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“Excited, nervous, apprehensive…”
He chuckled. “Lots of emotions go along with a project of this magnitude.” He invited me to take a seat, then sat in a chair kitty-corner to me at the table. “My job is to take as much of the apprehension and nerves out of the equation as possible.”
Dylan pored over my reports, took notes, looked at pictures, and listened to my vision, nodding and asking clarifying questions as I spoke.
“Okay, Ruby. I’ve got what I need for now. Are you available to come back Friday morning?”
I needed to check with my part-timer to see if she would be able to make it in, but I thought there was a fair chance. If I had to, I could close Spuds for a few hours. I’d had to do that a lot over the years.
“Is it okay if we book it, I’ll double check that I can make it, and call this afternoon if Friday won’t work?”
“Absolutely.”
Dylan walked me out to the elevator, shook my hand once again, and I made my way to my car.
Vander
I watched Ruby walk briskly to her car. Her head swiveled left and right as she scanned the parking lot. I rubbed at the tightness in my chest. It hurt to see her so nervous and apprehensive when I remembered her lightheartedly bumbling and barreling through life. What must it be like to have a spirit like that trapped under a glass? She closed her car door and backed out of her spot.
The knock I’d been expecting sounded at my door.
“Come in.”
Dylan opened the door and stepped in, a ready smile on his face. “Hey, boss.”
“What have you got for me, Dylan?”
Dylan came around and sat on the chair across from my desk, throwing a file on top of the pile already on it.
“Photocopies of everything and I’ll set up the digital copy this afternoon and give you access.”
“How does it look to you?”
“I think it’s good,” Dylan spoke slowly. “She seems averse to any kind of travel which is obviously a concern. The financials are solid. It’ll take some doing to choose a new location without her doing the legwork, but I think I can at least narrow it down to two or three that are relatively close to make it more palatable for her.”
“Don’t force it. Apply the same parameters. There’s no point marketing to an area unlikely to see success.”
Dylan stood. “Absolutely.” He rounded the chair and headed to the door. Opening it, he turned back and smiled. “She’s beautiful, boss. Good luck.”
I smirked at him. “I’m going to need it.”
Dylan laughed. “Especially when she finds out it’s you behind the big door.”
I rolled a pen back and forth across the top of my desk and stared out the window. When Ruby found out, there would be hell to pay. Apprehension gave way to humour.
It wouldn’t be the first time I’d triggered her temper.
The text I’d been hoping for, finally came at quarter to eight that evening.
Ruby: Hi, Vander. How was your day today?
I wanted to say it was better for having seen her. It didn’t sit well to hide all the facts from her.
Vander: Busy, Ruby-mine. How was yours?
I could hardly believe I was sitting on my deck having a beer and texting with her. I stared off into the night, dreaming of the day I’d come home to her in this house, our house, with our kids in it. I hoped it came soon. The weather was changing fast, and I was loathe to spend the evenings inside alone.
My phone buzzed and I smiled at her return message. Instead of answering she asked another question.
