“I was hoping you’d say that. Of course you can.” This little girl was going to have the best home with Graham and his wife if they bonded with her.
He stood and took her arm as they walked out into the hallway. “Listen, I want to clear something up with you.”
She smiled at him. “Sure, what is it?”
“Simon.”
“Ah, right. Not sure I want to hear it, Graham. Simon lied to me and I won’t stand for that. He knows how I feel about honesty. Using you to cover his tracks was despicable. And to think I was almost ready to get back together with him.”
“Ruby, sit down and let me speak.” He waited until she took a chair in the waiting area.
“He had nothing to do with it. Honestly, it was all my idea. After the fundraiser, Laura and I talked. Everything I told you is true. We wanted to help you find a permanent home and I knew Simon owned this block of land in what we considered the perfect area because I’m the one who found it for him. All I did was ask him to sell it to me so I could offer it to the shelter. Totally my idea. He had no clue I was doing it until I hit him up to sell.”
She glanced at him, wanting to believe what he was saying but not prepared to admit it yet. It still hurt that she’d been so easily deceived. “Really?”
“Yes, really. He mentioned that he wished he could do something like that for you but it was out of his hands. We both agreed that you needed to be close to town or the shelter wouldn’t be as worthy as it could be. I got that and this land was perfect. It wasn’t hard to talk him into selling it. It was an investment I advised him to purchase years ago. He made money on it. So don’t go thinking he did me or you any favors.”
“He made money?” That might ease her guilt a little.
“Of course he did. More than doubled his original buying price. By selling it to me, he made millions.” Graham smiled at her. Ruby wanted to crawl into a dark space and hide. “I know how he feels about you and he’s too proud to stuff up again when it comes to you and money.” He paused. “Look, Simon would give you everything he had but he knows you won’t take it unless your back was to the wall. Like the auction, for example. That was too public for you to refuse.” He smiled and she groaned. “I happen to know that he limits himself to doing a drop off of blankets or dried food now and then. Nothing anyone else wouldn’t do. He’s desperate to help but refuses to belittle your efforts by throwing money at the shelter.”
“He really said that?” If only it were true.
“He did. We’ve discussed it many a time. It was him who suggested we come and adopt a dog when Niall passed away. Laura was too heartbroken when he first suggested it but after a couple of hints from Simon, she started to listen.”
“That was kind of him to think of us.” She put her head in her hands. “Thank you for telling me, Graham. I’ll think about what you’ve said.”
Graham laughed. “Oh you’re a stubborn, strong woman, Ruby. I like you very much.”
“I shredded him last night. Made him feel so small and now I’m going to go begging for forgiveness.”
“It’s a wise person who knows when to apologize and an even a wiser person who knows when to accept that apology, no matter how much they were hurt.”
She held her flaming cheeks in her hands. “What a mess!”
“I’m sure you’ll sort it out. Now I must go and attend to some business. Shall we say two o’clock for me to bring Laura over?”
“That’s fine, I look forward to it. Thanks for clearing that up, Graham. Please don’t let on what a fool I am. Not to anyone.”
He touched the side of his nose. “Our secret.”
Ruby saw him out and walked into the office, collapsing into the chair in front of Carly’s desk. Her best friend held out a message slip for her.
“Simon called. You still owe him a date apparently. He wants to collect tonight. Plus he said he had something to show you.”
It might be her chance to apologize. Ruby glanced at the scrap of paper. “Seven-thirty. Where?”
Carly’s nails paused over the calculator she was hammering away at. “He said you’d know. Some special place where you two used to go and dream about your future. Our little beach was all he told me. Call him if you can’t figure it out.”
It had to be their spot. Not that it ever would be theirs but it was as good a place as anywhere to beg for forgiveness.
Ruby dressed with care, doing her hair so most of it fell around her shoulders and the side bits were pulled back with sparkly combs. Simon used to love running his fingers through her long locks when they were sitting talking about their future. She could almost imagine him doing it again, sending shivers down her spine just like before. That was if she could fix this. She couldn’t imagine being so close and stuffing things up.
Ruby chose her clothing with care. She wore a flowing dress, midnight blue with tiny white daisies sprinkled around the hem. When she walked, they fluttered around her ankles. She glanced in the bottom of her wardrobe for shoes. If she was going to the beach, something she could kick off would be the way to go. She slid on a pair of strappy thongs and glanced in the mirror.
“What do you think, puppies? Good to go?”
They stood watching her, heads tilted as they listened to her talking. She grabbed her purse and car keys and patted each of them on the head before she left.
