Trust A Stranger Read online

  It was good speaking with someone after such a long time. Speaking with someone I don't have to pay to do so, she corrected herself. Not that it was a slander against Dr. Carson. She was truly grateful for everything that man did for her because his help was priceless. However, they weren't friends, so it was a completely different matter from what she experienced with Ruby.

  Hanging up, Mary wondered if she'd just made a friend or if Ruby was simply glad someone helped her and all of this was just a courtesy. She figured only time would tell.

  Anyway, meeting Ruby did something to Mary, woke her up in some manner, and for that she would always be grateful to the woman, regardless of whether they ever saw one another again or not.

  Chapter Four

  Mary was very much surprised when her phone rang the next day and Ruby greeted her from the other side. Mary smiled, though the other woman couldn't see her.

  "Hello, Ruby," she greeted. "What a lovely surprise." And she really meant it. She’d wondered if it was a passing occurrence or if this was the beginning of a friendship. She got her answer.

  Look at you, you sound like a character from some cheesy novel. "How are you?" Mary inquired simply to distract herself from all those unnecessary thoughts.

  "I'm great, honey. Slept like a baby, like all of yesterday's misfortune never happened."

  "I'm glad."

  "Now, the reason I'm calling is that I wanted to ask you if you are in the mood for a little adventure?" Ruby asked a bit cryptically and excitedly at the same time.

  "Adventure?" she repeated. Mary wasn't quite known to be an adventurous type.

  Maybe it's time to become one. God knew, the way she was now wasn't working for her as she hoped. Maybe it was time for a change. After all, if she didn't already believe in that, in a change, then she wouldn't be visiting Dr. Carson three times a week.

  "Yes," Ruby replied cheerfully. "My friend John owns a small art gallery, and tonight, he's hosting a special art exhibition-slash-performance."

  "That sounds fancy."

  "He's always begging me to come to these things, and I thought of you immediately."

  Thought of me?

  "Do you want to go with me?"

  "Sure," Mary replied without much thought.

  "Perfect. Do you mind meeting me at my place? I have a ride to the gallery picking us up. John always fusses over me."

  He probably knows about her seizures and is being a good friend, she speculated. "Of course."

  "Be here around six."

  "Okay."

  Only when they ended the call did Mary realize she had no idea what to wear to this event.

  She didn't want to make a fool of herself, and more importantly, embarrass Ruby who was so kind as to invite her. Should I call and cancel? That would be rude. Besides, a part of her wanted to go. It would be a nice break from the routine.

  Opening her closet, her fears were proven true since her choices were quite limited. I should just call her and be done with this. As she started to stress about everything, she remembered what Dr. Carson told her to do in these kinds of situations.

  Mary took a couple of deep breaths and simply chose the best combination she had. Simple black pants and a white blouse. Simple and elegant. She picked her hair up and created a bun, leaving a few strands of her curly hair loose.

  Looking at herself in the mirror all dressed up, she prayed she wouldn't stand out too much. Stop fussing, everything will be okay. You'll go and have a nice evening with your new friend.

  As it turned out, her worry was unfounded. People came to this thing dressed in all kinds of styles. Mary saw people formally dressed in evening attire, suits, and gowns. However, the place was packed with hipsters and goths and steam punkers as well. She saw a couple who looked downright homeless.

  Ruby stood out even in this mixed crowd. She wore a bright orange and pink suit. The skirt accentuated her long legs, as did her shoes. The hair decoration she'd chosen matched her outfit as well. Ruby looked stunning.

  "Oh, John, this is just marvelous," Ruby called out to a man who stood across the room. She waved and sent him a little kiss.

  He waved back with a smile before returning to his conversation with other people.

  "Isn't this just marvelous?" Ruby repeated to her.

  Mary simply nodded.

  The art exhibition was of the interactive kind, where the artist invited all the visitors to actually participate, do certain tasks, and answer questions while they looked around the exhibition of paintings and small sculptures.

