33. Scarlett
Chapter 33
Scarlett
W hen we push through the door to the coffee shop, a merry little tinkle sounds overhead. The smell of coffee and sugary baked goods greets us.
I immediately see the huge group of men smack in the middle of the coffee shop. They pulled four tables together and are taking up most of the space. Heaven forbid anyone else trying to get any work or studying done while they’re here.
“I’ll take a white chocolate mocha,” I tell Ruby. “I’ll be right back.”
I head for the center of the coffee shop as well.
“Excuse me,” I say, raising my voice above the conversation happening at the large table and the instrumental music playing overhead.
Everyone in the shop stops talking and turns to look at me.
I haven’t actually been in front of a group of people from Emerald in about sixteen years. But I sure did spend a lot of time before Emerald audiences back in the day. My dad loved to put me up in front, preaching and teaching, happy to show the good people of his congregation that his daughter was taking after him.
“I just wanted to take a moment to make a quick announcement and clear up some misinformation that’s been going around.”
“Scarlett, you're interrupting our meeting.”
I turn and look at my father, meeting his eyes for the first time in sixteen years.
The impact of it takes my breath away for a moment.
The last time I looked directly into his face was when he told me to leave his church and never come back.
At the time, I never would’ve believed how I’d feel in this moment. But now, I can honestly say that him kicking me out of his church was the nicest thing he’s ever done for me.
“No worries, Pastor,” I say. My voice is a little wobbly, but I manage the words anyway. “This won’t take long.”
I turn and look at the rest of the room. “I understand that there’s a rumor going around that our good Mayor has declined some grant money that would’ve provided for struggling single mothers here in Emerald. I’m here to tell you that that is true.”
There’s some murmuring around the room and out of the corner of my eye, I see said mayor. He’s been serving this town far too long. We really need term limits here.
“But I’m also here to tell you that we are going to correct that oversight.”
“Who’s we ?” someone calls.
I smile. “Me and my family.” I quickly point at my father. “Well, not all of my family.”
There are more murmurings around the room.
I raise my voice. “If the town and the church don’t feel that it’s their mission to take care of all of the citizens of this town, then that is something we’ll all have to discuss when it comes election time. And, I guess, for some of you to consider on Sunday mornings. Or whenever your church committees meet. But Emerald will not be a town where citizens are left to struggle and where we cast judgements on who deserves help and who doesn’t.
“Starting next week, the Ruby’s Way Foundation will be providing funds here in Emerald for any family who is struggling financially. There will be housing assistance, meal assistance, transportation, and medical assistance. There will be a simple application process, a twenty-four-hour hotline, and we will have people ready and willing to help however they can.
“I would very much love it if you would help spread the word. It’s really about taking care of one another. I know that you all want your friends, family, and neighbors to have the best lives that they can, but you’d also love for them to have those lives here, in this town you love. Let’s make that happen. With Ruby’s Way, there is another option for them if they don’t feel welcomed by the other groups here in Emerald.”
My father is now on his feet. “How dare you!”
I look at him with confusion. “How dare I what? Help take care of this town where I was born and raised? The town that was so important in shaping who I am? Now that I am grown, successful, and understand what it truly means to be a loving neighbor and a kind human, it only makes sense that I would come back here and help make this town better.”
“We are doing just fine. We don’t need your… foundation.” He says ‘foundation’ the way I imagine he says ‘dog shit’.
“Well, that’s great, if you don’t need it, then you won’t access it. But other people might. That’s really the way all of the groups and services in town should be, don’t you think? Available to whoever needs them but without any pressure on anyone to take part in something they don’t actually want.”
“You and your sister are just trying to make me look bad,” my father says. “That’s petty and juvenile.”
“It’s interesting to me that us offering charitable services in our hometown somehow makes you look bad,” I say. “Maybe that’s something you should spend a little time thinking and praying about.”
Ruby joins me and hands me a paper cup that smells absolutely delicious.
“God bless us, every one!” she says, raising her cup in a little toast to the entire coffee shop.
“The audacity,” I hear my father mutter as he sinks back into his chair.
I grin at him—a bright, sincere grin. “I think audacity is genetic. On our mother’s side.”
Then we turn and leave, and I have to admit that the tinkling bell overhead sounds even happier on our way out.
We walk about a block before either of us says anything.
Then Ruby says, “Holy shit—pun intended—you were fantastic.”
I laugh. “I just told the truth. I honestly wasn’t trying to make him look bad.” I sip from my cup. “Okay, that’s not entirely true. No more lying. I’m glad it made him look bad. But, I do want to offer the services.”
“Ruby’s Way?” she asks.
I stop and turn to her. “I haven’t been able to come up with a name for the foundation. And I figure if our foundation does things Ruby’s way, we’re going to be doing a really good job.”
Her eyes fill with tears and suddenly she’s crying.
“Ruby, stop.” I reach out and give her a side hug.
“No way.” She wipes a tear from her cheek. “That’s amazing. You just made my entire year.”
