“Whatever.”
“Who were you talking to?”
“Like I said, it doesn’t matter to you. Leave me alone.” Ruby said. “If I know, you’re just scared because deep down, you know that I’m still important to Daniel.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Oh, you saw how he came to my defense earlier. You saw how he cared about me.”
“He just did what he had to do.” Emmy said, although to be honest, she felt like she was also just convincing herself. “You know how Daniel is.” She tried not to let Ruby hear that her voice was quivering.
“Yeah?” Ruby raised her eyebrow. “I don’t think you know what you’re talking about.” She said. “You’re scared that he’ll leave you. You’re scared that he’ll come back to me. You’re scared of everything, Emmy, and because of that, you’ll never win.”
“I can’t believe you.” Emmy said. “You sound like a crazy person.”
“Back off.”
“You back off.”
They stared at each other for a while, wanting to tear each other apart. It was a good thing that Daniel and Edward came out and asked them what was happening.
“What’s going on?” Edward asked. “Ruby, are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Ruby said. “We were just talking about something.” She said and smoothed her dress.
“Wow, you have your phone with you?” Edward asked.
“Oh you know me.” She said. “Can’t live without it.” She laughed. “Sorry about that. Let’s go now?”
She then went back inside the coffee shop. Edward was confused but he followed suit.
“Are you okay?” Daniel asked Emmy as the two of them were left outside.
“I’m fine.” Emmy said.
“Em,” Daniel said. “I just didn’t want the commotion to go overboard. I know Ruby. She can be quite crazy. It’s not fair to you.”
“But you remembered a lot about her.”
“It’s not what you think.”
“I don’t really know what to think anymore.” She said. “I’m heading back to the kitchen. There are loads to do. Just…leave me alone.”
She then went inside, once again leaving Daniel by himself under the pale moonlight.
CHAPTER 10
I DON’T THINK SHE LOVES ME
The following day Emmy was eating some banana bread that Rhoda made in the coffee shop. She was also drinking some green tea with orange zest. Daniel wasn’t around because he had to accompany his grandmother, Emmy’s beloved “nana”, to the doctor for her regular check-up.
“Mind if I join you?” Edward asked, holding his own cup of tea.
Emmy looked up from the paper that she was reading and gave Edward a slight smile. In the course of a few days, she has grown to appreciate him because of what he was doing for Ruby. And somehow, Emmy felt like they were going through the same thing: They were both kept in the dark about some of the most important things in life and it wasn’t a really nice feeling.
“Sure.” Emmy replied.
“Thanks.” Edward sat down on the seat across hers. “Ruby went shopping for a while.” He took a deep breath. “I don’t know if I should be telling you this but our honeymoon wasn’t…it wasn’t as perfect as I thought it would be. I mean, it’s not…it’s almost like we didn’t do anything at all and well, that would be fine except for the fact that it felt like…like she was just going through the motions, you know what I mean?” He took a deep breath.
“Maybe, everything’s just overwhelming for her.” Emmy said. “And some of her friends and relatives are here, too…maybe when you get back home, everything will finally be okay.” She sipped some tea. “How did you guys meet anyway? I mean, I’ve been gone for so long as I was in Paris but I don’t remember you from our childhood…”
“I’m from Chicago.” Edward said. “Ruby and I met just two months ago actually. We met at this architectural convention.”
“Wow.” Emmy exclaimed. “That’s…I didn’t expect that.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I know.” He said. “She says she hasn’t dated anyone in years before I came and yeah, we hit it off pretty well but now I’m not so sure anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know.” He said. “I feel like there’s something she’s not telling me about and I just could not put my finger on it. Last night, when Daniel did that for her, I felt like he knew her in a way that I couldn’t know her. You know what I’m saying? It’s like…he knew something about her that even I couldn’t know. Somehow, it made me think like they had some past…” He then looked at her and realized that she is Daniel’s current boyfriend. “I’m sorry.” He said.
“It’s okay.”
Edward sighed and went on. “I just feel like…like she’s no longer in love with me and it’s not a very nice thing to think about. I feel like…she didn’t really want to marry me.”
“She married you, Edward.”
“She did.” He said. “But it does not necessarily mean that she’s in love with me. I have to say, for the first time in years, I kind of feel…scared.”
“Well,” Emmy said. “Don’t worry.” She said. “Maybe she’s just having a hard time adjusting with this new life of yours but it’ll get better.”
“No, it’s more than that.” He said. “I think he has some feelings for Daniel.”
“Edward,”
“I’m sorry. I know he’s your boyfriend and you do look great together but I couldn’t help but think that she has strong feelings for him. The way she acts with him is not the way she acts with me and…I don’t know. I’m just scared that I’m right.”
“You should trust Ruby. She’s your wife now.”
“I know, but what if we actually made the wrong decision? What if this isn’t actually how it’s supposed to be?”
“We’ll never really be sure about that.”
He sighed. “It’s just that…she wasn’t really this way before. We got engaged like, two weeks ago, actually. It was all abrupt. One day. She just woke up and said that she wanted us to get married and that she was sure that I was the one but…I don’t know, Em.” He said. “I know it made me happy but now, I feel like, I shouldn’t have pushed through with this right away. A marriage is not a joke.”
