24
Not that Ruth had any intention of giving up the cooking. “I’m not going to the hospital today,” she declared Friday morning.
I eyed her suspiciously.
She either didn’t notice or pretended not to. “I’ll need to go to the store for dinner for tonight. I’m making a brisket.”
This would require a delicate hand. “Ruth,” I said.
“Why don’t you let me do the cooking? I don’t mind.
That way you can ...” I tried to think of what would get her out of the house while I was gone.
“Go to the beauty parlor. And maybe pick up a new dress. On me,” I added hastily, knowing she would refuse to buy herself new clothes.
“How thoughtful,” Ruth said. “Yes, a new dress would be perfect, wouldn’t it? Are you sure you don’t want to pick it out?”
“No,” I said, putting a hand on Ruth’s arm. “Whatever you pick will be lovely.”
Ruth pulled me in for a hug, which I accepted stiffly. “I’m so excited for this,” she said. “I just have such a good feeling about him.”
“Me too,” I said, patting her shoulder.
I left work half an hour early and stopped by Greene’s. I agreed that brisket was the way to go, but I was going to be the one to cook it.
Eddie looked surprised to see me. “Did Ruth forget something?”
A little warning bell went off in my head. “What do you mean?”
Eddie chewed his lower lip. “Um. Ruth was here. A couple hours ago. She got a brisket for ... She said she had a ‘gentleman caller’ coming tonight.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’d say that was an overly dramatic way to put it, but then again, living with her does feel like something out of a Tennessee Williams play.”
“It’s not that neighbor, is it?”
“No. You were right about him. That date ended with a swift kick from Ruth and me paying for a cab ride home.” Eddie gave a half smile. “It’s a patient from the hospital. The two of them seemed to really hit it off.”
“And she knows it’s a date this time?”
I put a hand over my heart. “All aboveboard this time, officer. She invited him over. For a home-cooked meal.” Then I realized we had a problem. “Oh no. If she came in, she’s already cooking.”
“Her cooking can’t be that bad.”
“Eddie Greene, if you don’t believe me, then you come for dinner one night. Just don’t blame me when she manages to ruin brisket for you. Forever.”
He grinned. “I’m up for the challenge.”
“Let me get through this dinner, and then we’ll set something up. If her cooking scares him off, I’m going to need your help finding someone else.”
“Aw, Barbara, I don’t think—”
I held up a hand to stop him. “Hopefully it doesn’t come to that. But Janet already volunteered you to help if it does.”
“I swear—”
“Don’t be mad. You know how she is when she loves someone.”
“Yeah,” he said tightly. “I do. Speaking of which, are you going to be at Paula’s birthday party next weekend?”
“Of course,” I said, realizing I still had to buy a gift.
“Good,” Eddie said, his smile genuine. “You can tell me all the details about the ‘gentleman caller’ then.”
“I so hope she calls him that to his face. I mean, I don’t. I want it to work. But I’d love to see it anyway.”
Eddie shook his head. “That was always why you and Janet were so dangerous together. She’s fearless, and you love to egg people on.”
He wasn’t wrong, though it had been a long time since the two of us had actually caused any trouble. Ten years ago, we would have gone after Old Man Moskowitz for trying to force himself on Ruth.
Which was how Harry and I met. One of his and George’s fraternity brothers unceremoniously dumped our friend Charlene for another girl.
And after a few drinks, Janet and I decided we were going to paint “Henry Goldman sleeps with goats” on the fraternity house lawn.
Harry caught us and was going to call campus police, but when I told him why we were defacing his lawn, that twinkle in his eye started sparkling.
He got George, who helped him keep watch, and they took us out to a local diner for pancakes afterward.
It turned out they weren’t Henry fans either, but boy did they like us for having “bigger balls than Henry did.”
Honestly, Janet would probably still be up for a good prank if I asked her. I was the one who was no fun anymore.
“You okay?” Eddie asked.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Just ... remembering the trouble we used to get into.”
“My mother used to worry the two of you would get expelled.”
I chuckled. “She didn’t need to worry. We both graduated.” I looked down at the meat counter. “Well, I suppose I’m not buying a brisket. Although if I were smart, I would, just for when Ruth destroys the one she bought.”
Eddie shook his head. “Unless you’re planning to go cook for this man every night, he’s going to have to learn to love her, bad cooking and all.”
“Think her sparkling personality will be enough?”
Eddie shrugged good-naturedly. “As long as he likes dogs, you’ve got a shot.” One of the cashiers called over the loudspeaker for Mr. Greene. “Duty calls,” Eddie said, then he sighed as he started toward the registers. “I’ll see you Monday?.”
“See you Monday.” I found myself smiling as I walked away.