wave.
Ruby didn’t miss the way Kristine’s face winced in response to seeing Mike.
“I better go,” Kristine said, pointing to the crowd. “I have to give a little speech later.” She reached behind Ruby and tapped Emma on the knee. “Thanks again.”
Emma smiled and waved her off. “It’s nothing. Happy to do it.”
“She has a way of saying so much without actually being specific,” Ruby whispered as she took her seat next to Emma.
Classic carnival music blared over the speakers and brought the adult conversations and laughter to an abrupt halt.
“Here they come,” Ruby said, positioning her phone to take shots of a group of four superheroes leading the rest of the kids down the atrium and through the wide entrance to the room. A skeleton and a witch were next, followed by two toddler-size robots holding hands.
The adults broke into applause for each child coming through and kept it going as a volunteer led the kids around the periphery of the room.
Jason was the only doctor in the house. When he came into view he was hand in hand with a little girl who was smaller and seemed younger—and obviously a little scared. She was dressed as a witch, with a tall pointy hat and a long black cloak.
“Maybe she’s one of Jason’s classmates,” Emma whispered. “She looks so tiny next to him.”
Ruby was aiming her phone at the two when Jason’s face suddenly changed. His mouth opened in surprise and quickly changed to the widest smile Ruby had seen on his wonderful little face. Jason waved with his free hand and Ruby responded by holding up her phone. She took a couple of quick photos of him and the witch, and then she turned her body to the side to make sure he saw Toto peeking from her bag. He nodded as if sending a signal he understood.
The kids kept coming, but Ruby followed Jason’s path around the room. He was into it now, and so was his friend. They waved and smiled to the crowd like a couple of performers.
It took twenty minutes or so for all the kids to come through and take their turn to be in the spotlight as they circled the room. When Mike and a couple of other dads brought up the rear of the line, the older kids scattered in groups and the younger ones hurried to their parents. Jason disappeared into the crowd.
Kristine went to the podium, tested the mic and made her welcome speech before banging her gavel to declare that treats were on the tables. Ruby guessed that about one hundred kids began helping themselves to cookies and punch.
“I’m going to go get a shot of Mike and Jason together. I’ll be back.” With that, Ruby weaved her way through the crowd and found Mike with the little girl and her parents. Ruby approached slowly so she could watch Jason with half a cookie in his mouth, while his witch friend held the stethoscope against Jason’s chest. Jason was smiling, apparently not minding at all.
It won’t be long now. He’ll soon be telling stories to his dad and asking a million questions. It was just a feeling, a hunch, but honeylike warmth poured through her body. She usually trusted her hunches.
“Hey, Dr. Jason,” she said holding her phone, “I want a big smile so I can get your picture.”
Jason grinned and pointed to her shoes.
“You like my fancy red shoes?”
Jason nodded and pointed to the dog in her bag.
“That’s Toto,” the little girl said.
“Right you are,” Ruby said, taking the girl’s picture. “You’re a super witch. I love your pointy hat.”
“I was just going to look for you.” Mike said, his voice low. He looked her up and down. “I figured you’d be easy to spot. If I couldn’t spot the red pigtails, then I’d keep my eyes open for the shoes.”
His flirtatious tone brought on a giggle. Wanting to squelch that in a hurry, she turned to the little girl’s parents. “I’m on a mission,” Ruby told them, holding up her phone. “An amateur photo shoot.”
Uncharacteristically awkward, Mike introduced Marie and Everett, and their little girl, Kelly. He explained the couple had graduated from high school a few years after their class. “As it happens, Marie’s mom worked at the resort way back when.
”
Marie beamed. “One of dozens of people around here to have that experience. Working at the Hidden Lake Resort was one of the best jobs I ever had.”
“I think all of us teenagers felt that way,” Ruby said. “Looks like Jason and Kelly hit it off.” The two sat cross-legged on the floor against the nearby wall still playing with the stethoscope and munching cookies. Even in their silence they looked content.
“Kelly is on the shy side,” Everett said.
Then Jason is the perfect pal, Ruby thought. “Do you think Kelly would mind if I take another picture of the two of them?”
Both parents said their quick okay, so Ruby jumped in and acted like a professional photographer as she shot pictures of them together, alone and clustered with proud parents. She coaxed smiles and silly faces, close-ups and longer shots. Then she tucked Marie’s business card in her handbag and promised to send the photos the next day.
Everett and Marie led Kelly away to the candy table and the kids waved goodbye to each other. Ruby glanced at Mike, who sighed happily. “I was worried about how he’d do in a big party setting, but sweet Kelly saved the day.”
“Kelly’s parents would say Jason did the same for her.” She paused to gather her thoughts. “I was watching for Jason earlier but couldn’t find him in the crowd. To be honest, I was concerned.” She put her hand on her chest. “In all the commotion, I wondered if he’d get scared.”
“Funny you should say that, Ruby. I kept my eye on him almost every minute. That’s the main reason I volunteered to be one of the watchdog parents.”
“I might have known,” she said, gesturing over at Emma. “Before things wind down, will you bring Jason over to say hello to Em? She’s doing really well, but she needed to grab a chair and get off her feet.”
“I want to say hello anyway. But why don’t you come with me now and we’ll take Jason to the candy table first. And they still have a few caramel apples left.”
“Sounds good.” She spotted Jason, who was with a couple of kids playing a balloon version of volleyball. “He’s occupied for the moment.”
A Family for Jason Page 15