Silence.
"Fernando?"
He looked at her blankly then stood not caring that he was stark naked, he walked to the picnic basket and pulled out a bottle of champagne quickly opening it and taking a huge sip. Ruby also stood although taking care to wrap the blanket around her body
"Fernando..."
He looked at her again almost as if seeing her for the first time then threw his head back and took a few more gulps of the champagne
"Look sweetheart I know this is a shock and I was meaning to tell you but I..."
"So all this time I was working here I had my granddaughter but a few inches away without knowing she is my granddaughter"
She stepped forward but stopped when he dropped the bottle and made his way to the calm waters a few feet ahead
"Fernando...what on earth are you doing? Please talk to me"
After a few minutes he took a deep breath and turned around slowly approuching her yet avoiding her eyes
"...and...I have a daughter that I will only ever see in pictures"
She hung her head a few tears falling down her cheeks
"I'm sorry...I wish I could turn back the clock and bring her back Fernando..."
"...but you can't"
She sniffled and wiped her face, "I'm sorry that I let her down...I let our daughter down and now she's gone..."
He smiled sadly and walked forward taking her in his arms, "It's not you're fault Mi Amor...I'm sorry for my reaction I was just in shock"
She nodded her understanding against his chest listening to his gentle heartbeat
"We have each other, we have Sophie and a great grandbaby on the way"
She chuckled against him, "I am too hot to be a great grandmother"
He started laughing despite himself and hugged her tighter, "You will be the sexiest great grandmother in the world"
"Shut up"
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Beverly Hills from the eyes of a young woman was indeed intimidating especially a young woman hoping to start a life whilst expecting. Ruby went from door to door asking for a job but no luck, nobody seemed to be hiring. At the moment she was crashing with one of her old boyfriends turnt gay friend Saen
"Excuse me?"
She turned around and smiled at a young man who was running up to her
"You're Ruby Sheridan right?"
"Yeah...how?"
"Oh I saw you perform the other night...you are amazing"
"Oh thanks"
"What's a girl like you doing wandering the streets all alone?"
"I can't walk alone because I'm a girl?"
"No...no I meant..."
She raised her eyebrows, "Listen as flattering as this is I am a bit busy"
"Wait..."
She stopped walking and turned around again patiently waiting for him to continue
"...you are looking for a job right?"
"Yes"
"Well I own a club downtown...would you like to be our entertainment...you can pick you're own hours and what the heck name you're price"
She looked the man over, he was good looking, had a mischievous smile and from the looks of it he knew how to charm the head off anybody
"You own a club?"
"Yeah"
"You sure you're not a lawyer? You look way too professional to own a club...no offense"
He laughed, "I like you're wit, I think we'll get along nicely"
"I haven't accepted yet"
"Do you want me to beg?"
She crossed her arms in amusement and stared him down, he smiled and looked around at the hustle of people walking past
"Alright"
He got down on his knees and put his hands up as if praying looking her deep in the eyes, he opened his mouth but she stopped him pulling on his shirt urging him to get up
"What time do I start?"
"Tonight? Any time"
"Fine...uh"
"Oh Marcus...", he held out his hand and she took it in her own, "...Marcus Gaber"
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They had managed to make their way to their small beach house only carrying their clothes both agreeing they wouldn't want to be caught in a compromising position least of all by their granddaughter
"When did you tell Sophie about me?"
"I told her as soon as I could and I should have done the same with you but I was afraid of you're reaction, somehow I knew how Sophie would react"
"How did she react?"
"At this point she's elated whenever there is someone new in her life to help her cope with the loss"
He nodded, "I have a granddaughter", he smiled brightly at his fiancee and hugged her tightly
They made their way to the bedroom both snuggling closely to each other, falling asleep in each other's arms
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"You're kidding?"
"No Saen I am being dead serious"
"So you were just cassually walking down the street...", he put his hands on his hips and started walking as if on a runway making Ruby howl with laughter, "...then a man randomly comes running up to you saying he recognizes you and wants to offer you a job"
"Yes", she shook her head at him marveling at Saen's uncanny ability to make her laugh and forget all her worries, in fact he'd been doing it since they met
"At a club?"
"HIS club yes"
"Dancing and singing"
"Yes"
"In skimpy costumes?"
"Probably yes"
"...he wants to fuck you"
"SAEN", she gasped throwing him with a small pillow
"WHAT?...oh come on Ruby..."
"He's a nice guy who offered to help me, it's not always about sex you know"
He raised his eyebrows which made her rethink the intentions of the man who'd literally picked her off the streets
"Well...I need this job and if he tries something I'll just walk away..."
"Maybe introduce me?"
She rolled her eyes, "He doesn't really come off as gay babe"
"They never do sister...", he walked out of the room, "...THEY NEVER DO"
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"Okay so this is my attempt at bonding with my granddaughter"
Fernando held up his guitar and Sophie gasped in excitement clapping her hands together
"You're going to teach me?"
He smiled and nodded as he seated himself on the soft sand of the quiet beach
"That and maybe we can write a song for you're grandmother"
She squeeled, "And I can sing it at you're wedding?"
"Perfect"
"So...any ideas?", he nudged her
"Nope...never written a song in my life"
He raised his eyebrows, "You're grandmother makes it look easy"
She giggled and nodded her agreement, "You know my mother also liked writing songs...there's a few pages in her diary...would you like to see it?"
His eyes grew wide, a diary was a very personal aspect of a person's life, and this was his daughter's diary, maybe not a bad idea
"Why not"
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hope you liked this one xxxx