Life 8
Ruthie
I woke up the next morning lying on something that was warm yet firm. As I slowly tried to get up I noticed a pair of arms around me.
I then jumped out taking note of Martin's undressed state, only boxers, and I had only a shirt on.
"Oh my goodness! What did I do last night?" I hastily tried to remember the events of the previous evening. I knew that Mac had taken me to some club and I had a drink, but where did Martin come in and why was he in my bed? More importantly why was he here?
"Morning" Martin said sleepily as I looked at him in horror before punching him in the shoulder "I can't believe you took my virginity and I was drunk"
"What!" Martin exclaimed as he jumped out of bed and stood on the other side facing me.
I got up as well and continued "I mean sure I was drunk but at least you could have had the decency to wait until I was sober enough to enjoy it"
"First of all, we did not engage in any kind of sexual behavior and secondly if we did, you would have definitely remembered"
I blushed slightly as I looked at him and saw a huge hickey on the left side of his neck.
"Martin, what hussy gave you that?"
"Gave me what?" he repeated slightly annoyed as I grabbed his arm and pulled him to my full length mirror which not only showed him the humongous hickey but the fact that I didn't have any pants on.
"Turn around" I commanded him as I went rummaging for a pair of shorts as he complied and then said "Well, as you so eloquently stated, that hussy would be you"
"What are you talking about?" I asked walking in front of him once again.
"You. Last night when you decided that you wanted to make out with me"
"Oh my goodness, this is not happening" I repeated softly to myself as I shook my head slightly.
Martin smirked at me and crossed his arms in front of his chest until I replied "Why didn't you stop me?'
"I did stop you when you tried removing my boxers"
"How drunk was I?" I mumbled as Martin laughed and said "No harm done. Why don't we take a shower and go get some breakfast"
"Okay" I agreed hurrying to get out of the room with as little eye contact as possible.
As I was in the shower, I couldn't believe that I had practically mauled Martin. How embarrassing was that? Once I got out, I threw on a pair of hip hugger jeans and a white shirt and did my hair in a bun.
I walked out to the kitchen and called out "Martin? Are you ready to go?"
He walked behind me in a clean pair of khakis and blue shirt and held his hand up as he was speaking on his cell phone. He looked really great. Once he was finished he said "Ready?"
"Yes" I replied jumping up and walking out of the apartment with him.
After breakfast, we were heading back when Martin said "I have a couple of errands to run and I need to find a suit for tonight"
"Right for the benefit concert"
"So what songs are you singing?"
"Two new ones. I have to leave at 4:30 for sound check but Mac will probably pick you up"
"Okay" Martin replied as he took my hand.
I looked over at Martin and said "Not that I'm unhappy you are here, but why are you here?"
"There is something we need to discuss and something that I recently found out that affects us both"
"Oh, what is it?"
"I figured we could talk about it later on tonight"
"Why not now?" I asked pouting as Martin laughed and said "Because then you will have a million questions that I won't be able to answer"
"Hmm. So how long are you staying?"
"As long as it takes"
"For what?" I asked as Martin was about to explain but thought better and pulled me closer before firmly kissing me on the lips.
When we pulled apart I protested a bit before Martin hugged me to his side and we continued walking, my questions totally forgotten.
Martin
Around 7:00 that night, Mac finally showed up.
"You look nice" he commented as he walked in and went straight to the fridge to get a bottle of water as he turned around to look at me he said "Dude! I can't believe you came here with proof that you cheated on Ruth"
"What are you talking about?" I asked him annoyed as he pointed to the hickey on my neck.
"I didn't cheat" I calmly replied as Mac did a double take and said "You didn't man"
"Didn't what?"
"You two broke up?"
"Who?"
"You and Ruth? You are over?"
"No"
"Martin, you are the most exasperating person to speak to. If you didn't cheat on Ruth but you two are still together then the only reasonable answer is..." and then Mac's mouth fell open before he asked "Ruth did that?"
