Dashboard lights, p.32
Dashboard Lights, page 32
part #2 of Gunpowder Series
Ruby was stunned. Maybe that was the reason her identity paperwork was approved, and the case went so smoothly? Whatever, the case, Ruby got her identity. She wasn't going to rock the boat asking questions. Ruby was curious what other things would be revealed during this party!
"Ruby, why don't you take the Lemonade out, and Susie could you fill the ice bucket? Some of the guests may not want pop or beer or wine coolers!" She opened the oven to check the beans.
Ruby lifted the Lemonade from the counter and headed out the back door. As she stepped towards the deck, Megan immediately took the dispenser from her, scolding her for carrying something so heavy. Ruby followed her to the deck and where the men were convening.
"So, is this the future generation of the ROMEO club?" Ruby asked approaching. She went to Derek's chair and squeezed into the seat beside him.
"The ROMEO club?" the men asked.
"Yeah, you know the group of old men that gather at the McDonald's?" She was met with blank stares. "You know, the Retired Old Men Eating Out? ROMEO."
"Oh, I never thought of that, that's perfect!" Fred replied. "And most of them are far from being Romeo's!" Everyone laughed and heads shook.
"I guess I'll have to put up signage," Derek said, laughing. He put his arm around his creative wife, smiling at her.
Footsteps approached. Ruby turned to see who else was making an appearance. It was Dr. Patel and his son, Rishi.
"Hello, Mr. Jonah! Where is Jackson?" the boy asked.
"I think he is still in his room." Jonah replied. "You're welcome to go find him!" The boy was gone in an instant.
"Happy birthday, Ruby!" Dr. Patel approached her with a large potted plant. "I have heard about your new home in the woods. I thought you might like mint. It will spread and is an amazing herb for cooking."
"Why thank you, Dr. Patel!" Ruby stood to take the plant from him and to give him a brief hug. "I love using mint! This will go alongside the house where it can spread and be happy."
Helping himself to a beer from the iced tub, Dr. Patel took a seat among the growing group of future ROMEOs, Ruby went to the gift table and placed the mint on the corner, smelling it and plucking a leaf off before returning. She rubbed it behind her ears, like she did when she first met Derek. As she sat back on the edge of Derek's chair, the aroma hit him. He asked what it was, and Ruby held up the mint leaf.
"All that time, it was mint?" he asked. She nodded, smiling. Derek's look of amazement was priceless.
“Well, Ruby, how does it feel to finally be a citizen with a real birthday?" Judge Price asked, he too held a beer.
"Judge Price, it feels wonderful! This is my very first birthday celebration since I now know when it is! Although, I am not thrilled about having to wait to get my driver's license. But I am taking my GED on Monday, July 8!" Ruby's face beamed.
"Oh, Ruby..." Megan stopped as she was walking through bringing more food out. "Taylor told me to say she sends her regrets. She really wanted to be here, but she's working an event with Mom!" Ruby nodded in response.
"Taylor?" Derek said reflexively. "She was coming?"
"Derek! You be nice. Taylor has calmed down. She's fitting in very well." Megan said. "She's not bothering you." Derek looked down, his expression one of having been scolded. Ruby took his hand and squeezed it, silently communicating the ‘Taylor terrors’ were over.
Jonah got up and went over to the bucket of drinks, stirring around in the ice until he found a beer. Ruby took advantage of his time away from the man-crowd.
"Are you supposed to be drinking that?" she asked Jonah as he turned around, twisting the cap off.
"As a matter of fact, I can. In moderation. And I am off all the medications that would interact," he said, defending himself. "Besides, Dr. Patel said I should drink a glass of red wine each day for my heart health. He said it helps to keep the plaque from building."
"Okay..." Ruby replied. "Um, I have a question..."
"What's that?" Jonah asked after taking a long sip of his ice-cold beer.
"Could I have my backpack back now?"
"I would've thought you'd forgotten about that."
"No. Is my knife in it? My boot knife?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, I would just like to have them back. Especially, since I will be up at the cabin. The knife will be protection," she said. She was not being entirely truthful with him, and he knew it.
"You want it now?" Jonah raised his eyebrows. "Why? You're not planning to slaughter everyone at your birthday party, are you?" He teased her. She gave him her flat-mouthed expression.
