He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “I owe you an apology. I was insensitive yesterday. I’m sorry… and I’m sorry about your mother. That must have been hard for you to lose her when you were so young.”
“Not that young. I was twenty.” She sighed. He looked sincere, at least. “Thanks for the apology, though.” She looked at the second drink that he was holding. “What are you drinking?”
“A peppermint mocha.”
Ruby couldn’t help it—she chuckled.
“Can we talk?” he asked.
She took a sip of the drink. “I’m officially done for the day. Where do you want to talk?”
“We can go back to my office? It’s empty now.”
No. Ruby didn’t want to go back to his office, where presumably sick people went and doctors made decisions about their lives. Not to mention, talking in his office would give him a home field advantage. She shook her head. “Let’s walk and talk. The market is open for a few more hours.”
She saw on his face that he wanted to object to hanging out in the Christmas Market with her. But if he wanted to make up for being such an insensitive tool, then he should agree to go where she wanted.
“Okay,” he said.
“Jenisha, I’m heading out.” She smiled at Rashid. “I’ll get my coat.” She went to the back room.
Ruby used the bathroom, reapplied her signature Ruby Woo red lipstick, smoothed some anti-frizz serum over her curling-iron waves, then put on her red coat and white scarf. It was mild today, which was one of the reasons she’d suggested the market in the first place.
When she returned to the selling floor, Rashid was in the fragrance area smelling one of the men’s scents.
“Why do you approve of designer fragrances, but not designer skin care?” she asked him.
He shrugged. “Probably an occupational hazard. I know too much about skin care, but fragrances are mysterious. I liked this one when I tried it the last time I was here.” He held up the new Le Labo.
She took the bottle from him and sprayed it on his neck, then wrists. “I didn’t get the chance to smell it on you after it settled into your biology. If you still smell good at the end of the night, then it’s a winner. Let’s go.” She headed out of the store holding her drink, and Rashid followed.
They walked side by side on the cobblestone streets. For once, Ruby didn’t feel the need to speak to fill the silence. She was still irritated at him. The things he said yesterday—that she shouldn’t be enjoying the season, that it wasn’t for her—stung.
Ruby didn’t exactly grow up very poor, but her familydidhave less than many of her peers. Even less than her extended family—her cousin Marley’s parents had a big house in Markham instead of the small Toronto apartment where Rubygrew up. And because Ruby was Brown, was a college dropout, and moved so often in adulthood that she had no long-term friends, she was used to feeling like an outsider. Feeling like she didn’t really belong somewhere. His comment only rubbed salt in that wound. Sheknewall this wasn’t for people like her. She knew she didn’t have a family to celebrate with, and she knew all the warm feelings she was having were because corporations were trying to sell her something. But she was still allowed to enjoy it.
She peeked at Rashid. His forehead wasn’t furrowed like it was when he found out she’d made the reservation for the wrong day yesterday. But he wasn’t smiling, either. After they’d walked long enough in complete silence, she finally had to say something.
“You said we needed to talk,” she said. “Are you going to, you know… talk?”
He chuckled. She’d seen his real smile a few times now, and she liked it more than she wanted to admit. “I don’t know how to start,” he said.
“Yes, I noticed. You’ve been through the Winter Market before?” she asked. The dermatology office was technically outside the market—but right next to it.
“Yeah,” he said. He glanced around. “With my sister, when they first brought out all this holiday stuff. The girls wanted everything from those stalls.” He pointed to a neat row of adorable wooden stands, each selling a different holiday treat. One had ornately iced cookies, another had mini donuts, and one made huge cotton candy animals to order.
“That’s the best one,” Ruby said, pointing to the stall thatsold pastel de nata—Portuguese egg tarts. “The tarts are to die for.”
He stepped closer to look at the tarts. “I’ve had them in Portugal. Let’s see if these are as good. Do you want one?”
Ruby should probably eat actual food for dinner instead of a latte and a custard tart, but she couldn’t say no. After he bought two tarts, they walked while eating them. Ruby had never been to Portugal, so she had no idea if the tart was as good as ones from there, but this was flaky and buttery, and the caramelized flavor from the browned top cut through the sweetness perfectly.
“It’s as good as Portugal,” Rashid said, popping the rest of his tart in his mouth.
“I’ve always wanted to go. I’ve never been anywhere in Europe.” She wanted to say that she planned to travel throughout Europe after moving to the UK, but she knew he didn’t approve of her move, and she didn’t want to set him off.
“You’ve moved a lot in Canada. Can I ask why?”
Ruby shrugged. “After my mother died, I haven’t felt tied to any one place, so when an interesting opportunity comes up, I move.” She realized that saying that only made her seem flighty, but that was who she was. “I mean, none of those places meant anything to me. Montreal was my favorite, but I’ve never found anywhere that felt… right. Like home.”
