Ruby's Wedding Day (short story)

!WARNING!
mentions of awkward sex


     Ruby shifted her weight, tugging her dress at the hip to straighten the flow. The laced sleeves chafed at both of her arms, the meshed veil would occasionally pull at strands of her hair, and her heels squeezed her feet sore. Alone, to herself, standing in front of the mirror in a frumpy white dress, Ruby felt that she looked very ugly. And her heart sank.

     The guests murmured outside, notes from a live pianist leaked in through the door cracks, and she stood holding a bouquet of flowers similar to the bouquets that decorated each corner of the room. She sighed through her nose and sat down on the church carpet, scooting back with her heels until she could rest her body against the starchy wall. Ruby let her head go back and let her eyes close.

     At the end of the day, Ruby would be married. She would no longer feel the worry in planning a wedding, seeing family, and being a single woman. She would be with a man who was more than financially stable, and who could boost her in the industry. She would be a normal married woman.

     The door creaked open, and Ruby opened her eyes.

     “Oh you’re on the floor,” said the guest.

     “Mom.”

     Ruby felt a harsh squeeze between her ribs. Her mother wore a white pencil skirt dress, and- of course- a thick feathered boa around her shoulders. Her Monroe blonde hair was complimented with a false birthmark under her left eye and bright red lipstick.

     “You kept your hair dark for the wedding?” She said while shutting the door behind her. “You look just like your brother.”

     “Did Lila come?” Ruby asked, picking at her bouquet.

    “Yes of course, she’s been wanting to see London- and it’s absolutely lovely. I really wish we were introduced to it all sooner.”

     Ruby began to shift, standing and adjusting her dress.

     “Oh Ruby,” Charlotte laughed, watching Ruby through the mirror.

     “He’s a manager.”

      “The man?” She asked.

     “Yes. He’s a manager, actually.”

     “You’re marrying your manager, Ruby?” Charlotte turned to look at her daughter.

     “He isn't my manager right now.”

    “Oh, haha, well he won’t manage you if you’re married to him.”

      Ruby said nothing. Rather, she sat down on the plush armchair just below an opened window and crossed one leg over the other. Her feet ached.

     “You really should have Lila talk with him. She’s on the brink of her debut. An English manager for her would fit her so well.”

     “He won’t take her.”

     “He will, I’ll talk with him.”

     “He’s busy.”

     “With what? He’s not managing you.”

     Ruby stared at her mother. Her mother stared back.

     “He has a client he’s working on right now, and he doesn't want to take on another right now,” Ruby said.

     “He won't manage his sister in-law, but he’ll manage some other hussy?” Charlotte asked.

     “It's his brother.”

     “Oh Ruby, you didn't pluck your eyebrows.”

     Charlotte suddenly rummaged through her purse. She slipped out a pair of fine metal tweezers, bending her knees and sitting on her ankles to reach out for Ruby’s face.

     “Are you serious?” Ruby said, backing her head.

    “Ruby, really.”

     “Leave it, mom no one cares but you. Stop.”

     “You look like a man.”

     “I don't.”

     “Ruby, it’s a wedding,” Her mother said.

     “It's my wedding!”

     “You don't want pictures like this Ruby!”

     There came three swift knocks on the door, and a thin man wearing a full pin striped suit and a matching fedora peaked his head in.

     “Oh! A cat fight!” He said and stepped into the room. “You almost ready Rubes? Got my shoes shined just for this.”

     “I need five more minutes,” Ruby replied.

     “Darling, your audience is waiting out there,” He said.

     “I know.”

     Ruby took in a slow deep breath through her nose, filling her lungs as tightly as she could before letting it out in a sigh.



     Ruby twisted and yanked at her dress, trying to center the seam with her hips again. Just around the corner, guests were murmuring, a pianist played filler music, and Cole stood waiting for Ruby to walk down the aisle. Ruby wanted to cry.

     She held her father’s thin arm, feeling no discernible warmth in doing so. And as the crowd hushed, the pianist began to play the Mendelssohn Wedding March. Ruby’s heart sank and twisted in her chest. Her father walked forward, and she followed with eyes staring forward.

     Ruby saw nothing as they rounded the corner. She could hear the music and feel the audience’s eyes on her, but she could not see. A quarter down the aisle, a half, three quarters.

     Cole. There he stood with his chest puffed proudly in a new suit. His hair was well mannered and he had shaved that horrible attempt of a mustache he had been growing. For Ruby.

     He was smiling.

     In that moment, as Ruby stared at Cole, she felt very deeply in her chest that Cole looked stupid. He was stupid.

    “I do.” Ruby muttered, looking into her husband's eyes.

     She heard nothing before Cole leaned forward, and pressed his lips against her own. She did not hear the clapping, she did not hear the piano, and she did not hear what Cole was saying to her as he took her hand.

      But she was married now. As she should be at her age, a married woman. She was married. She was a wife.



