It was February before Archie and Ruby were able to catch up with each other socially.
Since September of the previous year, both had been extremely busy keeping up with customers and patients alike, and their increasingly busy workload didn’t allow for more than a brief hello at church either.
Both Abel and his wife Marie looked at Teresa.
“Don’t look at me, babies… it ain’t in my timing”
The pastor and his wife grinned at each other as they headed off to a quiet supper at Charlotte’s.
Meanwhile, at Clark’s, David Nolan was having a hard time.
He loved his wife, Katherine, but he wasn’t in love with her.
Ever since he heard her voice, his heart belonged to none other than Mary Margaret Blanchard, third grade school teacher.
He’d been trying to talk to her, but they just couldn’t seem to get a moment alone together.
He remembered earlier that day when Ruby, the wild carefree diner waitress at Granny’s convinced Ashley Boyd and Mary Margaret to go out for drinks later for a girls night.
When the girls had said yes, David looked unsure… Ruby could be a little too promiscuous, and risqué for his taste… he preferred subtle, mild mannered Mary Margaret. there was a purity about her that he loved…
“Two Valentines” said a voice.
David jumped when he noticed the tall, imposing figure of Demetrius Gold in front of him in line.
David noticed briefly the tape and rope the man was buying… weird…
“Yeah, Just couldn’t decide” he fibbed. “They’re both so… us”
David was lying and he knew it, but he didn’t think Gold could tell.
“Well, you’re fortunate to have someone who loves you…” he trailed off as if thinking of something.
“Love” he scoffed “It’s like a delicate flame… and once it’s gone, it’s gone forever”
As the two bade goodbye, Teresa looked at her husband Saul, in line for some snacks and extra formula for their grandson.
Saul shook his head. “Better get a hold of Abel and quick… Moe French is in some deep trouble”
The two elders, seemingly having a glow about them, watched as Demetrius Gold limped down the street in search of his prey.
Apparently, it was payback time…
“I really appreciate you doing this Archie, it means a lot.” David said with a smile as he and Dr. Archie Hopper sat down together for drinks at the Rabbit Hole Bar.
Archie remembered the last time he was there and shivered slightly, then took a sip of his beer.
“It’s no problem at all, David, I was happy to come” Archie smiled.
If not you will be when you see who’s here David thought.
Aside from checking in on a woman clearly not his wife, David was determined to prove something to himself; that Archie, if not in love, then at least had a major crush on their local waitress, Ruby.
If Archie had known of his intentions, not only would he have refused, but he would have blushed his hair red, and stuttered himself silly.
As they sat down to drinks, and David kept his eyes solely on Mary Margaret, Archie was amazed at David’s blatant behavior.
This was a singles’ bar. Shouldn’t David be with the woman he had married, and publicly declared that he lo- oh…
Archie’s thoughts froze in mid sentence as his eyes rested upon the woman who had been unknowingly, the object of his secret desires for as long as he could remember.
The therapist suddenly had a sneaking suspicion…was she the reason David had asked him to come along with him tonight?
Archie suddenly felt betrayed… and wished someone would call David out on his misdeed.
Ruby turned around and thought she caught a glance at two familiar looking men.
One was definitely David.
The other… Ruby tried to keep down her martini as her stomach jumped.
Crap crap Criminitely Crap! Ok… play it cool and casual…
“Check out those guys…” she gave a not so subtle hint to Mary Margaret to turn around.
Catching Archies eye, she winked.
He gulped and his ears turned red.
Ruby did her best not to giggle into her drink as she turned back to her friends, not noticing Archie had tugged at his tie…
Ashley, thinking Ruby was talking about the sweater vested dorks to their left, shook her head.
“Oh, honey, I’m still with Sean” she shook her head.
“he’s working” Ashley defended.
“he’s always working” Ruby deadpanned. But even Archie’s a workaholic and he still finds time to hang out.
She threw a glance over her shoulder, her stomach flipping again, but Archie was talking to David.
When Ashley continued to mope, Ruby gave up.
“Have fun moping” Ruby shrugged, grabbing her glass and turned around, walking over classily to the guys’ table.
Archie, ever the gentleman, stood up at her arrival.
“David, Archie…hi! What brings you two gents out tonight?”
If Ruby had been focusing, she could have been able to tell that the dear doctor was hopelessly blushing under her greeting.
He jumped and scowled when David kicked him under the table.