  Mary didn't particularly like any of it since it caused her distress to be the center of attention, if only for the briefest of moments. All the encouragement she said to herself could only get her so far.

  Luckily, Ruby saved her more than once, focusing the attention on herself, yet not in a vulgar or attention-seeking way. She was just being her usual self, Mary suspected, and that meant more than once, all eyes were on her. She was simply born for the spotlight.

  Mary failed to understand what the artist wanted to say with any of it, but other people clapped and looked as if they were having a great time, so Mary took that as a sign the exhibition was a success.

  "So, do you like your job?" Ruby asked her out of the blue. "What was it again? Some kind of personal assistant?"

  "Yes, a virtual one."

  Ruby frowned in return. "What does that mean?"

  "I do everything online, from home."

  "From home? You can do that?" she asked, clearly intrigued.

  "Yes," Mary replied simply.

  "How?" Ruby prompted. "Do you have a boss or a firm you work for?"

  "Yes, I have a boss. She's a financial advisor who works on Wall Street."

  "Fascinating," she said in wonder. "The world is vastly changing at maximum speed. Sometimes, it's hard to keep up," she added with a shake of her head.

  "But you manage just fine," Mary replied with a smile.

  "I try," Ruby said with a wide grin. "So . . . ?" she asked.

  Mary looked at her questioningly, not understanding her meaning.

  "Do you love your job?" she repeated. "You didn't answer me."

  "I love the freedom it gives me and the fact that it's not too time-consuming."

  It was ironic that the first thing she listed was freedom and second more free time since she did very little with it. Not counting the freedom to not be around other people, which was a conscious choice, she was truly missing out on the advantages of her job.

  "Good. It's important to always look at the bright side of things," Ruby told her.

  Mary agreed wholeheartedly. She’d tried to follow that motto and failed many times, perhaps too many times to count.

  "Thank you for bringing me here tonight," Mary said. "I've had a lovely time."

  It felt good being around Ruby. The other things they did that evening didn't sit well with Mary, yet her new acquaintance didn't need to know that.

  The other woman's answering smile spoke volumes. "I'm glad. I have another outing planned in a couple of days."

  "That sounds great."

  "I'll call you. I always find excuses not to be at home, so I'm glad I found a new partner in crime," Ruby joked.

  Mary smiled. Despite herself, she liked the sound of that.

  As the weeks passed, they continued to socialize and do a lot of things together. Usually, Ruby called Mary to come and visit her if she wasn't feeling well, and when she was, they always spent the day out and about, exploring the city.

  Over time, Mary got the impression that Ruby was as lonely as she was despite the fact that they didn't have much in common, apart from loneliness, or that they were completely different characters. Mary had to admit, if only to herself, that she really liked Ruby as a friend and enjoyed being in her company immensely.

  If she was still a bit timid, wary, it was because life had taught her to be that way. Putting her own issues aside, she valued her new friend and even mentioned her to Dr. Carson.r />
  Mary had just completed her session when Ruby called her. "Hello?"

  "I am craving something insanely sweet and decadent, and I know just the right small pastry shop for it. Want to join me?"

  "Sure, I'm always ready for something sweet."

  That is why Nick left you in the first place, came a sudden thought, and she banished it immediately. She didn't care what Nick thought anymore, or so she tried to convince herself.

  "Excellent. Where are you? I hear traffic."

  Mary looked around since she’d started her journey home on foot and provided Ruby with exact information.

  "I'm close by. Wait for me right there."

  "Sure."

  True to her words, she appeared from around the corner in a couple of minutes looking like a beacon of light in this glum world, as usual. Today, her outfit was nothing less than expected, cheerful and elegant at the same time, and quite a few people turned to look at her in awe.

  Mary waved and Ruby immediately spotted her. After they greeted one another, they went to satisfy Ruby's cravings for something sweet.

