Samantha gave her a half-hearted smile. “Until you can let go of Chase, Ruby, you’ll always be in this constant state of darkness.”
Ruby took a step back, tears threatening to take over her beautiful eyes. “Let go? Let go!” Her voice rose so much that everyone in the room was now staring at her. The hurt and pain was evident in the way her voice wobbled and shook with anger. “You’re asking me to let go of the only person who gave a damn about me? You want me to forget the one person who grounded me in ways you’ll never understand? You might as well be asking me to snuff out all the love inside of me because once Chase is gone, there will be nothing left. I’m already an empty shell, now you’re asking me to let go of the only thing keeping me alive?”
Her dramatics were warranted but also a little over the top. Just because she was suffering inside, didn’t mean that she needed to just give up on life.
“Look, Ruby. I know I’m probably not the person you envisioned as being your guardian angel, but I can assure you that my tactics and past clients have all successfully worked through similar grieving situations. They still love the ones who passed, but realized that they can continue moving on without them. It’s going to be hard, and you’ll hate me ninety percent of the time, but I promise you it will all be worth it if you just have a little faith.”
I held out my hand, hoping to God that she would put her faith in me and let me help her work through all this shifting turmoil she has inside.
She stared at my hand with great scrutiny, looking between me and Dr. Schilling as if she was conflicted on what the best choice for her future would be? If she chose to go with me, there was no guarantee I could help her work through her loss like I was trying to promise, but I also knew if she stayed here, it would just eat away her soul bit by bit. This was no place for someonelike Ruby, she needed to be nurtured and cared for, not locked away and treated like a mental patient. The only thing mental about her was that she was fighting her grief, and that was one thing I knew how to work through very well. Hell, I was still working on mine every day, but at least I had this business to help me get through it.
That’s when it hit me.
If fishing helped Darrius find his inner peace, and opening the doors to Guiding Light helped me find mine, all I had to do was help Ruby find her purpose in this world. There had to be something out there that could help her calm the rage of emotion swirling inside her, and according to my contract—a contract she had yet to sign, I only had one month to do it.
“Come on, Ruby, what do you have to lose?” I asked, extending my hand even further.
Her eyes shut together painfully, and she sighed. “Nothing, I guess.” I felt her palm fit in my hand, the coldness of it didn’t go unnoticed. This woman needed my help, and I was just the man to give it to her.
Dr. Schilling handed me the form to sign her out of the hospital, then I handed the Guiding Light contract over for Ruby to sign.
“What’s this?”
“A binding contract between you and me. Go ahead and read it over. It explains my services and the duration of our time together.”
“You’re not asking for payment?” she asked curiously, reading down the page.
“No, ma’am. Everything I do is strictly non-profit. My only request is that you go into this with an open mind and heart.”
She kept reading. “And I only have to put up with you for a month?”
I nodded. “Yes, if by the end of the month you aren’t completely satisfied with my services, our contract will end, nothing will be extended, and all obligations I have to being your guardian will cease at your approval.”
“Any clauses about no touching?”
Dr. Schilling held in her laughter. Covering her smile with her hand.
“Absolutely, I will only touch you if you ask me to.”
She took the pen away from Dr. Schilling and signed the contract.
“Fine, you got one month, Nicholas, but if shit ain’t solved by then, you need to walk out my door and never return.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
But I had no intention of ever leaving Ruby’s side. Something inside of me was calling out to her, and the way my heart skipped extra beats when she was around left me with everything I needed to know. Ruby was meant for me. Now I just had to prove it to her as well.
Chapter Six
I sat quietly in his truck, glaring out the window, not really seeing anything as the city faded behind us. Cap had put two big duffles in the back, and I changed into the new clothes he brought me before we left. The clothes were a little snug across the breasts and hips, but otherwise they were okay. I almost asked who they belonged to, but then that would mean I had to speak to him and I wasn’t ready for that.
There’s that saying that misery loves company, but in my case, I don’t. I like to stew in my misery and anger. People just annoy me, and the fact that Cap and the good doctor back at the hospital worked something out for me, really grated on my nerves. Who were they to control where and what I did with my life? I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. What did it matter? I would do whatever I could to get him out of my house and life as soon as possible. If that meant I had to fake progress and happiness, then so be it.
“What do you like to eat?” Cap asked, breaking the silence.
“Why?”
“Do you have any food allergies?”
