Page 66 of Cloud Nine Love

REMI

“In the 1800s, some Halloween rituals were geared toward finding a husband, including bobbing for apples.” ~ Tim Rhodes

“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” I asked my mom, who was curled up in the corner of the couch, sipping sweet tea, watching one of the Housewives franchises.

Ruby had invited us to go trick-or-treating with Harper last week during the birthday party. At the time, my mom had said that sounded like fun, but I’d seen in her eyes that she wasn’t going to come. Her relationship with my sister had always been strained. At the wedding and Harper’s birthday party, I’d seen glimpses of the two of them working on their relationship. It had given me hope that now that Ruby was back in Wishing Well, they might be able to get to know one another with a fresh slate.

I’d always wished that Ruby could have known our mom when my dad was alive, but then again, if my dad hadn’t died, Ruby wouldn’t have been born. I used to feel guilty for wishing my dad was around because I knew that if he were, Ruby wouldn’t be here. That reality had fucked with my head when I was younger.

“No, I think I’m just going to stay in.” My mom hadn’t left the trailer since Harp’s party. She’d been sleeping and watching TV. Her color was looking a little better, and her cheeks weren’t quite as hollow. She might have even put on a pound or two. Or that might just be the optimist in me.

She’d made a few comments that she needed to get back to work, but I’d convinced her not to until after we went to see the specialist next week. By then, I should have everything in place to present her with her new life.

“Are you sure?” I double-checked.

“Yes, I’m tired. But take a lot of pics.”

“What about the talk you were going to have with Ruby?” On the drive home from Harper’s birthday, she said the next time she saw Ruby, she’d tell her.

“I think…I’m just going to wait until after the holidays.”

“No. She already knows you haven’t been at work; she thinks it’s because you’ve had a cold and are iron deficient.” I’m not sure why my mom had chosen that affliction, but she wasn’t budging from it. That was what she’d told her job and everyone at the party. The only people who knew the truth were me and Taylor. “You have to tell her.”

Her eyes closed as her shoulders dropped in defeat. “I just don’t want to do anything to ruin this time in her life. She’s so happy.”

“I get that. And I appreciate that you didn’t want to tell her before the wedding and not until after Harp’s birthday, but she needs to know Mom. She deserves to know.”

My mom stared at the television, but I knew she wasn’t watching it. I could see her trying to come up with more excuses.

“Do you want me to tell her?” At least then, I would know that she knew and had all the information I had.

Her eyes lifted to mine, and I could see the hope in them. “Would you? I just…I just don’t know how to tell her. I don’t want to make anything about me. I did that for too many years.”

My mom hadn’t been very motherly for most, if not all, of Ruby’s life. She’d gone out and partied and dated a bunch of men. I knew that she was just trying to fill the void my dad left, but that was the only version Ruby had ever known. I knew the other version. The version where I actually had a mom.

“Yeah, I will,” I assured her.

I could see the relief in her eyes. “Thank you.”

“Call me if you need anything.” Before heading out, I leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head.

The sun was setting as I headed out of the trailer park. On the short drive to Kane and Ruby’s, I passed Taylor’s house and the house I’d put an offer on. Jan Jenson showed me six houses, but I knew the one I wanted as soon as we pulled up in the driveway, before I’d even seen inside. It was on the same block as Kane, Ruby, and Taylor’s houses, smack dab in the middle.

However, the close proximity to Taylor’s was something I’d not expressed to Jan as one of the pros of the location. I’d focused on the proximity to Ruby and Kane’s instead.

My phone buzzed, and I saw it was a message from Captain Dawson asking me if I could stop by the next day. At the birthday party, I’d mentioned to Milo, Kenna’s brother, that I was thinking about staying in town. He said he’d pass that on to his captain because they were looking to hire.

As I pulled up to Kane and Ruby’s, I was shocked to see just how many people were already out on the street in costumes. I was surprised to see how many adults had also gotten into the spirit. I’d never been a huge fan of Halloween; people usually just used it as an excuse to act stupid. I’d much rather be home with my mom watching Housewives or some other reality show, but I would do anything for my sister, and she wanted me here. Unfortunately, Kenna had mentioned that Taylor had to work tonight, so I wouldn’t be seeing her here. Which sucked.

I missed her. Really missed her. I was giving her space. But it was killing me.

When I knocked on the door, Kane opened it wearing his uniform and holding a bowl of candy. “You on duty tonight?”

“No. This is my costume,” he explained as I walked inside.

“Your costume is a cop?”

“Yeah.”

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