"Not purposely, she was half asleep" I replied blushing slightly as I asked "Is it really noticeable?"
"Yes. So our little innocent Ruth is a biter. Who would have known?"
"Not I" I replied smiling slightly before thinking how close they were.
"Hey Mac, did anything ever happen between you two?"
"Just once " Mac replied softly before looking me in the eye. "We kissed. It was 6 months ago and I am sorry to say that tequila was the cause of it. It didn't mean anything for Ruth"
"Oh" I replied slightly relieved that nothing else had happened but also a little annoyed.
"It was stupid and Ruth said she wanted to forget, so I left it alone" Mac continued as I nodded slightly.
"So are we ready to go?" Mac finally ask as we walked out the door.
Once we were seated, the concert began. Then Ruth was introduced and the crowd went wild. She looked beautiful in a white long dress and her hair was set up in a chignon and her feet were bare.
"Thank you for coming out and supporting this worthy cause. I hope you enjoy the evening" and then the spotlight went on her and she started singing
Say it's true, there's nothing like me and you
I'm not alone, tell me you feel it too
And I would runaway
I would runaway, yeah, yeah
I would runaway
I would runaway with you
'Cos I am falling in love with you
No never I'm never gonna stop
Falling in love with you
She then moved closer to the crowd as she knelt down in the center of the stage and continued singing
Close the door, lay down upon the floor
And by candlelight, make love to me through the night
(through the night, through the night)
'Cos I am falling in love (falling in love) with you
No never, I'm never gonna stop
Falling in love with you
With you
'Cos I am falling in love (falling in love) with you
No never I'm never gonna stop
Falling in love with you
(I am) falling in love (falling in love) with you
No never I'm never gonna stop falling in love with you
With you, my love, with you (with you)
na ni na ni na na
(With you, with you)
na ni na ni na na
(With you, with you)
na ni na ni na na
As the applause died down she stood up and then the temp began the next song
I could lose my heart tonight,
if you don't turn and walk away
Cause the way I feel I might
lose control and let you stay
Cause I could take you in my arms,
And never let go
I could fall in love with you
I could fall in love with you
I could only wonder how
touching you would make me feel
But if I take that chance right now,
tomorrow will you want me still?
(Baby will you want me?)
So I should keep this to myself,
And never let you know
I could fall in love with you
(I could fall in love with you)
I could fall in love with you
And I know it's not right,
and I guess I should try
to do what I should do
But I could fall in love,
fall in love, with you
I could fall in love with you
So I should keep this to myself,
And never let you know
I could fall in love with you
I could fall in love with you
I could fall in love, (fall in love)
I could fall in love, (fall in love) with you
I could fall in love with you.
Once she was finished she bowed and walked off stage.
Mac whispered to me "Every time she performs she amazes me, you know?"
"Yes" I replied in awe as we sat back to enjoy the rest of the show.
After the concert was over, we met Ruth backstage. She had changed into a black strapless gown and her hair was still up.
"What did you think?" she asked Mac, her eyes shining as Mac bent down to kiss her cheek.
"Flawless as usual" she smiled her thanks before sticking her tongue out at him. He merely nodded and they both started laughing.
As I watched them, I couldn't help but feel jealous of their natural banter. It was easy to see that they spent a lot of time together and that was nobody's fault but my own.
Maybe I was being selfish showing up and effectively staking my place in Ruth's life. It was bad enough with this new development that we still had yet to speak about.
"Martin! Are you listening?" I heard Ruth's impatient tone as I snapped back to reality.
I looked to see just us standing there. "Where's Mac?' I asked as I looked around.
"He had a date tonight" she replied as she linked arms with me and said "So what's on the agenda tonight Mr. Brewer?"
"Dinner and then bed."
"What about our talk?"
"Oh right. If you are not too sleepy."
