Page 56 of Rue

“Yeah. S’alright, we’ll wait. Get Rue a drink since she can now. Help her relax some.”

“Are you going to explain this?” she asked him, hefting her diploma at him.

He smirked out the window, saying nothing.

Chapter 29

Mig pulled into a restaurant that looked closed, with no cars in the parking lot.

Geo got out and led her inside, Mig following.

An older man met them at the door, smiling at Geo like they were friends. “Mr Ruiz! I was happy to get your call! Come in! I have your table set up! Setting for 12, you said?”

“Yeah, man, thanks,” Geo nodded, following him in.

Most of the tables and chairs were moved back out of the way, a single large table in the middle of the main room had two waiters standing by.

Geo held her chair for her and Sailor sat down warily. He sat next to her, Mig sitting across from them where he could see the room. Geo sat up, leaning close to Sailor, but looking down at the table. Lifting his hand, he put something on the table and then moved his hand.

“Put it on, Rue,” he commanded, his tone holding a stern warning.

Sailor looked down at the ring like it was a snake.

Still, she was more afraid of upsetting him than just wearing it, so she picked it up and held it a moment, staring at it. If it was real… if it was real, it was worth more than she could imagine.

“On,” Geo reiterated.

“This is… huge… it’s going to look so stupid on my hand…”

Geo sat up, looking out of patience.

Sailor shoved it on her finger, flinching back from him. It felt heavy and awkward, and the weight of the diamond on it immediately made it slide to the side. It was a bit too big.

He sat back, glancing at it, then turning to lean on the table, ignoring her now.

Sailor sat there, feeling even more sick to her stomach. What the hell was happening?!?

Davon came in the door, and an older black man and a white woman came with him, holding hands and smiling. Sailor was a little surprised, she’d had no idea he was mixed at all, and he’d never once mentioned his mom was white.

He held the chair for his mom, then nodded at Geo. “These is my folks, Stavon and Vanessa. This is my boss, Geo Ruiz, my coworker Mig and, … that’s Sailor.”

“The girl you told us about?” Vanessa asked cheerfully as she scooted up to the table.

“Yeah, I guess,” Davon agreed as Justin came in.

Sailor looked over at Geo, her face going red as Justin introduced his dad and stepmom.

He was looking at the newcomers like she didn’t exist.

She stayed still and quiet, feeling uncomfortable as the others chatted back and forth.

Her mother was wheeled in when the door opened again, followed by her grandmother.

Grinning, Sailor jumped up and ran to them, hugging her mom and laughing.

Geo was there suddenly, waving the orderly away and taking her mom's wheelchair. “Y’all can go sit down over there,” he told both of them as Mig pushed her grandmother to the table. “Order whatever you want, it’s on me.”

The orderlies nodded and went off to a side table to wait.

---