Seasons of Her Life (41 page)

“What are you doing here?”

“I own this house, or did you forget? The door was open, we walked in. I did knock.”

“You could have closed it,” Amber snapped, kicking at the door with her foot. Ruby winced.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed movement on the stairway. She turned to see Nangi impeccably dressed in a navy blue suit and white shirt. He was carrying a lizard-skin briefcase.

“Ruby?”

“Yes. And I guess you know Rena. I have to talk to both of you. I'm sorry if it will make you late for work.”

“I can make up the time. Is something wrong? Amber, offer our guests some coffee. Please, come and sit down,” Nangi said, indicating the sagging couch. Surely, he wouldn't risk sitting there, Ruby thought crazily. He'll get dog and cat hairs all over his suit. She shook her head.

“This won't take long. I'm sorry about all this, but the bank that holds my mortgage notified me that you and Amber haven't been paying the rent this past year. They're ready to foreclose. I've charged you only two hundred dollars a month, and that's more than fair. I thought you would still be able to save a little. I didn't know about the baby”—she waved her hand toward the ceiling—“or that Amber is pregnant again. I don't want to lose this house, so we're going to have to do something.”

“What? You want us to move, is that it?” Amber whined.

“That's one solution. The other is that you come up with six months' back rent, and you start taking care of this place. I sold my other house so that Mom and Pop could move to Florida, and I gave you this one in excellent condition to help you out. Now look at it. The dog and cat have to go!”

Nangi's briefcase snapped open. “You have my apologies, Ruby. I thought Amber had been paying you all along. You've been more than generous. I don't know what we would have done without your help. It seems no one wants to rent to people with children. I told Amber a while back that we should be paying you at least three hundred dollars a month. Your previous tenants told me when they moved out that they had been paying five hundred. That makes me appreciate all the more what you've done for us.”

Ruby felt giddy; her heart thumped in her chest. She watched as Nangi wrote out a check and handed it to her. “You have my sincere apologies. From now on the rent will be on time, and it will be three hundred dollars. Is that satisfactory?” Ruby nodded dumbly as she looked at the amount on the check—eighteen hundred dollars. Dear God, she was off the hook; her only other alternative would have been to sell the czarina's ring.

Nangi bowed low. “It was nice to see you again, Ruby. I'm sorry it was under these circumstances. I'll be seeing Calvin in a few weeks. Would you like me to say hello for you?”

“Yes, say hello for me.” She had to ask, she had to know. “Where is he these days? How is his family?”

“He has two handsome sons. He is now what you Americans call a full bird colonel. He says he's had “below the zone” promotions, which I think means he's advanced very quickly. He's stationed in Colorado. He always asks about you, but I never have anything to tell him. Amber says she never has any news of you.”

A tiny, tinkling arm snaked out to steady Ruby. “Tell him ... tell him I think of him often. You can tell him I, too, have two children, and we're stationed in Pensacola. Tell him ... I look forward to seeing him someday. Wish him well and congratulate him on his rank. My husband is up for his silver oak leaves.”

“I'll be sure to tell him, Ruby. Do you by any chance have a picture of yourself and the children?”

Thank God he'd asked. “I think so,” Ruby murmured as she searched through her wallet. A small stack of pictures fell out and fluttered to the floor. Both she and Nangi dropped to their knees. It was Nangi who picked up the old picture of her and Calvin smiling into the camera. He pretended not to see the tears swimming in Ruby's eyes. She handed over a glossy photo of herself and the children sitting on the sofa. It was an old picture, taken when they were stationed in California.

The moment the door closed behind Nangi, Amber snarled. “I hope you're happy. That money was supposed to pay for our trip back to Saipan. You haven't changed at all; you're still a bitch. Go to hell, Ruby.”

Ruby wanted to kill her. “You better clean up this place. I'll ask Bruno to come and do the repair work. I was hasty about the animals; you can keep them, but you get that cat neutered. I want this place cleaned up. And while you're at it, clean yourself up. Soap and water cost very little, but if you don't have the money for it, I'll give it to you. Get it through your head, Amber, I don't owe you anything.”

