Page 20 of Spyder
“You can never go wrong with mimosas,” she says.
“No, you cannot.”
We’re sitting on the back deck, overlooking the waters of the Pacific. The sunlight sparkles off the surface of the ocean and I watch as the breakers roll onto the shore. The sets are decent, and that’s brought out the surfers who are cutting and slicing along the face of those waves. Even from up here, fifty feet above the water, I can hear them laughing and hollering to one another.
I eagerly tuck into my meal, and as soon as the first bite of my eggs Benedict hits my tongue, I make a sound that probably sounds obscene. Not that I care. It’s been years since I’ve had Eggs Benedict at Bailey’s on the Bay, which has been a popular place for brunch for time out of mind. It’s an institution in Blue Rock. And for my money, there is no place in the world that makes Eggs Benedict better than Bailey’s.
“I have seriously missed this,” I say.
Ruby grins. “I can tell by the porn star noises you’re making over there.”
“Shut up,” I say with a laugh.
We eat in companionable silence for a little while, finishing up our meals. When there isn’t a crumb left on my plate, I finally push it away and sit back.
“That was amazing,” I say.
“Well, now that you’re home, we can make this a habit,” Ruby replies.
“Sounds good to me. I need time out of the house now and again.”
“And how are things going at home? How is your mom doing?”
I shrug. “She’s putting on a brave face. But she’s in more pain than she’ll ever let on.”
“She’s a tough woman.”
I nod. “Too tough for her own good sometimes.”
Ruby laughs softly. “The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.”
“Please. I’m nowhere near as stubborn as she is.”
She arches an eyebrow at me as she takes a sip of her mimosa. “If you say so.”
I smile and shake my head. If there’s one thing I can count on Ruby for, it’s always giving me the unvarnished truth as she sees it. She’s not a girl who sugarcoats things and will tell you like it is. Even if you don’t want to hear it. That’s not always a bad thing. Her blunt honesty is actually refreshing. It’s not something you get from people too much anymore these days. It’s something I value in her. Always have.
“It’s difficult, to be honest,” I tell her. “Seeing her withering away like she is… it’s breaking my heart, Rube.”
She frowns and reaches across the table. Grabbing hold of my hand, she gives it a squeeze. Her face is etched with sympathy, but I know she can’t relate. Both of her parents are still alive and doing well. But I appreciate her being my shoulder to cry on when I need one.
“I can’t even begin to imagine, but my heart’s breaking with you,” she says.
“Thanks, Rube.”
“I’m just glad you reconciled with her before… well… you know. I’m glad you two will be able to spend time together. And I’m sure she’s glad for it as well.”
I nod. “She is. We’ve had some really good days together since I’ve been back. It’s been really nice reconnecting with her again.”
A gull circles lazily overhead, its plaintive cry echoing through the air around us. It’s a low, mournful sound filled with the sadness the fills the deepest reaches of my soul. I finish my mimosa and hold my glass up, catching the attention of the waitress who gives me a nod.
“Speaking of reconnecting, you’ll never guess who I ran into last night,” I say.
“Tell me.”
“Derek Moore.”
Her eyes widen slightly and the smile on her face stretches wide. She was the only person in my life back then who actively encouraged me to talk with him. Ruby was always more down to earth than anybody else, and she didn’t think about people in terms of their stations in life. She and I were, and I suppose still are, the sort of people who take others as we find them.