“Yeah, it’s not.” She said. “But maybe, she thinks that it’s right.”
“I don’t know if I can believe that. I don’t think you actually believe yourself, either.”
She sighed. “I don’t know what to say.” She said. “But you want to know something?”
“Yeah?”
“I guess, it’s up to you to talk to your wife and tell her what you think. She is your wife, after all. And then maybe, you could sort things out.”
“She doesn’t talk to me like that.” He said. “I want this marriage to work, Emmy. I really want it to. But I have no idea how. There’s that nagging feeling that this was all just a plan. As for what it’s meant for, I really have no idea.”
She sipped some tea. “You know,” she said. “I didn’t really like you in the beginning.” She laughed. “I though you were just this guy who’s so full of himself. But I guess, you are more than that. And…I know it’s hard right now but you’ll get through this, okay? I’ll see what I can do.”
“No, I shouldn’t really put you up to this. This ain’t your job.”
“No, it’s not.” She said. “But I’ll see what I can do.”
CHAPTER 11
DO YOU STILL HAVE FEELINGS FOR HER?
After having breakfast with Edward, Emmy thought that she’d go around the resort first. She walked around the front yard and couldn’t help but be in awe of the many flowers and plants surrounding the area. The resort really had a relaxing atmosphere and she was proud of her dad for putting it up.
As she walked through the cobblestoned path, she noticed that there was a large pair of scissors sticking out of one of the large trash bins. For some reason, this rattled her brain.
Of course, anyone could have placed those scissors there, but the thing was it still held some strands of thread and fabric that Emmy was sure came from the first dress that she made for Ruby. She looked around and when she noticed that no one was looking at her, she took it out and examined it.
Who would ever put the scissors in the bin? Was the person who slashed Ruby’s dress in half in the resort?
These questions formed in Emmy’s head but before she could make sense of any of them, she saw that there was an unknown gray box in the bin. She took it out as well and opened it and was shocked when she saw that there were a bunch of crumpled papers. She opened some of them and was even more surprised when she saw what was written on them.
Be careful Ruby
Be careful, Ruby. I could slash—
Damn it.
Why do I even have to do this?
It was as if the person who wrote it was practicing his lines. Emmy would not forget these lines because these were the things written on the card that was found on Ruby’s slashed dress. But what’s interesting is that it’s as if the person who wrote them also had qualms about what he was doing—like he wanted out of it.
“This is so weird.” Emmy muttered.
Just then, she heard Ruby speak. “Thanks!” Ruby exclaimed. She turned around and saw that Ruby was actually with Daniel.
“Em.” Daniel said, his face flushed. “I’m sorry. Ruby asked if she could get a ride back. I saw her at the grocery—“
“I see.” Emmy said, her voice void of any feelings.
“Don’t be mad at Daniel.” Ruby said. “It’s not his fault that he’s such a nice guy.” Ruby’s face suddenly became red and her voice quivered when she saw what Emmy was holding. “Where—what is that?” She asked.
“Oh, this?” Emmy said. “I found these at the trash bin. It’s weird, though. I mean, I’m pretty sure this fabric came from that first dress that I made for you. And these notes…they contain the same words that were written on the card we found on your dress. Funny thing is, whoever wrote this didn’t seem to like what she was doing. I guess I should call the police—“
“Don’t.” Ruby said. It was obvious that she was scared. “Don’t do that.”
“Why not, Ruby?” Emmy said. “This might help you.”
“I’m over it, okay?” Ruby said. “And…I’m not staying here for long. After a few days, we’ll be gone. I don’t want to be any hassle for you.”
“No, Ruby, I think it would be good.”
“I said no, okay?” Ruby said. “Now, I have to go.”
“Oh yeah, about that…” Emmy said. “You really should see your husband. I think you have something to talk about.”
Ruby took a deep breath. “Thanks again, Daniel.” She said and walked away.
Emmy took a deep breath as she placed the scissors and the pieces of paper inside the box.
“That was weird.” Daniel said.
“Tell me about it.” She said sarcastically.
“What do you mean?”
She placed the box on top of the bin and faced him. “Do you still have feelings for her?”
“What?!” Daniel said, flabbergasted. “Emmy, that’s ridiculous. Why would you even ask me that?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I mean, you still seem to care for her and you couldn’t deny that. And now you were both out and you come back here together. It’s like, wow. It’s not actually that hard to put two and two together, Dan.”
“I just saw her at the grocery. Nana saw her, too. It would be ridiculous not to give her a ride back and to be honest…I guess this whole time together with all of us here is not doing us any good. All of us. It’s so stressful and it’s not normal and—“
“And what? You’re going to suggest that I should just go home so that you could stay here with her?”
“That’s crazy.” He said. “Fine, you want to know the truth? I didn’t think I still cared about her, but I guess I do. I do care because she was an important part of my life and that’s that. I am no longer in love with her. I haven’t been for a while and I sure as hell am not right now so please just…calm down. It’s definitely what you think, Emmy. I want to go home, yes, but I want us both to go home. I want to just get back to the way we were before this whole fiasco started and I want things to be alright again.”
