Tonight was the Harding Home Jubilee, the annual corporate gala celebrating the year’s accomplishments. These events always made me nostalgic.
I slipped on the black sleeveless dress with an asymmetrical hem that hugged my curves, then tied the sandal straps around my ankles. Standing in front of the mirrors, I turned to check on my Spanx and was happy to see it was still smoothing out the tummy bulge I could never get rid of after having Jeremy.
I smoothed my hands over my stomach and thighs, pleased with how I looked. For a moment, I wondered if my husband of over twenty years might say something. Anything. I wasn’t going to embarrass myself by asking. I had done that enough throughout the years, and it only made me feel worse.
Not that asking had ever gone well in the past…
“How do I look?” I asked.
“Huh?” Oscar said, his brow wrinkling.
“How do I look? Do I look alright?”
“You didn’t check the mirror?”
“I did, but it would be nice to hear what you think.”
“No man should ever answer that question,” he said.
“Why? What do you mean?”
“No good can ever come from it,” he said with a shrug. “You’re fishing for a compliment.”
“Maybe. But, sometimes I’d like to hear if you find me attractive.”
“You shouldn’t need to hear it, Ruby. You should just know. I’m with you, aren’t I? That should be enough to tell you.”
The memory made my eyes sting. I quickly blinked back any tears, not wanting to ruin my makeup, took a deep breath, and left to join Oscar.
* * *
Oscar and I sat in the back of the stretch limo during the hour-long trip into New York City. As I looked out the window at the passing buildings, I realized this was the first time in years that we were going to the Jubilee without Jeremy.
Even as a baby, Jeremy came with us everywhere. When Oscar first started the company, Jeremy would join him at zoning meetings, inspections, and on building sites. He even had a custom construction hat made for him since he was only a toddler and the adult hats didn’t fit his head. We weren’t surprised when Jeremy said he wanted to work in the family business.
“I’m sorry I had to cancel lunch earlier,” Oscar said. He glanced over in my direction, then back to his phone.
“I’m used to it.”
“Mmm-hmm. Prime rib.”
What?
The ride was too quiet, giving me an even bigger reason to miss Jeremy, who would tell us stories about the famous buildings we were passing. The silence made the long drive feel even longer.
I pulled my gaze from the window and turned to look at Oscar. He was wearing a black pair of square-rimmed glasses tonight, and his face was lit with the soft glow of his phone. As I wondered what we could talk about, my phone buzzed with a text.
Jeremy: Did you see Fallingwater is opening soon?
Fallingwater was one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous designs, and he was my favorite architect. Visiting Fallingwater was on my bucket list, but the home was only open to the public at certain times of the year, and even then you needed to book in advance.
“Jeremy said Fallingwater is opening again soon,” I said.
“Mmm-hmm,” Oscar grunted, not looking up from his phone.
“You know I’ve always wanted to see it in person.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
