Wade is, bless his heart. Gray walls, silver shower curtain, silver frames on the posters, gray carpet and gray and green paisley towels. That’ll be cool, right?”
“Works for me,” Paige said. “By the way, let’s see if we can get Ruby into something other than black and navy blue for your wedding reception.”
“You have to admit that the royal blue she had on on Saturday night was an improvement. I’m going shopping with her tomorrow. I’ll find her something to wear.”
“We’ve almost finished here,” Paige said. “Let’s put the quiches in the microwave, and you start on the salad.”
“Maybe we should call Luther and ask him if he wants to have supper with us. We certainly have plenty.”
“Okay,” Pearl said. “He was so nice to pick up all this stuff for me.”
Ruby put the paint roller on the tray and sat down on the closed commode. Did her family think her dull? She didn’t have anything against bright, fashionable colors. She’d simply been so busy since their mother died trying to be a role model for her sisters that she hadn’t given much thought to being fashionable and to making a life with a man of her dreams. No wonder she hadn’t been able to please Luther. But she had no intention of withering like a rootless plant in the hot sun. She would always be grateful to Luther for teaching her her sexual potential, but now that she knew what she was capable of, she wasn’t going to be timid about exploring it.
Ruby pulled off the rubber gloves and brought the paint and roller to the kitchen. “Where do you want me to put—” She broke off when she saw her sister on the phone. “Who’re you calling? Are you talking to Luther?”
“Just a minute, Luther,” Pearl said. “I think Ruby wants to speak with you.”
“I do not. I didn’t say I wanted to—” Pearl shoved the phone to her face. “Uh…hello, Luther. Actually I didn’t tell Pearl I wanted to speak with you. I asked her if she was speaking with you.”
“So I heard. I never did find out why she called. Let me speak with her.” Ruby listened for a few seconds, long enough to realize that he wouldn’t say anything else, and handed the phone back to Pearl, who, with her mouth agape, nearly dropped it.
“I’m going to skip the quiche,” Ruby told Paige, since Pearl was still speaking with Luther. “I’d rather shower than eat. Tell Pearl I’ll meet her at Saks tomorrow at five.”
She couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
After Pearl’s wedding she told herself she’d take a nice long vacation. That would make it impossible for her sisters and their cousin Paige to pester her about her behavior during and after Opal’s wedding reception. Frankly, she was sick of hearing about it, because she was sure she hadn’t done anything dishonorable. She’d always heard it said that a person wouldn’t do anything when inebriated that she wouldn’t do sober. “I’m definitely counting on that,” she said to herself and walked into her house. Actually, it was the family home, and she’d give anything if her sisters would agree to sell it and share the proceeds. But no, they wanted to gather there on holidays and special occasions with her substituting for their parents. She didn’t mind, because she loved her sisters.
The phone rang as she walked in. She didn’t have to look at the caller ID; she knew she’d hear Pearl’s voice.
“Hi, Pearl,” she said. “What’s up?”
“Hi, Ruby. This isn’t Pearl. This is Trevor Johns. Pearl and Wade sent me an invitation to their wedding, and I…uh…would you allow me to accompany you?”
Well, maybe her life was about to become interesting. “Why, yes. I’d enjoy your company,” she said, seeing an opportunity to show Luther that he had nothing to fear from her, that she didn’t expect anything of him more than usual. “But I have to be there a little early,” she added.
“That doesn’t matter,” he said. “Just tell me what time to come for you.”
She told him, adding that she would look forward to seeing him. She didn’t plan to mention the date to her sisters. Oh, they’d have something to say, but she wouldn’t hear them. She hoped Luther would notice that she wasn’t without a date at the reception. He hadn’t even said goodbye to her when they spoke on the phone, so he wouldn’t ask her to go along with him. Let him wonder about Trevor Johns and what he was to her. She just couldn’t figure out why Trevor had asked her when Detroit was full of younger and flashier women. If he had an agenda, she’d know it quickly.
Chapter 2
Ruby went to meet Pearl and Amber at the famous department store somewhat halfheartedly that afternoon. Reasonably satisfied with herself, she saw no reason to remake herself to suit anyone, including her beloved sisters. But a kind of restlessness pervaded her, and she couldn’t put her finger on the why or what of it. Granted that, after what Luther did to her, an eagerness to discover more about sex and to make up for lost time seemed to have gotten a solid hold on her. Still, that didn’t seem to be reason enough to dress according to Amber’s sense of fashion. Or Pearl’s, for that matter.
She strode into the store and headed for the bank of elevators where her sisters waited for her. “Sorry I’m a little late, but the traffic was awful.”
“I thought maybe you’d decided to let us mind our own business,” Amber said.
“Don’t think it didn’t occur to me,” Ruby replied.
“I saw a beauty in last Sunday’s paper,” Pearl said. “I hope you’ll like it, ’cause I think it’s perfect for you.”
When they wandered into the section containing evening gowns, Ruby stopped at the first rack. “That one’s pretty.”
Amber rejected it. “It’s blue and doesn’t have a bit of sex appeal. Try living dangerously for once, and wear something that flatters your figure. If I had your height and figure, I’d dress like Halle Berry and Tyra Banks. Give ’em something to whistle at.”
Ruby couldn’t help laughing. Amber knew how to make a case for the ridiculous. Something to whistle at, indeed! “I’m not wearing anything that has my nipples showing. Half of these dresses don’t leave a thing to the imagination, neither above nor below the waist.”
“Put one of ’em on, and I bet you won’t leave that reception alone,” Amber said.
Ruby wasn’t going alone, but she didn’t plan to tell them.
“How about this one?” Pearl said, holding up another gown. “It’s dazzling, and you can wear it.”
“It’s red,” Ruby said, wrinkling her nose and making a face. “Attention is supposed to be on the bride.”
“Oh, I’ll get enough attention,” Pearl assured her. “I just want you to look great. Try it on.”
“Yes, indeed!” Amber said. “That dress is to die for. Go on. Try it.”
Ruby hated pulling off her clothes, and liked even less trying on clothes in stores. But she knew when to give in. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Uh-uh,” Amber said. “We’re