Amber brushed impatiently at the straggly hair falling about her face. Overhead, the baby was still wailing. She had the good sense, at that point, to look embarrassed, and Ruby saw a vulnerability she hadn't known Amber possessed. Her heart fluttered. The moment she saw Amber's eyes fill, she turned to Rena. “Go back, I'm going to stay here for a while and ... help my sister. I'll take a cab back to your house.”

“What happened, Amber?” Ruby asked gently, leading her sister to the sagging couch when Rena had gone.

Amber threw her hands into the air. “God, I don't know. The kids, one after the other . . . Saipan ... it's so hot over there . . . no one does housework . . . I was always tired, always pregnant... Mom and Dad ... not enough money. I couldn't get back into the swing of things when we moved here. Look, I'm sorry I let the house go ... I'll find a way to pay you back for the repairs . . . honestly, Ruby. I just didn't have the energy to discipline the children, and Nangi works late hours. It isn't easy raising so many kids. God, I don't even know if we have enough money to pay the doctor to deliver the next one now that Nangi paid you. It's right that he paid you. Ruby, I'm just so damn tired.”

“Do you really want to go back to Saipan?” Ruby whispered.

“We don't belong here. I guess you can see that.”

“Were you happy over there?” Ruby asked curiously.

“Yes, I was. There were no pressures. Nangi didn't let you see it, but he's tied up in knots at work. They don't treat him the way they treat the others. He gets all the shitty jobs, and he's the one who always has to stay late with no overtime. This should give you a laugh. He thought I was a miracle worker because we saved all that money. He didn't know I paid you only the first year. He's a wonderful husband. He's never once complained about my housekeeping. I don't know how I'm going to face him when he comes home tonight. I don't know how to make it right.”

“Well, I do.”

 

Ruby was a whirlwind. She worked nonstop scrubbing, scouring, and sweeping. She had sent Amber upstairs to wash up and to look after the baby. By noon she had the worst of the kitchen done. The stove was so bad, she knew she would have to get a new one, but for now, she covered the burners with tinfoil. Roaches by the hundreds scurried for safety as she scoured the oven. When she was satisfied with the condition of the kitchen, she opened every window in the house. It took her an hour to dust and vacuum the living room and dining room. It took her another hour to collect the trash and lug it outside. It was one o'clock when she called to Amber to come downstairs.

Ruby eyed her sister critically. “That's not good enough. Go back and put on more makeup and some stockings. Surely you have a better maternity dress, at least one that's been ironed.” Amber burst into tears.

“Okay, okay. Stop with the tears. Look, take your time. Really fix yourself up. I'm going out; there's something I have to do. When I get back I want to see a smile on your face.”

Ruby sat back in the taxi, wondering if she was doing the right thing. She'd come prepared with the czarina's ring in case things were so bad she couldn't save the house. It was time to sell it. If she was lucky, she could maybe get five thousand dollars for it. If she haggled, she could get it up to sixty-five hundred. That would pay for Amber and her family to return to Saipan, and she would have enough left to refurbish the house and rent it out again.

The jewelry store was alight with winking gems. The man coming toward her was so austere and formidable-looking, Ruby wanted to turn tail and run.

“May I help you?” the man asked in a nasal voice.

“Perhaps,” Ruby said coolly. “I have a ring I'd like to sell.”

“We don't buy used goods, madam. We're in the business of selling. Try a pawn shop,” he said, looking her over from top to bottom.

“This isn't the kind of ring that's pawned,” Ruby said icily. She opened her purse and walked over to the counter, where she laid the ring down on a square of black velvet. She smiled when the man's eyes bulged. From somewhere in the back of the store two other men appeared, their eyes widening in surprise.

“Make me an offer, and if it's satisfactory, I'll consider it. If it isn't acceptable, I'll go somewhere else. I want the money now. A bank check will do.”