  As it turned out, the small, family-owned bakery was one of New York's most famous ones. Mary had always wanted to visit, yet Nick had a problem with her sugar intake, so she had never mentioned it. Now, she planned on really indulging herself.

  They got the last table, and Mary was excited as they placed their orders. True to her word, Ruby ordered a bunch of cakes and cookies, and of course, Mary joined in, completely ignoring the cost of it all. It would be so worth it.

  "Take one of these," Ruby advised. "They are to die for."

  "I can't. I’m bursting at the seams as it is."

  Despite her initial bravado, Mary paced herself and was now working really hard not to give in to this temptation, although the cookies in question looked absolutely mouthwatering.

  "Just a little bite."

  "That small bite will go right to my thighs," Mary blurted out.

  "You are perfect just the way to you are," Ruby said sternly. "Besides, men like when a woman has lush curves," she said with a wink.

  Mary was dubious about that, having a different experience with men.

  Ruby saw the expression on Mary's face and replied, "I was always on the skinny side, and though I tried to put on some weight many times, it didn’t stick." She sighed deeply. "I guess we always want what we can't have."

  That was a universal truth. Was that why Nick left? Because he had her and craved something different? Not that it mattered anymore. He was gone and their marriage was ruined.

  "Hey, Mary?"

  "Yes?"

  "Where did you go just now? Am I sensing man troubles?" she asked in all seriousness.

  More than you can imagine. "In a way," Mary replied vaguely.

  "So there is someone special in your life. I wondered about that, you know," Ruby replied, clearly intrigued.

  Mary started shaking her head before the other woman finished her sentence. "No, there's no one special. I'm single," she forced herself to say.

  Technically, she was still married to Nick, but he left town after depleting their joint account, leaving her with no money and no place to live.

  Actually, Mary was trying to find him to serve him divorce papers and demand half of the money. It was all Dr. Carson's idea, and Mary accepted it wholeheartedly.

  Ruby looked at her, her eyes full of speculation as though knowing Mary was keeping something from her. Luckily, she decided not to pry.

  "Well, better alone than with the wrong person," Ruby said, making a toast with a glass of water. Mary joined in.

  Once they realized it was time to declare defeat since they couldn't eat everything they'd ordered, they bagged up the rest and left the bakery. They decided to take a little walk in the nearest park to burn off a few of the calories they'd just devoured.

  "Need a lift?" Ruby asked afterward, hailing a cab.

  "No. I live close by. I think I'll walk for a little bit longer." God knew she needed it if she wanted to burn off the calories of everything she just ate.

  You would need to walk to Brazil for something like that.

  "Really? Where?"

  Mary told her the name of the street.

  "What a small world. My friend George—I told you about him—lives on that same street. I think the number is one eighty-seven."

  "Well, I'm at sixty-three."

  "So not that close of a neighbor," Ruby joked. "Okay, then. I'm off, but we'll be in touch."

  "Bye." Mary waved as the taxi drove off.

  Ruby called Mary a gem, and that was exactly how she felt about the older woman. She was really happy they had met. She was living now and having more fun than ever. Mary realized her mood had improved immensely, and she didn't feel so alone anymore because as it turned out, someone cared.

  Mary wasn't sure if she'd ever had a true friend like this before. Her Nanna and Nick obviously didn't count, so she was grateful God had sent her one.

  With those thoughts filled with hope, she went home.

  Chapter Five

  A couple of days later, Ruby took Mary out for lunch. At first, Mary didn't want to go, being a little short on cash. She appreciated all their outings but one thing became apparent almost from the start. Ruby had expensive taste, and Mary simply couldn't keep up with that. Her salary as an assistant wasn't nearly enough to sustain that kind of extravagance.

  As though sensing what the true issue might be, Ruby insisted on paying everything, saying that was the least she could do for her hero. In the end, Mary relented, and Ruby appeared happy that they would spend the day together.

