Chapter 37 Ruby

Chapter 37

Ruby

Ruby paced, resisting the urge to peek through the crack in the door. She had escaped her bedroom, where she had gotten ready for her wedding . Because she could hardly wait any longer. Outside in the back garden, Harrison’s family, her parents, and the Davenports stood, waiting to bear witness to their union. She was in her father’s study now. She felt flushed despite the gooseflesh rippling over her skin. The past week had flown by in a whirlwind of tulle, fittings, and strained interactions with her parents. But today, Harrison Barton would become her husband. From the window, she could see the arbor on the patio. The gardens were a lush green from the two days of rain that had finally broken the heat wave.

This was her day .

It was an intimate and exclusive affair. Just as she’d imagined.

It wasn’t Olivet Baptist Church, filled to bursting, no. And the only flowers were the ones she and Olivia would carry, those pinned to the lapels of the fathers’ and Harrison’s suits, and those twined around the arbor. But it was intimate and exclusive just the same with a justice of the peace instead of a reverend presiding over the nuptials. Now that the day had arrived, Ruby was more than happy to celebrate with the people she loved best and who loved her back.

In a different version of events, Ruby would have been celebrating this day with all the fanfare conferred on the only child of Chicago’s new mayor. In a different version of events, she and her parents would have had everything they wanted. Ruby sighed and closed her eyes. She could almost hear the moment the organist at Olivet Baptist Church would have signaled her entrance into the grand cathedral, hundreds of breathless guests shifting in their seats to see—

“There you are!”

Ruby straightened, turning quickly and swallowing her heart.

“Your mother is asking for you.” Olivia held her antique rose skirt with one hand, reaching for Ruby with the other as if to guide a wayward child. The cap sleeves at Olivia’s shoulders fluttered in her haste.

Ruby sighed, mostly from relief that it was her best friend who’d found her sneaking and not her mother. “I just wanted to see what everyone is wearing.”

On her side of the aisle, William Davenport stood, supporting himself on his cane. Beside him was John. His pale gray suit was a lighter hue than his father’s and cut in a more modern style. He stood arm-in-arm with Amy-Rose. They whispered quietly to each other, their gazes open and shy. Amy-Rose’s cheeks looked flushed under the smattering of freckles. Just beyond them was Helen. She stood a foot from Jacob Lawrence, the pair stealing glances at each other under the watchful eye of Mrs.Milford. Helen’s movements were relaxed and buoyant. The opposite of Mr.Stone’s, whose gaze seemed to be searching for Olivia.

The Davenports were the closest Ruby had to extended family. Until now.

On the opposite side of the aisle, Harrison’s father, mother, and sister watched with teary eyes. Arthur Barton rubbed circles on the back of his wife’s hand, tucked between the palms of his own. Anna Barton’s dress was a rich green that made her deep complexion glow. She stood tall next to her husband, her hair pulled away from her face in flat twists. At that moment she smiled at her daughter, Anne-Marie, and there was something about her mouth that reminded Ruby so much of Harrison that she found herself smiling too.

Her friend followed Ruby’s gaze through the window, the curtains pulled just so to hide them from sight. She noticed when Olivia stepped away to take in the room. Ruby’s father kept a messy workspace, like she did. Ruby wasn’t sure what drew her to this room. Maybe the view of the garden or the fact that it would be the last place her parents would look for her, but seeing Harrison prepared to meet her at the end of the aisle made her heart sing.

Olivia squeezed her fingers. “Let’s not keep him waiting.”

Her friend was right. Ruby and Harrison had been through more than their share of drama in the past three months and had come out the other side stronger. There he was, her fiancé, Harrison Barton, standing before the justice of the peace between his father and brother. The two of them wore dark suits, Harrison in a tuxedo, dashing as ever.

Olivia smiled. Then the door began to swing open, and Mrs.Barton poked her head around Mrs.Tremaine’s shoulder. Behind them, Mrs.Davenport and Anne-Marie strained to catch a glimpse inside.

“It seems everyone out there is just about to burst with excitement,” said Mrs.Barton. Anne-Marie sidled up next to her.

“Ruby,” said Mrs.Tremaine, eyes warm, “your guests are waiting.”

“I can’t wait for Harrison to see you!” Anne-Marie said.

Ruby blushed.

“Let’s finish getting you ready, yes?” Olivia said.

“Yes,” she answered. She took one last look at the scene. She watched her future husband speak with her guests— their guests , she reminded herself—before following Olivia, Anna Barton, and Anne-Marie back to her bedroom.

Ruby’s mother admired Lucille’s work as she sewed an additional pearl to the veil Ruby would wear. Mrs.Tremaine’s hands were delicately clasped in front of the full burgundy folds of her silk skirts. For a moment, seeing her daughter, her eyes softened. “Come, Ruby, dear.”

Ruby took slow, short strides across the room. She felt herself melt under her mother’s gaze.

“Is it ready, Lucille?” Ruby asked, pulling her mother’s attention back to the veil.

“Just about,” said Mrs.Jennings. The young woman grinned. Ruby ran her hands over the beautiful gown they’d created together.