“I won’t tell a certain British bodyguard that you said that.”
She rolls her eyes and sniffs and we start walking again. “That British bodyguard is a non-issue. I’m done with him.”
“Yeah, okay.” I don’t believe her for a second and I don’t think she believes her either.
We walk another block and she asks, “How long do you think Cian will be gone?”
“I don’t know. I guess if it’s not long, that means the king is doing well. Or things took a really bad turn quickly.”
Ruby makes a sad noise. “If the king passes, does that change this whole marriage thing for Cian?”
I frown. “I haven’t even thought about that. I have no idea.” I lift my cup and drink as I think that over. “I’d really hope Cian is able to talk to his grandfather. I would love for him to tell his grandfather more about this foundation. I’m glad his sister told everyone, but I want him to feel like sharing that stuff with them. To know they want to hear it.” I think about how Cian looked when he was showing me the texts from his family. “I know Cian knows they all love him and are proud of him, but I want him to hear them say that.” I feel a heavy weight pressing on my chest as soon as I share that thought out loud. “Ruby,” I say, stopping.
She stops too and faces me. “Yeah?”
“I didn’t tell Cian that I love him before he left.”
Ruby looks appalled. “What? Why not?”
“I just haven’t said it yet. I thought…we had time.”
“But…” She shakes her head. “You do love him, right?”
“I do.” I nod. Vigorously. “I really do. So much. I’m sure of it. And… fuck!” I’m suddenly so mad at myself. “Why didn’t I say it? I want him to know how much he’s loved and how proud everyone is of him. I want him to hear those words and feel appreciated, but then I don’t say it?” I grab my sister’s arm. “What’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing,” Ruby says quickly. “Nothing’s wrong. Him needing to leave happened really fast and there was a lot going on. It doesn’t mean anything that you didn’t say it.”
But then she frowns and presses her lips together.
My eyes get wide. “What?” I demand.
“Nothing!”
“Ruby,” I say warningly. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I was just…” She swallows. “I was just thinking about how Cian really liked how proud his family was of him. How he felt like he was doing something important like they all do.”
“Right,” I agree. But my stomach is knotting.
“And now, their grandfather might be dying,” she says.
“Right,” I say again, slowly.
She takes a breath, then ask in a rush, “Do you think that Cian would marry Astrid?”
My stomach roils. I gasp. Then I shake my head. But then…I stop shaking my head. I stare at my sister.
“I mean, it’s what his grandfather wants,” Ruby says. “It’s really important to the king. What if it’s like a deathbed wish?”
My heart is now pounding so loud, her voice sounds muted.
“Astrid is really close to the family,” Ruby goes on. “She’ll probably be there. What if, in the midst of all the emotion and everything, they think they can make Diarmuid happy in the end and get married before he dies.”
I’m squeezing Ruby’s arm harder now. “But…” I start. Then I honestly can’t think of anything else to say. I’m the dumbass who didn’t tell him I love him. And his grandfather is dying.
“So…you haven’t told Cian that you love him. And now you have sent him home where his grandfather is dying and his final wish might be for Cian to marry an amazing, beautiful, very successful and?—”
“Ruby,” I interrupt. “Can we skip over the part about how his fiancée is fucking incredible?”
“Right. Sorry. It’s just that she’s Astrid Olsen .”
I finally let out a long breath. And nod. “I know, right?”
“Okay,” Ruby says, shaking us both. “You need to call him and tell him that you love him.”
She’s probably right. But instead I say, “I think I need an airplane.”
“Oh,” she says. “ Oh .” Then she nods. “Okay.”
“How do I get to Cara? If I fly from Columbus, I could go to Chicago? New York?”
Ruby pulls her phone out of her back pocket. “Are you seriously telling me that you think you’re going to fly commercial? That will take forever!”
“Well, I don’t have a private plane. My maybe, sort of, boyfriend who is also Astrid Olsen’s fiancée does. But it’s kind of in use!” I think my voice is suddenly much higher pitched than usual.
Ruby holds up a finger, telling me to wait and puts her phone to her ear.
A second later, she says, “Yes, it’s me.” She pauses, listening to the other person. “No, I’m okay.” She frowns. “I know I told you I was never going to call you again, but Scarlett needs a favor. She needs an airplane to bring her to Cara.” Ruby pauses, listening, then she says, “Fine.” Another pause. “Yes, fine .” She sighs. “Okay.”
She disconnects and meets my eyes. “Henry’s going to take care of it. You need to go home and pack. Actually, we all do. Henry insists that Mariah and I come too.”
“You called Henry?”
“He’s the only one I know who can get a private plane on short notice and who’s number I have in my phone.”
“Even though you said you were done with him and told him you weren’t going to call him ever again?”
She gives me a little smile. “I’ll do anything for you, Scarlett.”
I pull her into a hug. “And you’re going to come with me.”
“Well, Henry said that was a condition of him sending the plane.”
I grin as I’m hugging her, so she can’t see it.
I don’t think the British bodyguard is quite done with my sister no matter what she might think.