David grinned at her, charmingly. “Drinks, food, atmosphere…”
Archie could have sworn he and Ruby were in sync with each other.
This was due to simultaneous raise of the eyebrow they were both now giving the adulterer at his pitiful lie.
Suddenly feeling very tiny, as if being scolded by his parents, David excused himself.
“Yeah uh….I gotta go… thanks Archie” David stood up nervously and shuffled to the door.
Archie smirked at Ruby’s pursed lips “Sure David… anytime”
Ruby crossed her arms “Betcha a meal on the house this isn’t gonna end well for him tonight…he’s in the dog house for sure.”
Archie smirked. “you’re on, Ruby… you’re on”
They grinned at each other, both thinking along the same lines.
Would she let me court her if I asked?
Both snapped out of their stupor at the same time, blushing.
“Ah, w-would you like to sit down?” Archie asked, pulling out a chair for Ruby.
Delighted that he was so charming, Ruby couldn’t keep the smile from lighting up her face.
She did the best she could to keep from blushing. Good thing her rouge was darker tonight!
“Aww thank you Archie, I think I will.” Archie smiled and pushed her chair in after her.
After he was sure she was seated comfortably, he sat down and they ordered: a green salad for him, and a medium well steak with A1 sauce and steamed broccoli for her.
Deciding their previous alcohol had boosted their bravery, both drank water.
Over comical discussion they talked about Henry, the little girl Juniper that Ruby had recently taken to babysitting while her grandfather is away, and how they’re enjoying, or despising their jobs.
“Maybe you could do something else?” Archie suggested.
Ruby frowned. “I could, but that would mean leaving Granny. I know I’m 26 and all, but she’s all I’ve got…”
The conversation lulled as Ruby got quiet and was close to tears. Archie, determined not to let her cry, magically pulled out his handkerchief, and says something that makes her laugh while she wipes her eyes.
Feeling bold, he puts his hand on top of hers. “If you ever need help Ruby, or just want someone to talk to, I’m always here.”
Ruby looked at him. “Here?” she asked, making light of his comment.
Archie shook his head and chuckled. Ruby adored how his laughter made his eyes crinkle.
“I’m not saying call me tomorrow” he blushed as she giggled.
“I just might” she grinned. He blushed harder causing Ruby to laugh again.
Ruby nodded and folded her fingers in his cupped hand.
“Thanks Archie…that means a lot. And thanks for the date, even if you had to shoo David away from the table.”
Archie took a big step in rubbing the back of her hand and winked.
Meanwhile, a midget and an ex nun looked on at the two in obvious interest.
“Awww they’re so sweet! what do you think, Leroy, will he go in and sweep her off her feet?”
Leroy looked over at Archie with a smirk then looked back into the bold brown eyes of his love-interest….
He often wondered what they were now.
Were they lovers, friends, friends with benefits?
It was impossible to tell… especially since she had just left the Roman Catholic church.
How soon could he tell her what she meant to him?
He tried not to think about it, and decided to enjoy the time he had with her.
She beamed as he took her hand and squeezed slightly.
“I dunno, munchkin… I guess that depends on whether or not he burns his hand or breaks the dishes on his way out”
Astrid giggled and chided him playfully for not being nice.
Leroy shrugged and sat back. he’d figure things out later about how things stood between him and Astrid.
For now, as long as she kept smiling and giggling, all was well in his world…
“Well…Astrid and just what are you doing here in this place of filth?”
Astrid winced apologetically at Leroy and gulped, not answering her superior, currently glaring down at them, hands on her scrawny hips.
Leroy tried not to scowl… just when things were going so well…
Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Looking into green eyes of a hotly dressed Ruby, he smirked.
From their table, Archie attempted to calmly wait for Ruby’s return. He didn’t quite trust Leroy though.
He felt a stab of conscience… Leroy was obviously involved with someone else.
Archie turned his attention instead to the Mother Superior. he wondered just what was she doing in a place like this?
From what he could gather from Ruby, Astrid, a friend of Ruby’s and Leroy’s new girlfriend, had just recently left the church.
And now it seemed MS was here to bring her back.
Obviously it was Astrid’s choice, so why was MS here?
Ruby hoped she could stop a storm before it got a chance to brew.
“Leroy, can you go and get Astrid a glass of water?”
Leroy, sensing her motive, squeezed Astrid’s hand comfortingly and left.
