“Thank you.”
When Simon left with her brood of beasts on leads for a walk, she lay back and pondered their future. She wanted to discuss it with him. He was open to them being together again—he’d said he wanted her still. But Ruby worried that his money would come between them. Not that she cared either way if he had any or not. More the perception that she was after him for his money.
She flicked through channels, not liking anything she saw. Ruby threw the blankets off and headed for the bathroom. She needed a shower to clear her head. It was his money that came between them in the first place. How was she going to make sure that didn’t happen again?
She felt silly thinking like that but the bitterness that came with their breakup was hard to forget. Her own fault, she got that. Nobody had ever said she was after him for the money. They’d met when they were both poor so it wasn’t a good reason to hold back.
No, it was more her doubting herself. That now she was close to getting back with him, he might realize that she wasn’t the girl he’d dreamed about all these years. That she would be a disappointment to him.
Chapter 17
“You don’t need to be nervous. You’ve known them for years.” Simon pulled up in front of an old restored Victorian he’d bought for his parents.
Ruby smoothed her hands over her dress and glared at him. “Guys know nothing. Seriously, Simon. I haven’t seen them for years. I have no idea what they think of me these days.”
He put his hand out and touched her arm. “Ruby, I’m the one they were pissed at, not you. Mom’s been at me for years to try and fix things between us. Dad didn’t want to forgive me for being so damned stupid. He refused to talk to me for weeks apart from a grunt and a groan.”
“So why didn’t you listen to your mom then?”
He had and they both knew it. She ignored him but now wasn’t the time to remind her. “Because I figured that you needed space to think things through. I wanted to come riding in on a white horse and take you away but I figured you’d hate me for that kind of treatment.” He shrugged. “I hoped that time would throw an opportunity my way. Some little lifebuoy that would bring me back to you. The fundraiser was it.”
She stared at him, ready to give him a piece of her mind when the door opened and his mom came hurrying down the path toward the car.
“Ruby. How wonderful to see you.” She reached the car and grabbed the door handle.
Simon winked and whispered. “She means well. I think she really missed you.”
The door was yanked open and Mrs. Benson reached in, pulling Ruby into her arms in an awkward hug.
“Mom, let her out of the car before you squeeze her to death.”
“Sorry.” She wiped at her eyes. “I’m just so excited to see you, Ruby. Missed my girl so much.”
Ruby got out and she was pulled into her embrace again, her eyes watering with emotion. “I’ve missed you too.”
Once they’d made up for lost time, Simon took her arm and guided her up the path to the house where his father stood waiting at the door.
“Ruby. It’s good to see you again.” He gave her a more sedate hug. “I can’t believe it’s taken Simon so long to bring you back. Boy needs a lesson in looking after his lady if you ask me.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Simon rolled his eyes at Ruby and she laughed.
“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Benson”
“Call us Bob and Margaret. You’re not a teenager anymore.” He led the way into the lounge.
“This is a lovely house. Such pretty furnishings, Margaret.”
“We’ve been slowly finding pieces that fit the period. When Simon bought us the house, we didn’t know how it was going to turn out. All our furniture was chain-store fashion and didn’t really suit the style.” She paused for breath.
“You’ve chosen some lovely pieces.” Ruby ran a hand over the back of a spindle chair, loving the curved shape of it and the dark glossy wood.
Margaret smiled. “Bob fixed up that one. It was in pieces when we found it. He set up a workshop in the basement because that’s what he’s always wanted to do and it’s been our hobby to restore pieces we find when we’re out and about. It’s fun working together on projects.”
“Well, you’re doing a lovely job.” Ruby ran her hand over the polished surface of an old cabinet topped with family photos. She noticed one of her, Simon and Tyler from school. A lump of emotion rose in her throat.
Bob spoke up. “Can I get you a drink, Ruby?”
“Sure.” She cleared her throat. “Can I have a beer please?”
“Of course. Simon, same for you? Marg, a glass of wine?”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Come and sit down, Ruby, and tell us about your shelter. I hear you’re doing wonderful work these days. Manager now, Simon tells me.”
Ruby took a seat next to Margaret and told her all about the shelter and how well they were doing rescuing dogs from local pounds and kill shelters as well as those surrendered directly to them.
* * *
During dinner, Simon watched Ruby relax as they all got back onto familiar ground and she slotted back into the old way they behaved around his parents.
“It must be so nice having a new place for your shelter that you’re not going to lose,” said Simon’s father. “I couldn’t imagine having that over your head all of the time. Hard enough dealing with daily issues, I would’ve thought.”
“No, it was pretty rough. I mean, it’s not that I blame our old landlord. He owned the land and had