"Really?" she replied. "There's something I have to do today, and I always used my boot knife." Jonah looked at her, and then glanced down at her arm. He noticed that the missing marks had been added at some point. He quickly counted seventeen.
"How long are you going to continue this practice?" he asked her, tilting his head. There was a tone of disapproval in his words.
"This will be the last time. I promise. I just want it to be finished. Completed." She looked at him for understanding. "I need to do this. It will be like finally closing the door for a lot of things."
"Come on," he replied. "It's in the garage. Let's go get it. But I want you to put it in Derek's truck. I don't want the kids getting a hold of that stuff." Ruby followed him to the garage. Inside he walked to the back to a large black box with a combination lock. Jonah's secret hiding place. Twisting the dial, the lock popped open, and Jonah raised the lid. Inside, Ruby spied numerous guns, on top of which sat her backpack. Jonah pulled the backpack out and handed it to Ruby. She held it with both hands, regarding it as a long-lost friend. It was. As Jonah re-secured the box, Ruby moved toward the door, now hugging her backpack. She savored its smell. She stepped out of the garage into the sunshine, Jonah closing the door behind him. She looked at him, giving him a smile loaded with appreciation. He came up to her, and with a hand on each shoulder, kissed her forehead covered by curls. He looked down at her happy face and shook his head in disbelief. It amazed him how much happiness this backpack brought to her.
"Happy Birthday, little girl!" he told her. She hugged him.
Going to the truck, Ruby placed the backpack on the floor and unzipped it to go over its contents. Sure enough, the large knife she had kept hidden in her boot was among her multi-tool and all her other survival items. For now, she left it in the backpack, but she would be back for it after a while. After dinner. After gifts and cake. And perhaps after some of the guests left. There were only a few who would understand.
By the time she returned to the deck, the meat was sizzling on the grill. Jonah had returned to his seat, and Derek and Kenny took turns tending the meat, each with a fresh cold beer in hand. They seemed to be hitting it off quite well.
With most of the food brought outside, the women retired from the kitchen and joined the guests outdoors. At some point while Jonah and Ruby were in the garage, Elise and Norman arrived and joined the growing crowd. Ruby wondered who else was to show up, or if everyone invited had arrived. Just as she pondered this, Thea and Pastor Don walked around the back of the house, each carrying a gift bag. Amy greeted them, showing them the gift table and where the drinks were. Then she came over to where Ruby and Megan had been chatting.
"You've met Dr. Patel. Chandra is his name. Haven't you, Megan?" Amy asked. Ruby sensed Amy switching into match-making mode.
"Just at the hospital during Jonah's surgery," Megan replied. Amy instructed Megan to come with her and be formally introduced. Ruby watched as Amy made the introductions between the two, and she was sure to mention Megan's trip to India and that she was a University of Louisville graduate, suggesting they might have some things in common to discuss. Megan and Dr. Patel talked for quite some time, until it was announced the chicken and steaks were ready.
While guests lined up to get the food while it was hot, Ruby sauntered over to the grill where Derek and Kenny were tending the straggler steaks and chicken. Abby had joined them a while before, standing as close to Kenny as she could. Derek put his arm around his wife, as she stood close to him.
"How's my birthday girl doing?" he asked, giving her that smile. Smiling, she looked up at him, noticing his hair was a little sweaty from hanging over the grill.
"I am doing very well, thank you!" she replied. She smiled at Kenny and Abby. Kenny took Abby's hand after seeing Derek put his arm around Ruby. Ruby wondered if they would kiss, or if Jonah had laid down rules for public displays.
"Happy birthday, Ruby," Kenny said, raising his bottle. Ruby leaned over and gave Kenny a hug, which totally surprised him. Derek and Abby looked on, also surprised. "What?" Ruby asked. "Why does everyone seem so shocked?" Kenny just smiled. The other two shook their heads.
"Hey, I knew I'd get a hug outa you eventually!" Kenny joked. Ruby laughed shaking her head.
"Well, if you think about it...Kenny and I are both basically 'adopted' by Jonah, so that kind of makes us like...brother and sister? I guess?" Ruby had to think about what she just said.
