Book 2:  "It's better to have loved and lost, they said. They were wrong."  Ruby balanced her phone between her shoulder and ear as she wound her bike chain around a tree. “Have you decided what you want on your cake? I just arrived at the bakery.”“I told you, it doesn’t really matter to me. The cake is going to be delicious either way,” Katie said.It mattered to Ruby. An ache settled in her chest and she paused outside the bakery door. “What about pink baby booties in the middle with the writing surrounding the

Ruby finished setting the table, then glanced at the place cards she held in her hand. She placed one next to each plate, then when she felt she had the order right, she sat down on the couch to anxiously await the arrival of her dinner guests.After what seemed like hours, Ruby glanced at her phone. It had only been twenty minutes, but she saw she had a text from Sam that she had somehow missed.Sorry, we’re running late.Of course they were. They had probably burned dinner and now had to pick up something on their way over. At least Zoe would be there as a buffer between her and Parker. And if all went well, it would be Zoe that Parker would ask to take home, and Ruby would be off the hook. At least, t

Ruby turned on the ‘closed’ sign and pulled the daycare door shut. She sighed as she turned her key in the lock. Another day over. Another night in an empty house. She’d thought she’d be used to it by now. She had lived alone for a long time before she had gotten married. It had been bearable, but never felt right. And then Clark had shown up and it had been like a light switched on. Clark illuminated everything, making even the drabbest corners of Ruby’s life bright again. She had never laughed as much as when she had Clark.Now?Ruby unlocked her bike chain and stuck it in the basket. She flicked the bell on the handlebars a few times, just to hear a bit of its happiness before she started for home. It was the same bell Ruby had had since she was a kid. T

Ruby stared at herself in the mirror, barely recognizing the reflection that stared back. It wasn’t just that she was older. Life had thrown a lot at her, and she didn’t wear it well. The bags under her eyes were evidence of all the sleepless nights Ruby still had. After marrying Clark, it hadn’t taken long to get used to sleeping with another person. But after his death, she’d never gotten used to sleeping without him by her side. Her laughter lines had also faded over the years.Ruby grabbed her phone and called Zoe. It rang several times before Zoe picked up. “I can’t do it,” Ruby said.“Yes, you can. It’s not like you’re going out with a stranger. Parker’s already been over to your house for dinner, and you’ve s

Ruby watched Parker mix the green onions and pineapple in with the cream cheese. She hadn’t let it soften long enough, and Parker’s muscles flexed with each attempt to mix the ingredients together. She turned her attention back to the cups of yogurt parfait she was assembling in layers. Parker hadn’t complained last night when she gave him a long list of ingredients and supplies they’d need. He hadn’t asked her to come with him again, which left her both disappointed and relieved.Ruby couldn’t have gone, of course. Besides the fact that she was at the daycare for most of the day, Parker needed to take his car to fit all the groceries in the trunk, and that would have brought up yet another conversation that Ruby didn’t want to have.She liked t