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Ruby huffed in frustration and flopped down on the couch by Vickie’s feet.
“Besides, you’re the one who has some explaining to do.”
The sound of footsteps cautioned the women into silence as Otto returned with a glass of water and handed it to Vickie. “Is there anything else you need?”
“No, I’ll be all right in a minute, then we can go back out.”
Otto frowned. “I’m afraid that’s impossible.”
“Why?” demanded Ruby.
“Violet can’t be interrupted,” he said allusively.
“What about at intermission or whatever you call it,” asked Ruby, unwilling to let this go.
Otto shook his head. “There isn’t one tonight. Please stay here. Violet will come to see you when she’s finished, and you can talk to your loved one then.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” said Ruby.
“I’ll leave you to rest,” said Otto to Vickie. “You won’t have to wait long.”
Vickie nodded and waited for Otto to leave them, the door clicking shut behind him.
“So,” hissed Vickie at Ruby.
“So what?”
“Who’s this Miguel? And why are you so upset about him?”
“It could be someone who was with George, you know. I’m meant to be him,” retorted Ruby.
“No, I asked him, and he’s never been with any Miguel. This is all do to with you,” Vickie said firmly. “So, tell me.”
Ruby sighed.
“Let me help… you were going to marry him,” said Vickie, softening her voice.
“Yes.” Ruby’s eyes filled with tears. Vickie took out a handkerchief and handed it to Ruby, who dabbed the corner of her eyes.
“It’s true, I was in love with Miguel, but the war took him. We were going to be married when he returned. I told no one about this.”
“Not even me,” said Vickie. She squeezed Ruby’s arm, assuming it had been too painful to have told her.
“You had your own issues with George at the time. And… well, sure people were being killed in the war, we just didn’t think it was going to happen to him. He was fit, strong… anyway, he was gassed when up north…” Ruby’s voice broke. “And I never married my love.”
Ruby wiped the corner of her eyes with a heavy sigh.
“I’m so sorry, Ruby,” said Vickie. “You could’ve told me.” The sharpness of guilt twisted in her stomach. She and George were so distant during the war. He was busy as a doctor, she had nothing to do, and so she took up volunteering with the homeless to give her life some purpose. They had drifted apart to the point where she’d been considering having an affair. It was all hard to believe now after saving George’s life from a mysterious illness, which led to her solving her first case, and putting the would-be lover, Matt, in jail. More importantly, it led to her and George re-connecting with each other and falling in love again. She now couldn’t think what it would’ve been like without him in her life, nor the anguish Ruby would be feeling over Miguel and the untimely reminder of the pain of loss.
“It’s why you really wanted to come tonight, wasn’t it?” Vickie asked.
Ruby nodded. “I was hoping I could get to talk to him again, and I did.”
Vickie’s stomach knotted. How could Ruby believe all of this mumbo-jumbo nonsense? It wasn’t at all like her friend.
“How do you know it was really him, Ruby?” She tried to be gentle with her questioning. She didn’t like it at all because it was upsetting her friend. She didn’t know who this Miguel was, but it was obviously someone Ruby had loved and was affected deeply by his loss.
“I’m meant to be George. How would they know it was me?”