     While guests stood with plates of cake, danced half heartedly together, or congratulated Cole, Ruby stood watching with a wine glass in hand. Cole’s extended family had all made the time to come. Jareth’s entire band had come. The benches had been filled on one side, while only three guests filled Ruby’s. Mom, Dad, and Lila. Jobie was still in the care of the hospital.

     Lila and Charlotte were standing in front of Cole. Lila was in her white dress with black polka dots, twirling back and forth with her hands clasped together. She was smiling and giggling up at him, and the fool was smiling back with a twinkle of pride in his eyes. She would say something, and Cole would clear his throat and nod.

     Ruby watched with dark eyes. 

     Her father had his elbow leaned against the bar beside the red-headed piano player. He had three empty shot glasses beside him, and an arrangement of cards laying flat on the table. He would point to them, move them, and flip them over for the other man to see. He was proposing a game of some kind.

     And, of course, Jareth stood just beside Ruby. Ruby sighed before she spoke;

     “You wore a suit today,” Ruby said to him. “You should wear them more
often.”

     Jareth did not look at her. His pale eyes stared off into some distance.

     “Are you still planning to travel this Fall?”

     “No, I’m not,” Jareth replied.

     “But… Yes you are?”

     “Oh, yes- Cole is planning.”

     “You don't want to travel?”

     “Ehm… No, no I wouldn't like to travel, really.

     He kept his gaze elsewhere, his voice was bland, and he hadn’t taken a sip of the drink he’d been holding for the past ten minutes.

     Ruby suddenly put her glass down.

     “Alright.”

     And she left Jareth to stand by himself.

     Ruby approached her husband, who she stood a handful of inches taller than. He was chest puffed and red in the face.

      “Really, I can’t take on any more clients to manage at the moment, I haven't got the time- really,” Cole said, grinning.

     “Ruby, you hadn't told me your husband was such a charmer!” Lila said.

     Cole cleared his throat and his face grew hot.

     “I guess I didn't know.” Ruby replied.

     “Oh stop it Ruby, he’s such a doll!”



     The cheering outside muffled as Cole closed the door to the car. As he waved, Ruby pulled at her dress, trying to cross one leg over the other in the cramped frumpy fabric.

      Cole straightened his suit and pulled his collar away from his neck.

      “For god sakes.” He muttered.

      “I know.” Ruby replied.

     “I don't believe I even spoke to your father, Ruby. No matter.”

      “You wouldn't like him.” Ruby sat back and looked at Cole. He reached out to take her hand.

      “Right, well you’ll never have to see them again, really.”

     “What?”

     “Surely we won't be offering any visits.”

     Ruby’s heart sank.

      “Anyhow, I rather think they won't manage to afford another trip here haha.” Cole said, smiling. “Your mother wore white today… Honestly.”

      “I’m never seeing them again?”

     “You’re a Gublenn now, Ruby.”

     Ruby stared at Cole, and Cole stared at Ruby.

     “What?” He asked.

     “You can’t force me not to see them.”

      “Are you upset? Ruby, honestly… You can't stand them. Frankly, neither can I.”

     “I never said that.”

     “Yes, you have,” Cole said.

     Ruby said nothing.

     “Ruby, come now. You’re not like them, can’t you be happy I’m letting you out of that bloodline?”

     “There’s nothing wrong with my bloodline, Cole. Oh, cause your family is so pure of heart...”

     “Right, well no one in my family is in an asylum.”

      “How long do you think that will last?”

     “Whatever does that mean?” Cole replied, his face flushing slightly.

     Ruby stared at him, then looked away, pulling her hand from him.

     They said nothing the rest of the drive to Cole’s estate.



     Cole expected sex. Ruby had not thought of it until they arrived home, and Cole asked if she would like to shower off, then meet him in the bedroom.

     “Would you like to ehm… shower off? I can meet you in the bedroom,” He had said, then cleared his throat.

     So now, Ruby sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a towel with damp hair. Ruby was not a virgin, but she had never cared to have sex with Cole. She hadn't considered if Cole had been interested in sex, he seemed to be a man incapable of it. Even now, as she waited, she could not imagine Cole having sex.

     The door opened.



     “Do I feel good?” Cole asked timidly.

     Ruby said nothing.

     “Did you?....”

     Ruby said nothing.

     Cole said nothing.

      “You didn't wear protection?” Ruby asked.

      “We’re married,” Cole replied.



     Ruby laid turned away from Cole, and Cole laid on his back looking up at the ceiling. He then turned off the light. Ruby closed her eyes and let out a slow sigh through her nose, melting into the bed. It was over, and she was married now. She didn't have to worry about being a single woman anymore, she had security.

     A hand slid up between her shoulder blades and onto her arm, and Ruby shivered. She glanced back blindly through the dark, and Cole’shand gave her a brief squeeze.

     “What?” She asked in a whisper.

     Cole said nothing. He began to shift closer, beginning to wrap an arm around Ruby to pull her in and press against her. He then kissed her shoulder and laid his head down on a shared pillow. Ruby’s eyes burned with tears, and she intertwined her fingers with his.

     “You were supposed to be my manager,” Ruby whispered.

     “I fell in love.” Cole replied.