The Other Side of Ruth by Giselle Renarde

Author:Giselle Renarde
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: friendship, depression, marriage, lesbian, aging, lesbian fiction
Publisher: eXcessica Publishing

Chapter 10

“What do you think?” Lawrence asked. “Good choice?”

Ruth looked up from her salmon and realized he was indicating the restaurant. “Oh, yes. It’s great. Good choice.”

“Well, twenty-five years.” He lifted his wine glass and clinked hers. “That’s no easy feat.”

“Mmm-hmm.” She went on with her salmon, which was truly delicious. When she felt his gaze burrowing into her, she asked, “What?”

Lawrence sat very straight in his chair, like her question was a strong gust of wind pushing against him. “You just seem a little distracted tonight, that’s all.”

He was right about that. Their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary and she was treating him like crap. That wasn’t fair. He was the victim here, the cuckolded husband, and she was the cheating wife. The least she could do was make an effort.

“I’m sorry.” Ruth picked up her wine glass and tapped his. “Just, you know, late spring, thinking about the end of the school year. It’s been busy.”

He smiled kindly and said, “Let’s not think about work tonight.”

“You’re right. Let’s think about the summer. My sister’s invited us to the cottage again, so that’ll be nice. There’s nothing more relaxing than reading in a hammock.”

“With your family around?” Lawrence made a face. “No, let’s just think about us. So much has changed over the past twenty-five years, but I love you more today than I did the day we married.”

“Lawrence…”

Ruth looked around to make sure nobody had overheard. Why was she so embarrassed? He was her husband. He was allowed to say schmaltzy crap if he wanted to.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

“No, no. It’s the menopause. I’m having one of those moods, that’s all.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” He shifted his water glass across the table, and she drank from it, wondering how he knew she was parched.

Smiling, she set the glass down and looked her husband plain in the face. The bald guy. That’s what Agnes called him. Oh, why couldn’t she stop thinking of Agnes?

“Should we do gifts now?” Lawrence asked.

Gifts? Damn it! How could she have forgotten to buy her husband an anniversary present?

“I left yours at home,” she lied. She’d picked up his birthday gift ages ago. She’d just have to substitute that. “We’ll have to wait until later.”

“Would you like yours now?” he asked, eagerly, like he really wanted her to open whatever it was.

“Sure. Why not?”

With a childlike smirk, he pulled a bright green box from his suit jacket—a long box, the kind that might contain jewellery. The colour nearly blinded her as he slipped it across the table.

“Hope you like it,” he said. “Doesn’t really seem your style, but… well, open it. You’ll see.”

Ruth slowly undid the white ribbon, and then lifted the lid. Inside, on a bed of tissue paper, sat a strange assortment of vintage buttons. She must have given the gift a funny look, because Lawrence picked it up to show her. “It’s a necklace. See? I bought it from Agnes down the street. You’re always going on about liking her jewellery and wanting to support her business.

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