So, I forgot about Ruby. I hadn't seen her for a month, and we weren't particularly close, so I had no choice but to get on with it.
And I did.
I woke up. I had breakfast. I worked. I met people, talked with friends, had some beer, every now and then, debated about Collins new laws, dated my girlfriend. I lived my life.
And yet there was always this memory in the back of my head. I'd lie in bed, and I'd suddenly think about Ruby. I'd get this horrible, gut wrenching feeling, I'd brood for a while, and then I'd just tuck her away in the back of my mind.
Because that's all she was to me anymore. A memory. A kangaroo that had suddenly hopped into my life, and just as quickly, hopped back out.
....................
Fast forward 2 months. I'm with my girl, Jessica, and we're on a date. We were having a wonderful time, great food, beautiful music, best date you could imagine.
"Rick," She said. "You know I love you, right?" I sighed, smiling. She always asked me her "you know I love you" questions, when she wants you to be honest with her. I never was, though.
"The other day, I was wondering if you had any... former lovers..." ‹ruby› I thought. I felt it again, that feeling I always got when I thought about her. "Uh, well, I didn't do anything, you know, sexual, but, uh..."
"Really?" A voice said behind me. "Sleeping in a bed together naked isn't sexual?"
My stomach fell through the floor, and then some. I inhaled deeply, slowly turned around, and faced the person behind me.
For the first time in 3 months, I was face to face with my wife, Ruby.
"So, Rick," She said, malice in her voice. "Who might this be?" She stared at Jessica like a sniper about to kill his target.
"Well, uh Ruby, this is..." Jessica stood up, hands on her hips. "Oh, nobody, just his girlfriend."
"Is that so?" She turned her gaze towards me. I could feel her piercing my soul. "I didn't know you were supposed to date after you got married."
<Oh shit> I braced for impact.
"You mean Rick is married to..." Jessica grabbed my hand. "You married a fucking anthro?"
"I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you." Ruby said, striding over to face Jessica. "Would you mind repeating that?"
I cowered behind a table, and plugged my ears. Jessica smiled, licked her lips, and said "You. Are. A. Fucking. Anthro. Bitch."
....................
"Well, I didn't EXPECT the waiter to be carrying a platter of fresh enchiladas!"
Ruby was yelling at me in my bedroom. "I don't give a shit WHAT the waiter was doing, you don't kick a women ten fucking feet in the middle of a high end restaurant!"
"You know what else you don't do, Rick? Cheat on your wife for 3 months while she working her ass off trying to find your house, which is ten thousand fucking miles away!"
"What the fuck did you want me to do? Sit around and wait for you?"
"Yes! We're married Rick! I don't have a job or a family like you! You're all I have!"
I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn't. For once she had bested me. I had been left speechless.
"Look, Ruby, if... If you want to be my wife then I'll be glad to have you. I'm sorry, alright?"
I waited for a response.
"Alright. Let's go to bed. Had enough shit for one day..."
We were both lying in bed. I turned around. "If it makes you feel better, Ruby, I'm glad you're back.
Silence. Then she said "Well, I'm glad I made it."