Are you at the hospital? Are you bleeding? Don’t text 911 unless you’re injured. You almost made me go into labor.
I exhale a little growl. You can’t go into labor at six weeks. Would
you focus please? He wants me to give him an answer tonight. I can’t… can I?
Drew is taking too long to reply. I stand and pace my room, looking out the French doors down at the lake. My stomach is in knots. After last night, I’m not sure what will happen if we’re alone together again. As much as my brain says I can make it one short month, my body is on overdrive when we’re together.
Today at the park was a prime example. He knew what he was doing, licking that cone and watching me with those eyes. My panties almost melted right off. Sitting here now, I can’t even remember what Henry said to me.
Drew’s text finally appears, and it’s one word. Go.
All that, and just one word? I tap back quickly. Everyone will know. Everyone will be talking.
She replies just as fast. You only live once. And everybody’s already talking. Go.
“Ruby!” Lillie’s voice cuts through my mental meltdown. She prances in the room holding her pink Lottie doll. “Gigi says it’s time to eat dinner.”
Tapping quickly, I say goodbye with a reminder. The shower is Saturday noon at my mom’s. Can you make it?
Yep. Can’t wait to hear the latest hot nanny gossip.
Good grief. She’s teasing, but who knew when I said yes to this job it was going to turn into some kind of twisted soap opera? More like one of those telenovelas.
“Let’s go then.” I take Lillie’s hand and square my shoulders.
I feel like I’m heading into battle.
“Grass-fed buffalo filet, flown in from Montana just for you, ma’am.” The female server, who I now know is named Tessa, puts plates in front of us, and Jake, her helper, slices Lillie’s as usual.
“It wasn’t for me.” Eleanor pretends to be appalled. “This steak is for Mr. Key. He loves a good ribeye, and it’s been weeks since we’ve had red meat.”
She motions to Tessa, who disappears into the kitchen again.
Lillie pokes a slice with her fork then looks up with wide eyes. “It’s bleeding.”
Eleanor is unaffected by her granddaughter’s horror. “Your meat is cooked medium rare, Lillian. Take one bite. It’s the perfect cut prepared the perfect way. Don’t you think, Remington?”
Remi quickly cuts a piece and puts it in his mouth. “It’s delicious. Thanks, Eleanor.”
“Is that all you have to say?” She laughs, and puts her hand on her chest. “I’ll have to import Kobe beef to impress you next time.”
I watch as Lillie pushes her meat into a pile on the side of her plate before dipping a scoop of whipped mashed potatoes with her fork. I’d be worried about her being hungry, but she had a good lunch at Ma’s and a late snack today.
I take a bite of buffalo, and it’s pretty darn good. “You know, I read they massage those Kobe cows with Sake and give them beer to make them eat. It sounds great, but some say it’s inhumane.”
“I guess you would know.” Eleanor doesn’t even look at me before taking a sip of wine.
“How would Ruby know?” Remi’s voice has an edge in it. It makes me uncomfortable, and I don’t know why I decided to share that tidbit of knowledge.
“Oh, Asians know Asian practices—”
“Ruby’s American.” The way he says it fills me with a weird mixture of pride and defensiveness.
I’m not ashamed of my heritage, at the same time, Kobe beef comes from Japanese Black cattle. Once again with feeling, I’m not Japanese.
“Oh of course she is.” Eleanor dismisses the topic with a wave of her hand as Tessa returns to the room carrying that fucking bottle of port. “Remi, look what I found today in the bookcase. It’s that Tawny Port from the Prager Winery. Remember this?”
My throat is so tight, I’m sure I won’t be able to eat another bite. I have no idea what’s about to happen, but I sneak a glance at Remi.