"That's sort of right, but then it would mean that Kenny and I are sort of brother and sister," Abby replied. "And that can't be if we get married!" Abby and Kenny smiled at each other.
"Wha?" Derek asked. Ruby was not surprised. She knew it was coming.
"Well, we have to wait until Abby is at least sixteen, that is if Jonah and Amy will agree," Kenny explained. "Otherwise, if they don't, we'll just have to wait until she's eighteen." Abby continued to smile.
"It's going to happen," Abby confirmed. She gave both Ruby and Derek her matter-of-fact look. Poor Jonah, Ruby thought. He may end up with another heart attack before he recovers from this one!
The meal was delicious. Ruby felt like she ate more than she had in an entire week. The steak was so tender, and every time she put a bite of it in her mouth, she felt Claudius scratching. Like he wanted at it himself! She, Derek, Abby and Kenny sat in the chairs around the chiminea, while the ‘adults’ converged at the table in the tent and on the deck. Megan was torn between sitting with them or with the older group, but ended up with the latter, given Amy's introduction to Dr. Patel. Jackson and Rishi were perfectly content sitting on the deck steps, and every time Ruby went back to get more lemonade, Rishi was there as well.
"Mrs. Anders makes the best lemonade on the planet!" Rishi told Ruby.
"I know! It is amazing!" Ruby replied. "I think you and me are going to drink this whole container!" Rishi agreed, already sipping before he returned to Jackson.
One of the aspects of summer that Ruby loved the most was how daylight lasted well into the night hours. At eight o'clock they cut the cake. Although most everyone was stuffed from just the food, a period of rest and conversation helped to make room for the carrot cake. No one passed on Susie's cake, and several requested a piece to go. Ruby was one of them. She was already tasting carrot cake with her morning coffee! Just like Maggie, Amy was equipped with to-go cartons, and told everyone it all had to go! She was not going to deal with leftovers!
After a more than ample piece of cake, of which Ruby ate every morsel, Amy came and herded a miserably stuffed Ruby to the gift table. Ruby was to open her gifts before her guests left. Abby was equipped with a pad and pen to write down what was from whom.
Of course, Ruby got the mint plant from Dr. Patel. She told him she wanted to get some Indian recipes from him! One package contained three blank leather journals. From Abby and Kenny. Susie and Fred gave her an herb garden starter kit. Once they were a certain size, the herbs were to be transferred outdoors or to larger pots for a porch or indoor garden. When she removed the tissue paper from Pastor Don's gift bag, it revealed a leather-bound Bible with her name imprinted on the cover.
"When you get baptized, Ruby, there is a place inside to hold the certificate!" Pastor Don said, hinting at her next step towards receiving God. She smiled and mentioned she would be talking to him about that.
Thea's bag also held a book, but it was the Bible of Edible Wild Plants and Flowers. Ruby love-love-loved this! Lana and Judge Price's box contained a fire-proof safe for all of Ruby's important papers. How very appropriate, given both of their hard efforts equipping her with those papers! Megan's gift included a full set of makeup--eye shadows, blushers, lipsticks, eyeliner, eyebrow pencils and... a bottle of the honey-flavored lip gloss Ruby wore on her wedding day. Ruby gave her a big hug. Derek had been asking about her sweet kisses! Also, Megan handed Ruby a gift from Taylor, since she was not able to come. Ruby pulled out a cross-body handbag, just like the one Taylor had. Ruby had admired it on the day they had coffee, and Taylor remembered!
Elise and Norman's small box revealed a ruby pendant necklace and matching stud pierced earrings. Ruby had been meaning to get her ears pierced, so this was perfect. Amy and Jonah's gift lost it meaning on most of the guests, but when Ruby pulled the soft yellow throw blanket with fringed ends out of the bag, she began crying. It was the sentiment. Both Jonah and Amy received hugs.
Derek's gift was saved for last. He brought to Ruby a long narrow box wrapped in gold paper with a gold ribbon. Ruby looked at Derek apprehensively as she took the end of the ribbon and pulled. She smiled as she tore into the paper, revealing a black velvet box. As she opened the lid, a long piece of white cotton covered the contents. Lifting that, her eyes landed on a white gold charm bracelet with charms affixed. As she lifted it out of the box, she heard ‘Ooos’ and ‘Ahhs’ from her guests. One of the charms was a heart with Derek's name engraved and his birthstone—
blue topaz—on one side and Ruby's name and a ruby on the other side. Then, there was a charm, in the shape of a key. She smiled at Derek. This had significance to just the two of them. Then a third charm was of a boy's head. It was waiting for a birthstone, but the name 'Claudius' was engraved on the backside. Ruby let Derek put the bracelet on her wrist, giving him a big kiss and hug.
