The office is very quiet when Vic isn't in it. And when she's absent for the entire day, time drags on and on.

Luckily, the morning is rather busy with a few calls, keeping me and Ferg out and about. Before I know it, it's lunch time. Ferg offers to run out and get us some lunch today, so while I wait for him to come back I decide to lay down on the couch in my office.

I thought I was tired enough for a little power nap but once I lie down, my mind is completely alert.

Where do Vic and I go from here? I won't be able to live with myself if I continue to act the way I did last night. She doesn't deserve me taking her emotions on a roller-coaster like I've been doing.

Also, I don't think she'll put up with my crap much longer. Vic isn't really known for her patience. If I continue dragging my feet, she's going to get tired of waiting around.

I'm laying with my hat over my face when Ruby taps on the door frame. I don't look up.

"Walter, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Ruby."

I hear her sit down in the chair in front of my desk. She doesn't say anything. We sit there in silence for a minute and then I hear her shift in her chair and cross her legs. She waits another minute or so before she speaks.

"Walter, why are you napping in the middle of the day?"

"I wasn't sleeping… I'm just thinking."

She waits a few more beats. "I see."

Silence.

"Is there anything you would like to talk about?"

I know exactly where she's going with this, but I'm not giving in that easily. "What did you have in mind?"

"We could start with what's going on between you and Vic." It's a statement, not a question.

I sit up on the couch and stare back at her, giving her my best poker face. "Why do you say there's something going on?"

"I have my reasons," is her only reply. She uncrosses her legs and crosses them the other way as she turns towards me in her chair.

"Did Vic say something to you?" I narrow my eyes back at her. I can't imagine that she did but I'm not sure what else to say at this point, so I'll just continue to play dumb.

"She didn't have to. I do have eyes you know. You two have been acting strange around here lately."

I nod. "Oh."

"You have feelings for her, don't you?"

As much as I don't want to talk about this right now, I can't lie to Ruby. I sigh and nod my head solemnly.

"I thought so. I've thought so for a while now."

"You did?"

She nods her head and smiles. "You didn't think you could keep that from me, did you?"

I laugh. "Could you have told me? I only figured it out myself a couple weeks ago."

She giggles. "Well, what fun would that be?" She pauses briefly. "Anyway, you would have just denied it… until you were ready."

I sigh and nod because I know she's right. Ruby really is a wise woman. I'm lucky to have had her by my side all these years.

"So, are you ready now?"

I wish I had an answer for that. "I'm not sure."

She stares back at me and tilts her head slightly. "Walter, Martha would want you to be happy, you know that."

"Yeah, I know."

A smile creeps on her face. "I think Martha would have liked Vic."

I smile at the thought of that, too. She's right, Martha would have gotten along with Vic well. Martha was a sweetheart by nature, but much like Vic, she also was extremely honest. She was not afraid of saying exactly what was on her mind. However, unlike Vic, she was never vulgar. She wouldn't have been bothered by Vic's language though, it actually would have amused her.

"So what's the problem, Walter?" Ruby interrupts my thoughts.

I take a deep breath before blurting it out. "She's half my age, Ruby."

She glares back at me. "Walter, you know as well as I do that she is not half your age."

"Yeah, well…I'm an old man compared to her."

She nods and stares back at me. "I can see how you would feel like that."

Ruby is the first person who hasn't made me feel crazy for worrying about the age difference.

"But…" she continues.

Here we go.

"Maybe that's what you need."

"What do you mean?"

"You may not be able to see it, but Vic brings something out in you. She livens you up."

I don't know what to say to that, so I just stare back at her.

"It was Vic who pulled you back into work the year after Martha passed away. She was the one who kept you moving, even if she didn't do it consciously."

I never thought about it like that until now.

"Vic needs someone her own age, Ruby. Someone who can keep up with her."

"Why don't you let her decide what she needs? You should do the same, you know. Figure out what you need, Walter."

We're both silent for another moment.

"Just think about it." She smiles as she gets up and makes her way to the door.

"Thanks, Ruby."

"You're welcome," she says as she shuts the door gently behind her.

I lie back down on the couch and place my hat back over my face.

What do I need?

This one's a short one, but I couldn't resist putting in a little heart to heart with Ruby. I just love her, bless her heart!