August

by Tessala Larson

“Now, Ruby, you know you’re gonna have to get up off your rump and help me out here sooner or later, and I’d reckon sooner would be a better choice if you’re plannin’ on eating an edible meal tonight.” Neil was rather short for a farmer, and rather funny lookin’ too, standing there in the doorway with Ruby’s floral apron tied around his waist.

Ruby leaned back into the old armchair and crossed her arms as a smug smile crept across her face. “I told you it ain’t easy,” Ruby leaned forward to get a peek into the kitchen, “Aww, c’mon! You’re doing great! You’ve chopped them ‘taters like a pro! Plus, I like layin’ back and relaxin’ for once.”

Neil made an exaggerated sigh and returned to the cramped kitchen. Ruby smiled to herself and sipped her beer, letting her mind wander to the hop fields her and her husband nurse each day. This is the good life Ruby thought. Neil has always been kind to her, and listened to her when she needed him to. Then an old thought she’d tried to suppress snuck back into her mind. Even though she loved Neil, she was sure of it, she didn’t desire him. She never had. Late at night in bed, he’d hold her and she’d feel the warmth of his body...but not much else.

“Honey? You okay?”

Ruby snapped out of her blank gaze and met Neil’s concerned eyes, “Yeah, I’m fine,” her old smile grew back quick when she saw her man in her place, behind the sink.

“Kay, good, ‘cause bettin’ on this meal you’re gonna need you’re health about’chya.”

As it turned out, Neil was an even better cook than Ruby was. That night they decided to let Neil cook from then on, he liked it well enough after all. And Ruby could tell he loved the compliments and attention she paid him for it.

They both ate and laughed as usual, discussing their days, which were the same as always save a few tiny differences. It didn’t matter to them. They could talk for hours and never run out of things to say. But even with this great conversation going, the familiar sick feeling crept into Ruby’s gut as she imagined going to bed that night. She hid it well, displaying only the loving gazes and sweet smiles she’d learned from her mom. After dinner she cleared the dishes and settled back onto her favorite armchair to read.

“I’m off to bed, hon, I’m pooped,” Neil called from the bathroom.

Then Ruby had a plan. “Alright babe, I’ll meet you in there in a while -- I’m at a good part,” she called back. Ruby had never been a good liar, but when she really needed to, she could squeeze a slightly believable one out. As long as the recipient wasn’t paying too much attention.

Ruby listened intently for the sounds Neil made. Neil flushing the toilet, Neil washing his hands, Neil opening the bathroom door, Neil getting in bed, and finally, after what seemed like forever but was really less than twenty minutes: Neil’s steady and deep breathing.

Ruby carefully placed her book face-down on the coffee table and crept to the front door, making sure to avoid the creaky floorboards. She put on her overcoat and slowly opened and closed the front door. Her heart beat unevenly as the guilt kicked in. It’s only for one night, he won’t even know I’m gone. I need this, Ruby attempted to console herself.

She drove down the pitch black country roads, windows open, her long auburn hair whipping around her face. Nothing could be heard but the lurching metal of the truck and the crunching gravel beneath the tires. Thousands of stars shone brightly in the clear sky above the hop fields.

Ruby pulled into the parking lot behind the pub, and slammed the door of the truck behind her. Gosh damn it, why didn’t I change? Ruby grimaced as she looked down at her outfit. A used-to-be white T-shirt, much too loose jeans with holes in both knees and her old leather boots. Oh well, I’ve got no one to impress, she decided.

“Rubes! ‘aven’t seen you ‘round here in forever, gal!”

Ruby smiled, “Hey Charlie.”

“What’ll it be?” Charlie’s welcoming grin reached all the way to his eyes and drove away all the guilt and discontent in Ruby instantly.

“I’ll have a whiskey.”

Charlie nodded and began to reach for a glass when a woman walked up behind the bar from the back room. “Oh my goodness, Rubes! You haven’t met Georgia May yet, have you?”

Ruby assumed he was talking about the beautiful new bartender who had quietly been wiping the inside of a glass at the other end of the bar. Her gorgeous white smile lit up her eyes and her curly brown hair gently fell just past her shoulders. “No, I can’t say we’ve met.” Ruby couldn’t help the playful tone in her voice as she shared a friendly smile with this woman.

“Welp -- this is her. She’s new here, but she’s been a bigger hit with the drunkards than I’ve ever been,” Charlie laughed and patted Georgia May’s back a little too hard.

“So what is it you’re having... Rubes?” Georgia May took the glass from Charlie’s hand, “I’ll get it for you.”

“Uhh.. oh, whiskey,” Ruby hadn’t ever much cared for the nickname ‘Rubes,’ but it didn’t even bother her when it came from Georgia May’s glossy lips.

“Wanna see a trick?” Georgia May asked, handing Ruby her drink.

“Oh yes, I love tricks.” Ruby sipped her whiskey, watching Georgia May from over the edge of her glass.

Georgia May bent down and disappeared behind the counter, and when she came back up she had a jar of cherries in her hand and a grin on her face. Ruby raised an eyebrow and tried to hold back a smile. Georgia May popped open the jar and reached in to pull out a single bright red cherry. She lifted it to her mouth, and put it in, stem and all. Ruby watched in confusion, but didn’t dare interrupt her trick. Georgia May had her eyes narrowed in concentration and slowly tapped her perfect red nails on the bar. Ruby looked at her own fingernails, Oh for Pete’s sake, I look like I don’t even know what nail clippers are.

Then Georgia May’s face suddenly lit up and she lifted her hand to her mouth and pulled out the cherry stem, which was knotted right in the center.

“Wow!” Ruby’s shocked face made Georgia May laugh.

~~~

Ruby slipped under the covers next to Neil late that night and smiled to herself. This is what I’ve been missing... Georgia May. Then her face distorted into a concerned frown and she quickly covered her mouth with her hand. What about poor Neil? I need to tell him... it’s the only way.

The next morning Ruby walked into the kitchen to see Neil making eggs and bacon for breakfast. She bit her lip and clenched her hands together. “Sweetie...?”

“Yeah hon?” Neil turned and stood on his toes to kiss Ruby’s forehead. “What’s eatin’ ya?”

“Umm... I don’t know how to tell you this...”

“Just let it out,” Neil encouraged her.

“Uhh.. Well... I’ve fallen in love,” Ruby looked up at Neil through strands of loose hair. There was a long silence as they tried to read each other’s expressions.

“Egh-hem -- well,” Neil cleared his throat, “I don’t really know what to say... are you leaving me, Ruby?” His eyes were obviously pained and it broke Ruby’s heart.

“Yes,” she whispered.

~~~

The bar was empty that afternoon besides Charlie standing behind the bar when Neil walked in. “Heyyy! Buddy! What’ll it be?” Charlie called.

“I don’t know... I just need someone to talk to,” Neil sat down on the nearest stool.

“What is it?” Charlie asked with humor on his lips.

“Ruby left me.”

Neil told him everything Ruby told him. All about what happened with Georgia May and Ruby, and how she was leaving for good.

Charlie watched Neil’s eyes closely in sympathy. He slowly reached over the bar to rest his hand on Neil’s. “It’ll be ok,” he whispered.

Neil looked up into Charlie’s eyes and smiled with understanding. “I know that now.”