  They ended up dining in one of those fancy French restaurants, and Mary felt slightly uncomfortable being there. Nick had taken her a couple of times, for their anniversaries and things like that, but the feeling never went away. She felt as though all eyes were on her, judging her, accusing her of not belonging.

  Mary, stop that, she snapped at herself, irked by her thoughts and feelings. Just enjoy the nice meal and good company.

  Ruby was in a particularly good mood, and that also helped Mary to banish her insecurities and just be in the moment. "I think we should order a bottle of red wine. It would go splendidly with our meal."

  Mary looked at the menu, trying to decide what to order as they continued to chat. Ruby rarely spoke about herself, a funny story here or there and that was it.

  Mary assumed she was just a private person who didn't like to share, especially with someone she just met, and she respected that because she was the same way. All the same, on that day, things changed.

  Ruby started to talk about her life as she sipped her wine and waited for their lunch to arrive. It was quite unexpected.

  "Did you know that on this very day, many years ago, I had my first premiere in which I was the leading role?" she asked rhetorically.

  "Really?" Mary replied, genuinely curious to hear more. "Who did you play?"

  "Desdemona."

  The lead female character in Othello. "Wow. That is impressive."

  "Did you ever see the play? Othello?"

  "No, but I read it."

  "That was a really challenging role, and I shook like a leaf on opening night. Every other night as well," she reminisced with a small smile. "Thank God the critics and the crowd loved me."

  "I'm sure you were amazing," Mary said.

  "I was praised in the papers, characterized as the ‘New Shining Star of Broadway’," she said, painting a picture with her hands.

  "Do you have a favorite role?" Mary asked, forgetting about her surroundings for a moment, waiting with glee to hear what she had to say.

  "Oh I can't choose. All are dear in some way."

  "Come on," Mary prompted, sensing that diplomatic answer was something she probably told reporters numerous times in the past. She was certain that deep down, Ruby did have a favorite.

  "I never played Ophelia. Sadly, the play was canceled before I got the chance." She became saddened for
a moment, yet it disappeared quickly and she continued to chat.

  Mary gathered Ruby used to be a famous and well-loved actress. Unfortunately, due to the health issues, she had to leave the stage. Even though she didn't say that, by the way she talked, Mary got the idea on her own. That saddened her a little and at the same time, she was quite impressed with how Ruby had bounced back. A lesser man or woman would break down and forever mourn what could have been if things were different.

  Not Ruby. She was true survivalist. Although, when she really thought about it, Mary realized Ruby had never actually left the theater. She was still very much in contact with the people in the business, and the way she dressed or acted or spoke at times suggested that she was a performer. Not in a bad way, though. It didn't matter if she was doing it only for herself. From Mary's perspective, that was admirable.

  Despite all the difficulties and troubles life threw her way, Ruby was strong and fighting against everything, not allowing anything to bring her down. Mary admired her for that a great deal. Not even the fact that she’d lost her husband early on in the marriage had made her resent God or shun the outside world.

  Mary, not for the first time, wished she were more like her new friend. Perhaps then, she wouldn't suffer so much because of what Nick had done to her and could smile in his face, tell him he was the old one, and send him to hell and be done with him forever.

  That was clearly much easier said than done. At the same time, something else occurred to her. Mary was starting to change. Not by much, but it was undeniable that Ruby had a role in that since it all started to happen after they’d developed this friendship which had become so important to her.

  After the lunch, which was perfect, tasty, and pleasing to the eye at the same time, they returned to Ruby's apartment. She drank a little bit too much during lunch, and Mary didn't feel right to leave her alone in such a state.

  As they settled and continued with drinking red wine on Ruby's insistence, Mary discovered things were not as they seemed.

  Ruby was in the middle of one of her anecdotal stories. "Suzie James and I got so drunk that night, she wasn't able to go on the stage for the next performance, and the director had to use an understudy for her role."