"Are you kidding me! I am definitely not sleepy"
Once we arrived home, I took off my suit jacket and rolled my sleeves up. "Why don't you go relax and I'll start dinner" I suggested walking towards the kitchen then stopping "If you do have groceries?"
"I do" Ruth protested and when I raised my eyebrow she laughed and said "Mac went shopping yesterday. Scout's honor"
"Okay" I replied walking into the kitchen.
Ruth
I went into my room and changed into sweats and Martin's old college T-Shirt that I had taken a while ago.
As I padded back into the kitchen I saw that he was chopping vegetables for the salad.
"Need help?" I offered as I came up next to him.
He seemed startled for a second and then said "Sure, you can chop the cucumbers"
We worked side by side in comfortable silence and then I went to set the table.
Once I returned to the kitchen I remarked "This is nice"
"What is?"
"Being together, cooking dinner"
"Yes it is" he agreed as he tossed fresh vegetables to the already steaming pasta.
"It's something I could get use to"
"Me too" Martin agreed quietly.
Once we had said grace and was eating, the phone rang.
"Excuse me" I replied getting up to answer.
"Camden residence"
"Ruthie! How are you?" Lucy said as I smiled and replied "I'm fine. How is everyone at home?"
"Doing as well as can expected. I was checking to make sure Martin got there in one piece."
"Yes he did. We are in the middle of dinner"
"Oh! I'm sorry to interrupt. I'll call back another time. Give Martin our love"
"I will" I promised before hanging the phone up. I walked back to the dining room when Martin looked up.
"Everything alright?"
"Yes. Lucy wanted to make sure you were safe"
"Oh" Martin replied before resuming finishing his dinner.
After dinner, I cleared the table and Martin started washing the dishes.
Once everything was finished, we made our way to the living room.
Martin turned to me and began by saying "I'm not sure how to even begin" he started before continuing "Friday afternoon, I came home early and took the mail out of my box and I got this letter"
Dear Martin,
As you leave to New York with hopes of proposing to Ruth, there is something you should know. I've tried a million times to tell you but each time I've lost my courage. Once you know the truth, everything will change and it will all be my fault. I guess I should just say it.
Martin, Thomas Brewer is not your biological son. I've known since you had the paternity test and I forged it. I was so frightened and I didn't know what was going to happen. Simon and Rose were engaged and I was miserable and unhappy and I wanted you to be as well.
Oh yes even then I knew that you were in love with Ruth Camden, and even though she was upset at you, she still forgave you and your relationship grew stronger. Then I found out that Thom was not yours, which for me at the time was the last blow.
I knew that there was a possibility that Thom was not yours because I had slept with other guys around the same time, who had similar features as you. What can I say, green eyes and black hair are a deadly combination.
"She's got that right" I mumbled as Martin looked up at me and I looked back at the letter.
I am truly sorry that it's taken six years to tell you this and I'm not sure what this means for Thomas, and you or Simon and Ruth. Yes Simon knows. I told him yesterday and to say he was upset would be an understatement.
I'm sorry Martin and I'm sorry Ruth. You've been kept apart far too long because of me.
Sandy Camden
I reread the letter and then looked over at Martin. I didn't know what to say. I was partly upset and partly relieved. Was it even wrong to think ill of the dead? I would have to ask Lucy. I finally took a deep breath and asked "Does anyone else know about this?"
"No, at least not from me. I read it and flew straight here on Friday"
I winced in remembrance of my brazen behavior and felt ten times worse. Here Martin had come for reassurance and solace and I had mauled him to death and flirted with his best friend.
"I'm sorry Martin" I finally said as he looked me straight in the eye "and I'm sorry as well"
"What for?" I wanted to know.
"For not doing what my heart told me to do six years ago" and with that he pulled out a blue Tiffany box and opened it. There in the velvet laid a diamond carat ring emblazoned with rubies on the side.
Martin bent down on his left knee and softly said in that deep voice I loved "Ruth Camden, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"