“So I’ll sit with you,” she interrupted. “Wait there. Oh, right, you’re there already. I’m coming.”
Half an hour later, I spotted her rushing through the entrance, wobbling slightly on her high heels.
“Ruby,” I called.
“Oh, honey.” She hurried over and pulled me into a hug.
She was in her night out clothes and I was still in my work clothes, probably reeking by now.
I updated her, and we sat together in silence for a while. It was good to have her there.
“What is this shit?” Ruby asked, taking a sip from my almost untouched coffee. “I passed an open coffee shop on the way—I can get us real coffee.”
“No need, really. I’ll just have to pee all the time.”
“Yeah, and you do not want to use that toilet.”
I huffed out a tired laugh. “What about Evangeline and Daphne?”
“I called them on the way. Daphne was actually relieved to cancel entirely. She’s not very sociable these days.”
“Has she ever been?”
Ruby tilted her head, weighing her answer. “She used to be ... happier? Livelier? Like, normal. But years in that job—” she shook her head. “It’s not exactly happiness-conducive.”
We sat side by side, drawing quiet comfort from each other, until I noticed someone coming through the main entrance.
He looked around, spotted me, and walked over as I waved.
“How is he?” Finn stopped in front of us.
I gave him a brief update on everything I knew.
“He’s never had this problem. I make sure they bring me their annual check-up reports,” he said.
“They say he’s stable now, but they want to monitor him overnight. We’ll know more in the morning.”
“Will you let me know?”
“Of course. Thanks for stopping by.”
“Of course. Do you need anything? Can I get you anything?” he asked.
“No, no, we’re fine. Thank you so much.”
“Okay. Let me know if anything changes ... or if you need anything.”
“I will. Thanks, Finn.”
When he left and I sat back down, Ruby had a strange smile on her face.
“Isn’t that—”
“Yes, it is, and I told you already—it’s not true,” I cut her off. “He didn’t have an affair with his wife’s cousin.”
“I heard they’re more like sisters. So basically, he’s with his ex-wife’s sister now.”
I sighed and rested my head on her shoulder. “Oh, Ruby. Mind your own business.”
