Ruth shot Molly an angry look.
What had she been thinking inviting this jerk here?
Of course her shrieks about not to let him in were ignored by Molly and she simply led him into the living room, offering him a seat, which he gladly took.
Ruth was soon commanded to join them.
"Why that sounds interesting, Mr. Carrington," Molly said as he had just told what he was doing for a living.
Ruth only sneered, refusing to take part in the conversation.
Mr. Carrington or Vincent, as was his first name, was an auctioneer at the famous Sotheby's. For his job it was necessary to travel around the world collecting things together.
"I love this, but it's sometimes…who know I sometimes would rather have a nice home with…I'm sure you understand, Mrs. Dewitt Bukater."
Vincent had soon become attached to her, but it looked like she wasn't sharing his attention.
"I'm sure it's a pleasure to have such a…such a…a nice and appealing work," she said her mind unreadable at least for Vincent.
Molly and Rose exchanged a look, both thinking the same.
"You mean that his job isn't as attractive to you, because he reminds you too much of Jack?"
Ruth looked shocked.
"Rose, no, I'm sorry…I didn't mean to say that. I thought you know by now that I've accepted him in my family and that you really love him…"
"Who's Jack?"
"Her husband," Molly whispered back. "Ruth and her daughter had some…troubles over it."
"I see," he nodded understandingly.
"Fine," Rose finally mumbled leaning back in the chair though not really convinced. "I'm going to visit Jack," she spoke up.
"Rose, come on, your mother didn't mean it," Molly told her.
She didn't want them to part like this.
Vincent was watching Ruth meanwhile.
"Alright, alright, I guess I'm just tired, but I still need to go. I've to prepare something for dinner before Jack gets home," she said. "It was nice to meet you. Maybe the next time I'll take my husband with me," she added towards Vincent.
Jack and this man surely had much in common.
"Yes, maybe," his voice didn't sound very happy.
He believed that he was here for the first and last time.
….
"You've a nice and very outspoken daughter, Mrs. Dewitt Bukater," Vincent told her.
Molly had before stammered something about having to check on her cake she had put into the oven. In reality however it was a lame attempt to leave the two alone.
"Yes, she surely is. The outspoken part she has got from her father," Ruth said facing the kitchen door.
She was sitting on pins and needles. The last she had been alone in a room with a man like this had been…she didn't even remember it.
"Well I had thought that the blunt part was your doing," he spoke up smiling at her.
In fact Ruth had wanted to smack him at first for this comment, but something made her change her mind. It had been long since she had last had a real date with a man, but she had forgotten neither the anxiety nor the butterflies.
Something about this man was different than the other. At least he wasn't giving up so soon and had really come although she hadn't been very friendly to him the first time they met.
"I believe I should apologize to you for my badly behaviour, Mr. Carrington," she finally turned towards him. "It wasn't very ladylike of me to be calling you a jerk."
"Oh, you know what, Mrs. Dewitt Bukater, I wasn't very gentlemanlike of me either to be calling to a fury," he simply said his smile turning into a laugh.
Even more surprisingly Ruth was joining in slightly.
When had been the last time someone had actually brought her to a smile?
'Jack always makes me laugh about all kind of things. And honestly what would I do with a man, who isn't even able to put a smile on my face?'
Ruth had to admit that Vincent was able to make her laugh and that she in fact missed this part in her life. Edward had been a funny man today, but without any sense of responsibility. Over the years being funny had meant the same as being careless to Ruth.
Jack had been no exception to her at first, but that he had obviously really stayed with her daughter through the whole ordeal of the sinking and later on, that he hadn't just left her behind as soon as he had the chance to, had slowly started to change her mind.
She began to understand the happiness didn't come next to thoughtless.
"I guess we didn't have a very good start," she added.
Molly came back at this offering them some cake, but Vincent declined.
He knew when it was better to go. Ruth had just started to open up on him and he didn't want to overdo it by staying longer than needed.
"You really want to go. I thought we would be hearing some more about your work," Molly wondered about his sudden change in his mood.
"I need to head home. I still have some work to do," he explained, quickly turning his attention towards Ruth.
Molly had of course heard the laughing from inside the kitchen and was confused that he was leaving just now.
"It was a real pleasure with you, Mrs. Dewitt Bukater," he said kissing the palm of her hand.
"Of course, Mr. Carrington," she answered her voice distant again, but Vincent knew that she was different.
Molly moved up to her, when he had finally left.
"He's a nice man, isn't he, Ruth?"
"Maybe," she only said as if not caring at all.
Molly just shook her head, smiling.
Why was Ruth always so concerned about her reputation? The part of being a real lady was really deeply installed in her.