MS stiffened at the contact between the two, and seemed even more incensed by Ruby’s appearance and presence thereupon, given her… reputation.
“If you would excuse us Ms. Lucas , I believe I have this under control…don’t I Astrid?”
Astrid meekly nodded her head, and continued to look down at the table.
Ruby, feeling defiantly willful and protective over her friend, stood her ground against the older nun.
“I think not your Nunliness, may I recommend this conversation continue outside?”
Ruby tried hard to keep a straight face; how does one properly address a nun?
Archie chuckled. whatever was being said, Ruby was definitely holding her own.
He personally had never had any dealings with Mother Superior, but the way the woman was looking at Ruby, made him feel uncomfortable.
Before he could get up and try to diffuse the situation, MS said something that had set Ruby off.
“I do not have and will not take the time to trifle with harlotous tarts and barflies” MS glowered at Ruby and Leroy.
“Astrid, get up and get your cloak…we’re leaving”
Ruby looked at Leroy in shock, who looked mad enough to dump the whole bar on the nun’s head.
All Ruby had tried to do was to protect Astrid’s honor subtly; continue the conversation outside so the girl’s feelings wouldn’t get hurt, and Leroy wouldn’t end up in prison.
Now it was all she could do not to find one of those old crosshair bows on eBay and shoot the nun down… either that or shape-shift into a wolf and tear her head off.
Before Ruby could do any real damage, Archie got up, and walked quietly behind her.
“Ruby, is everything alright? our food will be here soon.” he turned to the others apologetically.
“Please, don’t mind me… I came to see that my companion was alright”
Casting a quick glance to Archie after looking at MS, Ruby walked back to the girls’ table.
Archie stood puzzled for a second.
Ruby’s expression had been one of deep pain…what was that all about?
MS turned on him. “Good evening, Dr. Hopper… how nice to see you…” she trailed off awkwardly.
Archie turned to her stiffly. he had noticed the look of hurt in Ruby’s eyes that passed from MS to him before she walked away.
For his part, Leroy looked ready to pummel something.
By the look of sadness on Astrid’s face and the tear rolling down her cheek, Archie was sure it wasn’t due to something Leroy had said.
Which made him wonder just what MS had said to Ruby.
As much as he would have liked to ask Leroy what had happened, he couldn’t without causing a scene.
How was he to handle this situation? getting irate and demanding to know what was said would lead him nowhere, and talking to her in private just seemed rude… he decided to take a more diplomatic approach.
“Good evening to you as well your grace… he said kindly. “I trust you’re enjoying your holiday?”
Surprised, the nun nodded her head.
“As well as can be expected, doctor, though my mind is elsewhere these days…” she smiled at him.
If that was a veiled attempt at flirtation, he ignored it. He turned to Leroy and winked at Astrid who smiled at him confused…just what was he doing?
“I wonder where Ruby could be?” Leroy guffawed. MS gritted her teeth and forced a smile.
“I’m sure she’s well in hand, Doctor…” she purred and touched his arm.
MS’s attempt at…well… did she consider it seduction…? it annoyed Archie to no end; especially when he was here with Ruby and not her.
To him, loved was layered…a mystery to be uncovered. Ruby was definitely a mystery.
Clearing his throat as his cheeks flushed slightly, he made up his mind to court Ruby properly, with Granny’s permission, and Ruby’s consent.
He didn’t want someone who threw herself at him and had to be in constant control while condemning the world, or at least Astrid, Ruby and Leroy for their mistakes.
He nodded and smiled slightly in Ruby’s direction as she returned.
He had seen Ruby over at her original table and heard slight clapping… he wondered what it was about and why Ruby looked so radiantly happy.
She looked almost wistful for a moment. Archie decided he’d figure it out later.
Returning his attention to Mother Superior, he shrugged slightly.
“Well, I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had a trying time…it happens to all of us. If you will excuse us… Ruby?” with a frown, the psychologist gave the nun a curt nod and walked back to the table with Ruby where their dinner was waiting.
Leroy and Astrid gawked at each other.
MS highly offended by this point, turned on her heel. “
Don’t think that you’ve gotten away with anything, Astrid… we won’t forget this… I won’t forget this.” Then with a dark scowl in Ruby’s direction, she turned on her heel and left.
By the time Archie made the decision to walk Ruby home, Mary Margaret and Ashley had already left.
