Red and the Wolf Read Online Free Page B

them alone,” she commanded, turning to her son.
     
    “Yes, ma’am,” the giant man said, winking at Ruby. He pointed to the right. “Take your lady over there, my friend.”
     
    “I’m not . . .” Her words died as she was left talking to empty air.
     
    Rafe touched her elbow. “Guess we better do as we’re told,” he grinned.
     
    They went around a couple of tall shelves piled with supplies, and Ruby saw the small table sitting between another two shelves. It created an intimate, private area which left her feeling edgy. The wide table had a tablecloth and two place settings, with two chairs. She lowered herself into the first one and Rafe sat across from her.
     
    “What is all this?” she asked, waving a hand to indicate the table.
     
    “An apology,” he said.
     
    She stared at him, perplexed. Before she could ask what for, Hutu came back in, bearing a tray overloaded with Polynesian food. Ruby’s mouth watered at the smell. The Fa'amasino’s could cook like no one’s business. Hutu lowered the tray down and placed dishes of food on the table: fa'alifu fa'I, made with plaintains to compliment the oka, the only kind of fish she liked, supasui, and her favorite, pulusami made by umu. She hoped he planned to give them fausi for dessert, though pumpkins weren’t quite in season yet so it wouldn’t be as flavorful as it was in the fall.
     
    “Looks delicious, Hutu,” she enthused.
     
    “It is delicious, Mumu,” he stated matter-of-factly.
     
    “Your humility astounds me,” Rafe said dryly.
     
    Hutu laughed, pounding Rafe on the back. Rafe’s chest bumped the table’s edge with the movement. Ruby doubted anyone else could do the same to someone Rafe’s size.
     
    “Enjoy,” Hutu said, bowing and leaving them alone.
     
    They scooped the different foods onto their plates, not speaking. Once Ruby had tasted—and savored—several bites of each different food, she asked.
     
    “You said this is an apology. For what?”
     
    Rafe’s gaze locked on hers as he laid his fork down, and she suddenly wished she could take the words back.
     
    “For leaving the way I did. For being gone for so long and not answering your letters.”
     
    Ruby swallowed loudly. She dropped her gaze, pushing the food around on her plate with her fork. She clenched her teeth, refusing to give way to the tears that wanted to fall, or to the anger that simmered just below the surface.
     
    “Remember the last time we were together, before I left?” he asked.
     
    Of course Ruby remembered. How could she ever forget? That was the night he kissed her.
     
    It was a week post-graduation and they were walking in the woods that lay to the north of Piera. Ruby was well aware that her heart was lost to this boy who’d been her best friend always. Lately, she’d been getting vibes that he returned her feelings, though she wasn’t yet entirely sure.
     
    They walked together between the towering trees on the ground damp from the melted snow. As they walked, their hands swinging side by side, Rafe suddenly took her hand in his. A thrill rode through Ruby at his touch.
     
    Ruby was telling him that Marina hired her to work with her at the bakery.
     
    “You’re not going to school?”
     
    Ruby shook her head. Her father, who’d begun drinking at the unexpected death of her mom six years earlier, had gotten significantly worse. He was missing enough work she knew it wouldn’t be long before he didn’t have a job. She’d been paying their bills and taking care of the house and him. Without her, he wouldn’t make it.
     
    “No, I think I’ll work with Marina for a while and see how things go. You?”
     
    Rafe seemed to be considering his answer. He ran his free hand through his hair while chewing his bottom lip. “Yeah, I’ll probably go away for a while.”
     
    Ruby felt saddened by his answer, though not surprised. She’d miss him terribly, but he’d come home for the holidays surely. Suddenly, Rafe