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“I haven’t really had time.”
“Maybe you should make some.” His dad reached for the sliding doors, pausing as he stared at his son. “I hear they’re looking for volunteers.”
Travis had no response. He sat back in his chair and finished his cigar, turning his father’s words over in his mind as he watched his brother Hudson rocking his newborn son. For the first time in forever, he was going to have to agree with his old man. He reached into his pocket, retrieved his cell phone, and called Coach Hoder.
Chapter 10
The spa was closed Monday, on account of July fourth falling over the weekend, and for that, Ruby was grateful. Saturday was still fresh in her memory even though she’d spent considerable effort trying to erase it. Sunday had been a day of licking wounds, eating copious amounts of chocolate ice cream, and stuffing macaroons in her mouth as she watched Steel Magnolias for the fifth time. Not exactly the movie to lift your spirits, but then Ruby was, if anything, unconventional.
She winced as she pulled on sunglasses and got out of her car. The wine hadn’t helped either. Tasha hopped out and took off at a run, ignoring Ruby, who shouted at the little animal to stop.
“That’s it,” she muttered to herself, reaching into the back for a large canvas tote. “No treats tonight.” She smoothed out her old T-shirt, pulled up her jean shorts, and yanked on the brim of her ball cap, before locking her car and heading in the direction Tasha had run. She knew where the dog was, so she wasn’t concerned, only miffed that after nearly a year, the little thing didn’t know what the word “no” meant. Or stop. Or stay, for that matter.
She spied the little fur ball’s tail wagging crazily as the dog jumped up and down near a bunch of guys working near the new playground. A shock of white hair told her Carl Hoder was already there, and she was happy to see so many volunteers out early on this Monday morning. Several trailers were parked nearby, filled with trees, shrubs, and flowers. Rain the night before had cut the humidity, and the early morning temperatures were in the mid-seventies. It was the perfect combination of sunshine, fresh air, and spirit. The conditions were perfect to plant things and make them grow. But more importantly, at least for Ruby, she could forget how in less than a month her life had spiraled (and not in the right direction), and she’d taken two steps backward.
No. More like ten. The thought was depressing, and maybe it was childish, but she was going to pull a Scarlett O’Hara and think about it tomorrow. Or the day after that. Or maybe never.
“Ruubeee!”
Ruby smiled and spied a little girl running toward her. Her gait was uneven and she couldn’t run fast, but Miley Wellington’s enthusiasm was hard to miss. Her little arms waved crazily, and she nearly toppled herself at one point, but her giggles had wings and seemed to pick her up. She didn’t stop running until she collided with Ruby.
Thin arms wrapped themselves around her waist, and Ruby dropped her tote so that she could scoop the girl into her arms.
“Hey you,” she said warmly, hugging Miley close. “You smell like sunshine.”
“You look like sunshine and rainbows and unicorns.”
Ruby laughed. “You’ve been watching the princess video again.”
“Uh-huh,” the little girl said with a wide smile. “It’s my favorite.”
Ruby dropped a kiss to Miley’s cheek and shifted her so that she rested on her hip. The girl was six years old, but small for her age. She sometimes had trouble talking because it took a while for her brain to figure out what it was she wanted to say, and her coordination wasn’t great, but the love in her heart was bigger than all of it. And that was a tribute to her mother, Thena. The woman had been an alcoholic most of her teen years and well into her twenties, which meant that Miley had been born suffering from the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome.
They say every addict has a trigger. A button that once pushed, plunges them further into addiction or the reverse. For Thena, holding her newborn, an innocent suffering because of her alcoholism, a disease that had seen her drinking a fifth of vodka per day, as well as six to twelve beers while pregnant, well, that had been her trigger.
She forged a new path, took responsibility for her life—the past that had shaped her—and hadn’t had a drink since delivering her daughter. Green Thumb for the Soul had been involved in helping out the young family, and it made Ruby feel blessed to have been able to play a part, however small.
“I miss you too.” She squeezed Miley one more time and then set her down, smiling as the little girl instantly shoved her hand into Ruby’s. “Where’s your mom?”
“She’s over there.” Miley pointed toward one of the trailers filled with plants, and with an eye on Tasha (who was now chasing her tail) Ruby headed over. She took a few minutes to catch up with Thena and then left Miley with Tasha. She headed over to Carl. The man was dressed in long pants, long sleeves, and a wide brim hat that had seen better days. Ruby shook her head.
“Carl. You must be baking in those clothes.”
He offered a wry smile. “Better that then a sunburn.”
“You have heard of something called sunscreen, right?” She chuckled and set down her tote. “I’ve got extra.”
He made a face. “They all smell like coconut.”
“Carl,” she chuckled. “You need to broaden your horizons. I brought a new product we’ve been selling at the spa. It’s called Ocean Breeze.”
“No offense, Ruby, but that sounds like the fancy spray my wife,” he looked toward the sky, “God rest her soul, used to keep in the bathroom.”
Ruby knew she couldn’t win, so she gave up and looked around. “So what’s the plan for the day?” She glanced back to Carl and caught him staring at her with an expression that was off. He looked…weird. “Something wrong?”
“I didn’t think you’d come today.”
That left her puzzled. “Why wouldn’t I? We talked about this at our board meeting last week. You know how important this project is to me.” A thought hit, and her stomach clenched. “Is it Ryder? What’s he done now?”