Archie watched with a smile as Leroy helped Astrid with her poncho, placed his arm around her, waved to Archie and Ruby and the two of them left.
Archie helped Ruby out of her seat, left a tip for the waiter, and the two of them walked out of the Rabbit Hole.
It was raining outside as it had throughout the night, so Archie pulled out his umbrella, opened it, and offered Ruby his arm.
Touched, she accepted his arm and walked closely enough with him so that anyone looking might have viewed them as engaged or married.
Archie chuckled to keep his focus off of his flushing cheeks.
“So, did you enjoy yourself?” he asked. Ruby nodded smiling, feeling unexplained butterflies in her stomach.
“I did, thank you. I hope I didn’t intrude on your evening” she looked at him as Archie shook his head.
“Not at all, my dear. I had a wonderful time this evening… was anything wrong, earlier…?”
Archie noted that Ruby shook her head too quickly. she had transferred her thoughts to the comment Mother Superior had said before Ruby returned to her original table.
Realizing that Archie meant Ashley and MM, before realizing that Archie may have been watching her that night also, made Ruby blush.
“No…not at all… honestly, I was glad to get away from them till the end…” she whispered.
Archie felt as if he were part of a secret no one else was supposed to overhear; it warmed him that she would take him into her confidence.
As if sensing the curiosity in his features, Ruby giggled. “Don’t tell anyone yet, though I’m sure it’s bound to get out by breakfast, Sean and Ashley are engaged”
Archie raised an eyebrow. Young Sean Thomas and Ashley Boyd, engaged?
“What?” he asked. “I can hear you thinking!” she frowned.
“Ashley’s my friend and so are you. For just this evening can you not be a psychologist?”
At the pleading tone in her voice, and the look in her eyes, Archie would have given Ruby the moon had she asked.
“Alright, alright… just for tonight” he teased, wanting to kiss her hair and feel it flow through his fingers…
Ruby squeaked which Archie thought was adorable.
She held on tighter to his arm as they continued making their way to the bed and breakfast before he walked home.
As he watched her walk beside him, watching her watch the rain as it fell, Archie had the desire to ask her, right then…
Ruby, getting slightly sleepy from the day’s events, and realizing she didn’t have much time before dawn, turned to Archie.
He was a solid, strong, well built man.
And though he didn’t tower over her, there was still a compatible height difference.
She wondered briefly what his arms would feel like around her, what his lips tasted like…
She shook her head. Peter… she was still mourning for Peter, right?
Ruby remembered briefly that during their short period of dating, Granny hated Peter. She said he was a bad influence and called him a wastrel… whatever that meant.
Ruby herself hadn’t felt as safe, as protected as she did with Archie now. When Peter held her, it was always Ruby who had to initiate the hug.
He’d been late for several dates, and stood her up, once.
That time he’d claimed he’d gotten a flat tire on his bike, but instead of a mechanic receipt, Ruby found a tab for Tina’s Trinkets, a jewelry store in town.
Ruby hadn’t questioned it, until one time Peter had come by, late, smelling of booze, drugs, and lavender…
Ruby was a strawberry girl. she didn’t do lavender anything…
“Mmm?” Ruby asked, as Archie touched her shoulder lightly.
“Ruby, are you alright? You don’t look well”
“Mm… I’m okay. What were you going to ask me?”
Archie’s heart sank. He’d wanted to ask her if she would perhaps like to start courting… but now, judging by the look on her face, she was nowhere near ready.
She looked ready to cry, to fall asleep, maybe both.
Archie dared to hope she wasn’t thinking about Peter. He tried not to curse the boy in his head, despite the boy was dead.
They were here at the B and B. it had stopped raining and Ruby was asleep on her feet.
“Stay with me, Ruby” Archie murmured. He felt her hang onto him as he closed his umbrella.
Archie made a decision. Peter had cast Ruby aside as if she meant nothing to him.
If she had, they may have been married or at least engaged by this point.
There was an old phrase that said one man’s trash is another man’s treasure… Ruby was Peter’s ex…
Archie vowed from that moment on to treat her like the treasure she was. As it said in Proverbs she was worth more than rubies.
He felt like Boaz in the story of Ruth. Peter had died, Ruby was stuck, and now she needed a guardian.
Archibald Jiminy Hopper believed himself to be that guardian.
“Do you trust me, dearest?” he murmured.
