Chapter 57
Chapter
Everything at the office is so up in the air, but one thing is certain: There’s no way we’re getting any more work done today.
Apparently, even Erica recognizes it. She walks out of her office and claps in her signature energetic fashion.
“All right, everybody stop gossiping in your DMs and get out of here,” she says.
“Take the afternoon, let’s regroup tomorrow. ”
So I pack up my things, and Sarah flags me down on my way to the elevator. “Come with us to the bar! You look like you could use a drink.”
A bunch of union people are waiting for us outside—including most of the accountants, but no Greg—and we walk in a big cluster through the corporate campus.
The lawn is such an idyllic Technicolor green after the recent rains, and the sun feels so good on my skin.
Along the street, the jacaranda blooms sway in the breeze, unreal purple against the blue sky.
Some municipal workers are putting a covering over the pool; a sign on the fence says Temporarily Closed.
I feel giddy, being outside and wandering at this hour. And walking in a slow-moving group like this, everyone chatting, it does feel like we’re on some kind of field trip.
“Can’t believe you saved that guy’s life,” Sarah says as she and Grace come up alongside me, holding hands.
“You would’ve let him drown?”
She must not have expected that question, because she lets out a big honking laugh.
“Yeah, I don’t know,” I add. “Lifeguard training dies hard, I guess.”
“I respect it,” Grace says.
Steve is walking in front of us, and Al passes us to catch up with him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Steve, my man, I believe you lost our bet.”
Steve grudgingly retrieves his wallet and hands him a few twenties.
“Thanks, bestie,” Al says with a grin, plucking the cash out of his hand, and Sarah and I both crack up as Al picks up the pace to join Morgan and Carol.
“What was the bet?”
Grace shakes her head. “Steve didn’t think you could pull it off.”
“Neither did I, to be honest,” I say, laughing. But the knowledge that Al did sits warm in my gut for the rest of the walk.
We get to the bar and one of the accountants holds the door open for me while another gives me a fist bump.
“What are you having?” Sarah asks, nodding toward the bar. “I’ve got this, you earned it.”
Then Greg runs in behind us and shouts, “Check your email!”
Morgan yelps from across the bar. “It’s recognized!” she exclaims. “They voluntarily recognized! Erickson’s been removed by the board, and they’re pausing the layoffs!”
Sarah shrieks and runs over to hug Greg, who spins her around, and when he lets her go, she jumps into Grace’s arms. Greg pumps both fists into the air, and I can see, with a twinge in my chest, that he’s still wearing my scrunchie around one wrist.
“Ruby!” Greg calls, waving me over. I work my way through the crowd, and he tugs me toward him and kisses me. And aside from Steve, who groans, Get a room!, everyone actually cheers.
It feels like sunlight on my face after too long not going outside. I’m blinking in it, disoriented, wondering what to do with it.
Greg drifts away from me, moving through the room to talk to different clusters of people, checking in on how they’re doing after the tumult of the day. And I perch on a stool at one of the high tables and text Trisha.
Ruby:
maybe your affirmations worked
Trisha:
told you
I wiggle my thumbs, wondering what to say next. how’s school? I ask and add an ogre emoji, so at least she knows I’m being an old person at her on purpose.
Trisha:
LOL it’s a grind!
mom and dad are having another family party next weekend, you should come
and stay for karaoke this time
you didn’t even introduce me to your boyfriend
I almost correct her, but then I realize there’s no reason to. She was ahead of the curve all along.
Greg eases onto a stool next to me, and I squeeze his arm. “You in the mood for Tita Rina’s lumpia next weekend?”
He kisses me on the cheek. “Always.”
The party moves where Greg does, and everyone is clustered around us now.
Sarah and Al are arguing about something to do with time signatures, and Steve and Grace and Ahmed are talking about the best birding spots in the area, and some of the accountants are shooting the shit behind us about a movie I haven’t seen.
I raise my phone to take a selfie—everyone crammed in behind us, Greg with his arm around me—and out of habit, I send it into the DM with Mom.
sampaguita72:
Ruby you look so happy!
I’m so proud of you
I know you’re going to be okay
It’s like being splashed with a bucket of cold water. She said she’d be able to move on once she knows I’m going to be okay.
ruby.ocampo:
Mom! Mom wait
I’m typing frantically with my thumbs as a chant of “Chug! Chug! Chug!” goes up around me—over to the right, Steve and Carol are racing to be the first to drain their beers.
sampaguita72:
I was always proud of you, I hope you see that.
I learned too late, you shouldn’t give too much of yourself to this shitty job.
I know exactly what’s happening right now, and my thoughts are crowding on top of one another, a chaotic and childish mess. I’m still so flawed and broken—I’m still so disappointing! Don’t go yet! I’ll create more problems! I’ll show you! Don’t leave!
ruby.ocampo:
Mom!
Mom, stop! I’m not ready!
sampaguita72:
I think it’s time now, Ruby.
I know you’re going to be fine.
I’m all out of words to say—except, I guess, for the obvious ones. The ones we had a hard time saying, in life.
ruby.ocampo:
I love you, Mom
sampaguita72:
I love you, Ruby
“Ruby, is that Slack?” Sarah exclaims. “How can you be working right now?”
I twist around for a second, waving her off and blinking back tears.
And when I look back, the light next to Mom’s name has gone out.
sampaguita72 has left the chat.