Chapter 22 Ruby

22

Ruby

Alison and John left early to go meet their lawyers.

Tomas sat in front of the TV in the living room watching Rugrats reruns and Ruby busied herself cleaning the kitchen. Since Althea's departure, Ruby had taken over the housekeeping. There were baskets full of laundry upstairs and trash that needed to be emptied from the bathrooms.

She sprayed disinfectant on the counter and wiped it down. A large blowfly swooped by, then flew into the hallway and landed on the painting of the red priest. Ruby closed her eyes and tried to drown out the noise.

Thankfully, the house phone rang. Tomas ignored it. He was lying on the couch, mesmerized by the TV. Ruby saw the number displayed on the phone's screen.

Mom.

When the phone stopped ringing, the light came on the base to say a voicemail message was being left. Ruby quietly closed the living-room door and hit the speaker on the phone base.

Esther's Manhattan drawl came over the speaker.

‘ . . . I know you have enough going on. I'm not interfering. I'm just worried about my grandson. I never liked Ruby. There's something not right about that girl. Anyway, before you blow your top, I wanted to tell you I met Althea. Lovely girl. She was terrified when I called and it took a lot of persuasion before she agreed to let me into her apartment. Look, she lives with her family and half of them are undocumented. The last person who would risk getting arrested is Althea. She didn't take the bracelet. She says Ruby hates her and it was Ruby who planted the bracelet in her bag. I think she's right . . .'

Leaning over, Ruby placed both hands on the hall table and closed her eyes as she listened.

‘ . . . Did I tell you I saw Ruby talking to our painting in your hallway? She was talking to it. Or herself. I mentioned this to Althea and she said she saw the same thing once. Ruby was whispering to it. I never told you, but I had that painting valued a long time ago. It's Renaissance period and worth more than Ruby will make in her entire life. Don't you get it? Ruby took my mother's necklace. The one I gave you. It's our family heirloom. I saw how Althea is living. Trust me, if she stole an expensive necklace and sold it, she wouldn't be living like that . . .'

Ruby's jaw tightened.

‘ . . . I know you're both going through hell. And I'm sorry for digging this up, but someone had to. It's not fair what's happened to Althea. I think Ruby took the necklace and that painting is next. You have to fire Ruby. When you get a chance, call me. I love you. '

The phone base chimed as Esther hung up the call.

Another beep came from the base as a symbol of an envelope appeared on the display.

Ruby accessed the message menu on the phone.

She hit delete and the envelope icon disappeared.

‘Alexa,' said Ruby, ‘send flowers to Mom.'

‘ Okay, which flowers would you like to send? '

‘A bouquet of lilies.'

‘ Okay. Which address would you like to use for delivery? Would you like to use 1819 West 74 th Street, or 14 Henderson Place? '

Ruby picked up a pen, wrote down Esther's address on Henderson Place and said, ‘Cancel.'

‘ Order cancelled ,' said Alexa.

The noise from the fly filled Ruby's ears. Then the hissing and whispering began.

The red priest wanted to talk.