“With my life” she whimpered sleepily.
Archie felt like crying as he placed a hand to her back and stooped down.
“Then hang on tight, love… you’ll be home soon”
With that, the therapist, at nearly two thirty in the morning, picked up the waitress in his arms; she weighed nothing at all…
“Archie…” Archie kissed Ruby’s hair, near her ear. “Shhh…. you’re as light as a feather sweetheart, hang on to me now”
Archie got Ruby to the B and B, Granny waiting in the front room.
“Oh, thank Heavens” Granny hissed.
“Her room?” Archie whispered. Granny led him down the hall to the door across from Roger Bracings and his granddaughter, Juniper.
Setting on the lamp, Archie lay Ruby down gently after Granny moved some blouses from the bed, muttering under her breath.
“I’ll say good morning now” Archie grinned.
Granny smiled, as she worked taking off Ruby’s boots.
“Thank you, Dr. Hopper” she whispered.
“It’s Archie” he hissed with a smile, raising his umbrella in farewell.
“See you at lunch!” Granny smirked.
Archie chuckled shaking his head as he walked down the stairs.
He didn’t notice the door open and a little girl sneak out to get a better look.
Juniper Lois Cricket nearly shrieked for joy.
She could not wait to tell Henry!
“Juniper! you get your scrawny little behind back to bed young miss!” Granny hissed.
Juniper giggled and headed back to bed. She couldn’t wait for school tomorrow!
Granny chuckled once she’d gotten Ruby changed into her nightgown.
“See? I told you if you wait long enough you’d find a good man… and girl, if you haven’t caught the Prince of men in our town!”
Granny noticed her granddaughter’s breathing, and her makeup having run.
Was she grieving over Peter, or the mistakes that had been made?
“You live n learn, girl… sleep now, Ruby. I love you” with that, Granny kissed Ruby’s temple and turned out the light…
As she rolled over, holding her pillow, Ruby finally gave into her tears.
Somewhere inside her, she questioned Peter’s honor as a man.
Was it…? yes. Ruby now understood.
Through Abel and Marie, counsel from her grandmother, and her own instincts, it was possible that Peter, her beloved Peter, had been untrue.
She thought back to the day she’d first met Archie.
Peter hadn’t been happy to meet some stranger that Ruby had just met.
“How long have you known him, Ruby?” he’d asked, his leather jacket smelling of smoke and odd…lavender.
“I just met him today Ruby answered wondering why he would ask.
Peter nodded nonchalantly.
“Yeah, well, stay away from ‘im. He’s a lot older than you, and bets are, he’s a shrink!”
Ruby was confused, “What’s wrong with that?”
As if reading her mind, Peter glared at her. “He can hypnotize you- make you think things- y'know what? forget it… let’s go”
Archie had wanted to ask her something tonight, but her mind had been back at the bar.
As they spoke, his eyes spoke volumes. Ruby was sure of two things.
One, Archie had been in the bar before, and that something had happened there that he didn’t want to share.
Two, there was a hidden anger deep within the doctor, that had risen slightly before she started crying.
Ruby was sure, in her gut, that Archie had known about Peter, and being the gentleman he was, didn’t know how to tell her…
With this knowledge, Ruby broke down into tears, grabbing her jacket, which still had Archie’s hint of cologne.
Breathing deeply, Ruby cuddled closer imagining Archie was still there. She had found her prince. Now what?
Giving into her buried, thought-long-forgotten grief, Ruby muffled the sound of her tears as she cried herself to sleep…
In the darkness of the room across the hall, the small ears of Juniper Cricket flicked at hearing the heartbreaking sounds of mourning coming from Ms. Ruby’s room.
Tiptoeing out of her grandfathers room she quietly made her way to her friend’s room.
Smoothing out her mother’s hair, Juniper felt Ruby’s grief fivefold.
she had never been told about her birth father, Peter, and did not hold any grudge to that.
As far as she was concerned, Jiminy Cricket alias Archie Hopper was her father.
Sleep well Mama Juniper whispered as she kissed her sleeping mother’s temple.
As Juniper turned to the door, she heard Ruby cry in fright.
In that next moment, Ruby awoke to the feel of soft fur and smell of puppy breath.
the puppy whimpered, and Ruby shrugged going back to sleep.
Juniper made herself comfortable, resting her head on Ruby’s arm.
Papa was right… no one would ever harm her again…