One of the men picked up the ring and was about to walk to the back of the store. “No, no, no. Look at it here. I don't want that ring out of my sight.” The man harumphed and huffed but followed her order. Ruby tapped her foot impatiently. What was taking them so long? She looked at her watch. If she hurried, she would have enough time to make the bank and cash the check. Perhaps she could call and make an appointment and explain the situation. She interrupted the hushed conversation behind the counter. “I need to know
now
.” She reached out to pick up the ring.

“What do you want?” the first man asked.

Ruby's heart fluttered. She didn't want to name an amount in case she was too low. If she went too high, they would think she was a fool. “I said to make me an offer. I'll let you know when your offer is acceptable.”

“Six five.”

Ruby shook her head. So she was right. That's what she would accept, but if she held out, she might get more.

“Seven.”

Ruby shook her head again.

“Eighty.”

She liked the perspiration beading on the men's faces. She shook her head again and made as if to pick up the ring.

“Ninety.”

Ruby shook her head again, her hand poised in midair. Wait. He'd said
ninety,
not
nine.
It was
eighty,
not
eight.
She felt the blood rush to her head.

“A hundred thousand. That's as high as we'll go.” Ruby swayed dizzily. She was offered a glass of water, which she drank greedily. “Very well, madam, our final offer is one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars. I will go next door to our bank and secure a draft if that is agreeable to you.”

“I think that will be fine, gentlemen.” Ruby said in a voice she didn't recognize as her own. She wouldn't think about the amount, not now. She almost laughed. That little dizzy spell had driven up the price twenty-five thousand dollars. Oh, Bubba, do you have any idea what you did for me?

Ruby made the bank with five minutes to spare. “Give me ten thousand dollars, no, make that ten thousand five hundred. I have some shopping to do. I'll be back in the morning to pay off the mortgage on the house. In the meantime, apply this,” she said, producing Nangi's check, “to the overdue mortgage.” She was out of the bank in a flash.

When she returned to the house on O Street, it was almost five o'clock. The taxi driver carried in the bundles; she carried the bag from the butcher. The money was secure in her purse.

They were waiting for her, the children lined up, solemn and serious, their eyes full of questions. It was hard to believe they were the same rambunctious children who had barreled through the door earlier that morning. Amber introduced them one by one. Ruby shook hands with each one. To her surprise, there was a George, an Irma, and an Opal, and the baby was named Ruby. The dog at the end of the line offered his paw. Ruby giggled and the children laughed. It was a shame she would never get to know these little honey-colored, dark-eyed children. So many mouths to feed, so many to clothe and buy shoes for.

Ruby looked down at the oldest. “I want to talk to your mother for a little while, so how would you all like some ice cream and candy? Here's ten dollars. Buy some soda pop, too. Shoo.” She laughed as the children ran through the door.

“What's all this?” Amber asked, shifting the baby from one hip to the other.

“One bag has steak and stuff for dinner—a celebration dinner you and I are going to cook. The rest of the stuff is for you. New maternity clothes, underwear, and shoes. I know your size, since I borrowed your shoes once. And this,” she said, handing Amber an envelope, “is ten thousand dollars. Enough for you to go back to Saipan. When things are straightened out, I'll send you another five thousand so you'll have a little nest egg. If you start to cry, Amber, I'm leaving,” Ruby said hoarsely. Amber sniffled as she handed baby Ruby over to her aunt.

“Where did you . . . how . . . ?”

“I suppose I could lie to you and say I saved it, but I'm not much of a liar. I sold the czarina's ring. Bubba gave it to me when I left for Washington. She wanted me to have it, and she didn't say anything about sharing. I'm going to give some to Opal, too. I think that's fair.” Please, she prayed silently, don't let her ask me how much it was worth.

“How much was it worth?” Amber demanded.

“They offered seven, but I held out. Twelve five.” God would forgive the extra zeros. She held her breath for Amber's response. Amber merely shrugged.

“I'm surprised you got that much. I always thought that ring was a joke, you know, that it wasn't real. You're giving me most of it. Why?”