"We can keep adding charms as significant events happen, like when you get baptized or when baby two arrives," Derek said. The crowd murmured at the 'baby two' comment. Derek and Ruby laughed.
"Thank you, everyone for all of your generous gifts. Each one of them is special, and I will cherish them!" Ruby said, surveying the table-full of items. She felt like she was seven and didn't know which one to 'play' with first!
Soon after the gift opening, several guests armed with to-go boxes said their good-byes, including Elise and Norman and Susie and Fred. As twilight closed in, the remaining guests collected around the chiminea, which Kenny had re-stocked with wood. Jonah was still on restriction from lifting. Ruby excused herself and disappeared toward the truck. A short while later, she returned discretely with her knife in its black sheath, taking a seat next to Derek. She saw Jonah watching as she sat, shaking his head. While the couples sat cozied together, Megan was actively sharing some of Gunpowder's history with Dr. Patel, Rishi and Jackson.
After a while, when the fire had settled with glowing coals, Ruby got up and went to the fire. Only Derek and Jonah watched her as she removed the knife from the sheath and stuck the tip into the coals, the handle remaining where she could grab it. Jonah looked at Derek to see if he knew what she was doing. Derek met Jonah's gaze with a sigh and roll of his eyes. He knew. As Ruby waited for the knife to heat, gradually other eyes began to wander her direction, though it was not clear what she was up to. Then Ruby withdrew the knife from the coal, the handle very hot but still manageable. Before anyone was aware of what she was about to do, she placed the tip of the knife on her forearm, her skin sizzling, and with a quick swipe, she cut line eighteen into her skin.
"Oh, my!" Dr. Patel jumped up going to Ruby. He grabbed her arm, realizing there were many other knife scars on her arm.
"Ruby!" Megan said in an almost scream. Ruby never mentioned her lines to her.
Derek leaned his head on his hand. Jonah shook his head again and looked at Amy whose mouth hung open.
"Dear, Jesus!" Amy exclaimed, hiding her eyes.
Abby and Kenny didn't react at all. Almost like they expected it. They both knew about her 'birthday log.' The two boys were initially stunned, and they watched the adults' reactions. But then they jumped up and ran over to Ruby to look at her arm. A few beads of blood appeared along the cut, but the majority of the cut was bloodless. Cauterized by the heat. Just open skin.
"My goodness, child!" Dr. Patel said facing her and holding her arm. "Why do you do this? This is a very dangerous practice. You could bleed out! Infection!"
"Dr. Patel. I took great care to heat the knife, so it was sterile. Also, the intense heat at the tip served to cauterize the cut," she replied.
"But why do you do this?" The doctor held his hands out, trying to fathom her action.
"Being raised homeless, this was the only way I could keep track of my age. Paper gets lost. I did not plan on losing my arm. I am eighteen now. This is the last mark."
"Cool!" The two boys said in unison.
"No, not cool!" Amy said, correcting them. "Don't either of you even dare to try something like that!" She shot a look of disapproval at Ruby. Ruby just shrugged her shoulders.
"Oh, my God, Ruby." Megan said. "I noticed the scars, but I just thought you had been a cutter at one point. I had no idea..."
"Folks, do not be upset with me. You all know I had an unusual life. This is the last one, I promise!" She glanced down at her arm. "I just did not want the others being lonely. I know it sounds bizarre, but they are friends of a sort to me. I told Jonah I wanted them to be complete."
"You knew about this?" Amy gave Jonah a gentle slap on the shoulder. "Did you give her that knife back so she could do this?" Jonah rolled his eyes.
Dr. Patel sat shaking his head. "I have not heard of such..."
"Papa," Rishi began, "She's right. It is not really bleeding!"
Ruby looked at Derek. He was smiling at her, while shaking his head. She knew what he was thinking: 'What am I ever going to do with her?'