“What if they’ll never be alright?”
“That’s right.” They heard Edward say. They turned to look at him and noticed that he looked every inch as angry as a man could be. Ruby was trailing behind him, looking confused and scared.
“Edward, don’t even—“ Ruby said.
“Shut up.” Edward said. “Hey, Emmy,” he said. “I talked to my wife,” he said with emphasis on the “wife”, “and she told me the truth. She had a past with your boyfriend! I saw them come home together. I can’t believe you didn’t even call them out on it! See? This is why this is all so crazy. Ruby is not in love with me…”
“That’s not true!”
“You know it is!” He shouted at Ruby. “You’re not in love with me because you’re in love with Mr. Good Guy Daniel right here!” He shoved Daniel.
“Quit it, man!” Daniel said and shoved him back.
“You quit it!” Edward said. “You’re lucky to have Emmy and you are flirting with my wife! How dare you?!? You son of a bitch!” He shoved him once more.
“One more time and I’m going to—“
“Knock it off, both of you!” Emmy said. “Edward, I told you to talk to Ruby but I never told you to hurt Daniel or to hurt anyone. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Why aren’t you even surprised?” Edward asked. “You knew about this, didn’t you? What? Was this all a trick so you could all play on me? I know I was arrogant and all that but do I deserve this, huh? Why are you all being crazy?”
“Edward, stop!” Emmy said. “Yeah, I knew about this. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you but I just don’t know what to say or do anymore. If this is painful for you, what more is it for me? You think it was easy for me to go through with this? It’s not. I’m just trying so hard to keep my act together and make things work for everyone because this business is my father’s baby. This is all he has right now and I can’t screw this up.” Her blood was boiling and everything else that she tried to keep inside for the past couple of days was now spurting out of her mouth. “If you think that I’m playing, then screw you. Screw all of you. You think this is all an act? Then how do you think am I feeling? That’s my boyfriend right there and her girlfriend pretended to be someone else so she could hire my services and she says I poisoned her and that her dress was slashed and she does not want me to call the police—“
“I don’t want any commotion, okay?!” Ruby said through gritted teeth.
“Yeah? Then why did you hire my services in the first place?” Emmy asked. “I know you have a hidden agenda, Ruby, and I’m going to find out what it is sooner or later so you might as well tell me now.”
“And now you’re accusing me?” Ruby said. “Why don’t you ask Daniel. Maybe he knows something about this.”
“What?” Daniel said. “What have I got to do with this?”
“I don’t know,” Ruby said. “Maybe you can tell everyone that you still care about me. Maybe you can tell them how you promised me right by that beach a few years ago that you love me and that you want us to stay together for the rest of our lives. Why don’t you tell them how much you loved me, Danny? Why not?”
“Oh damn it.” Emmy said. “You have too many issues, Ruby.” She then looked at Daniel. “And you are one confused man.”
“Emmy, I am not confused.” He said. “Yes, I did tell her that but it was when we were together. It has been years.”
“So you’re fond of telling every single lady whom you get together with that you are in love with them and that you’ll be with them forever?” Edward quipped sarcastically. “Sounds like a nice man to me.”
“Shut up.” Daniel said.
“Why don’t you ask your wife why exactly is she marrying you if you think that she’s still in love with me?”
“That’s between the two of us!” Edward said.
Just then, Emmy noticed that a lot of people have been flocking around the area. “Quit it, all of you!” She said.
“Why? Are you scared that everyone will know how incompetent you are?” Ruby asked.
“Talk to her like that one more time and you won’t like what I’ll do, Ruby.” Daniel said.
“Don’t you dare threaten her!” Edward screamed.
“Then back off.” Daniel said.
“No, you back off.” Edward said. “Your days are going to be over soon, I swear.”
“Enough!” Emmy cried out. “Enough, okay? I don’t want to hear anything anymore.”
She then walked towards the coffee shop, shutting the door behind her.
CHAPTER 12
HE’S DEAD
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Re: Ruby
Emmy!
I am so sorry I haven’t responded earlier. Was busy with the shop. There’s this big event that’s happening soon at the beach and yeah, it’s tough on us. Anyway, how are you?
I wish I could fly back right away but…well, you know, I got to stay here. But if you really feel like things are getting out of hand, just tell me. I can go back.
As for Ruby…
Well, she really could be such a bitch. Okay, I know I say that about almost everyone but well, she has her moments. She is a nice girl, for what it’s worth, but sometimes…she really could be a bitch.
I never pegged her for someone who’s going to marry a person she met two months ago right away, though. That doesn’t seem like Ruby. Plus, with Daniel there, I’m pretty sure she’s so conflicted now and I have no idea why she went through with the wedding but she’s the only one who can answer that. I just hope she has the right reasons.
Anyway, why don’t you just kick her out of the hotel? Haha! Kidding. You’re way better than that. And maybe, that’s the problem. You’ve always been so nice and patient and sometimes, people can take advantage of that.
William Jarvis - Sky Valley 02 - Beaches & Coffee Page 4