Ruby hugged her new friend and turned to Mrs.Davenport, who looked just as teary-eyed as her own mother. “Congratulations, Ruby.” She clutched her purse to her chest with her free hand. Its beaded surface matched the belt that cinched her waist. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

“Thank you, Mrs.Davenport.” Ruby understood her parents’ desire to unite their families. The Davenports already felt like family, though. She had let go of what could be, and was ready—had been ready for some time—to look at what would be. She turned to her mother, who wore a wistful smile of her own.

Mrs.Tremaine took the headpiece from Mrs.Jennings. “Ready and waiting.”

Ruby turned to Olivia, who gave her an encouraging look, and then approached her mother until the two stood within the frame of the full-length mirror. Mrs.Tremaine looked young enough to be mistaken for Ruby’s older sister, something Ruby knew her mother loved to hear on the campaign trail, though she’d never say so. She wore a dark red dress with a matching fascinator and fan, dangling from her elbow by a black satin ribbon. Beside her, Ruby took in her own reflection.

The dress was exquisite—all she had imagined, and more. The creamy white gown’s collar had a wide trim of lace that clung to her shoulders and met in a V that made her mother blush. A satin ribbon gathered the waist high. The skirt hugged her hips and pooled at her feet.

“Finished.” Mrs.Tremaine looked at Ruby’s reflection. She continued to fuss with the veil that now framed Ruby’s face. Her touch was gentle. “I remember when you and Olivia used to place my handkerchiefs over your heads and pretend they were veils.” Olivia laughed.

“They would take turns carrying each other’s invisible trains,” added Mrs.Davenport.

Mrs.Tremaine nodded. “How quickly the time passes,” she said. Now both Ruby’s and Olivia’s mother’s eyes appeared misty. Ruby reached for her mother’s hand and squeezed it tight. “Don’t you start,” said Mrs.Tremaine. “You’ll ruin your face.”

“Of course,” said Ruby. She blinked her vision clear and walked over to her shoes. A sigh escaped her as she slid her feet into them. She was ready. Her stomach fluttered and her fingertips tingled. “Mother—” she started, but the words wouldn’t come, so Ruby simply threw her arms around her, burying her face in her mother’s powdered neck.

“Ruby, enjoy this day.” Mrs.Tremaine pressed her cheek to her daughter’s forehead and pulled away.

Mrs.Davenport looked at the clock. “It’s time.” The women began to file out of the room, her mother and Mrs.Davenport each giving her a kiss on her cheek.

“Oh! Almost forgot.” Olivia handed Ruby a bouquet of short-stemmed roses and baby’s breath. She pressed her forehead to Ruby’s. They stayed like this for a moment. Until the butterflies in Ruby’s stomach settled, and all she could think about was the young man waiting for her at the end of the aisle. “I’m so happy for you.”

Ruby blinked back her own tears and nodded, no longer trusting her voice. She watched Olivia pass through the door.

In the hall, Mr.Tremaine cleared his throat loudly and adjusted the red rose in his tuxedo lapel. He stopped at the sight of Ruby. Under his gaze, she fought the urge to squirm. “You look—” he started. Again, he cleared his throat and nodded. “You look beautiful.” He held his arm out to her. Ruby stared at it. It was the first sign of affection he had shown her in weeks. She wanted to tell him she had designed it herself, that there were people out there who valued her skill, her perspective, her worth.

With a shaky hand, she slid her fingers into the crook of his elbow and glanced up at him. His attention had already moved on from her to where the crowd gathered outside. He may have been close in proximity, but he was far away as ever.

“Everything will work out,” he said, mostly to himself. “We’ll make Barton a true Chicagoan yet.” Mr.Tremaine nodded, satisfied. “Yes, I think he’ll do.” Ruby steeled herself. Her father, always ready to strategize, to perform. Ruby, again, just a prop.

But this was her show. Her wedding, and her guests. She had planned every detail with the help of her best friend and the man she loved. Perhaps one day she and her father could repair what had broken between them—what he’d broken. Ruby hoped for that. But for now, she would focus on her future and the family she would create with Harrison. It was more than this. This was just one day. And it would be more than enough.

The music changed, an usher opened the door to the patio. There was a collective gasp as every head turned to her. Light bulbs flashed and Ruby wondered briefly if she had lipstick on her teeth. No, Olivia would have noticed. Still, she felt hot and cold and suddenly self-conscious.

Ruby took a deep breath and found Harrison at the end of the aisle, standing under the arbor. He stood out in his tuxedo, perfectly tailored and complementary to his light brown complexion. The butterflies in her stomach fluttered like champagne bubbles racing to the surface. Harrison Barton was everything she could have hoped for. Everything—loving, kind, understanding, able to provide her with everything she could want—but one:

He was not her parents’ choice. And that was just fine.

Harrison’s eyes drank her in, every inch of her. She felt her skin heat up, her pulse quicken.

Her choice was what mattered.

“There,” Ruby said to her father, “is a man who loves me for me. And I want to be his wife.” It may have taken longer for her to realize this than Harrison would have liked, but she knew it in every inch of her being. She recalled the moment after her grand speech inside Harrison’s front door, when he’d gathered her up—stolen red dress and all—and kissed her for all he was worth. And she’d kissed him back. She fixed her eyes on him now and walked slowly, as rehearsed. Her heart thrummed. The guests blurred from her vision. The swelling music faded. And the roaring in her ears became a sweet hum.

Around her was the support of true friends, before her the love of her life, and beyond this, the freedom to chase her own dreams.