My Little Ruby

Chapter Six

       For the next week, we continue our regular routine. She never mentions her father or her disappointment.

     Saturday comes up quickly. These summer days seem to go by so much faster than when school is in.

     Once again, Ruby's dad is supposed to come she her but who knows, something could go wrong again.

     The night before, Ruby doesn't get any sleep. I hear her tossing and turning all night. I worry that he won't show again. I can't let that happen.

     This time, my mother doesn't work so hard at making our house look perfect. I don't think she thinks he's going to come.

He was supposed to come around 12 but it's one now and he's still not here.

"Come on." I say under my breath. Ruby has been at the window all day just like last time. I wish she would move. It would make me feel better.

I hear my mother's phone ringing from the kitchen and run in to see who's calling. It him.

I pick it up. "Hello." I say into the phone. "Hello is this Willa?" He asks.

"No this is Sapphire her daughter." I reply. "Oh. Um, will you let her know that I won't be able to make it. Traffic is bad again. Tell Ruby I'm sorry." He says.

My heart drops. I look over at Ruby. "I'm sorry I can't do that." I say firmly. "I'm sorry?" He asks. "I can't so that. There is a little girl, sitting at my window seal, waiting for her daddy to come see her. She needs to see her father. Please come or meet me somewhere. Please. For Ruby." I say.

There is silence for a minute. "I'll see what I can do." He says. I smile. "Alright. Call me when you can." I say and hang up.

     I walk back over to Ruby and sit next to her. "I just talked to your dad. We are going to meet him somewhere later." She finally turns away from the window.

"Really!?" She asks excitedly. I nod with a grin. She automatically runs to our room to get ready to go.

It's not for another twenty minutes before he calls back and when he does, he says he can meet us at the park across town for a few minutes.

I get Ruby in the car and the whole way, she bounces in the back seat. When we get there, she jumps out of the car and runs to the grassy field and play set, full with children running and screaming.

I hurry behind her and sit on a bench. I tell her to go and play while we wait for him because she can't stop bouncing.

I keep my eye out for anyone who looks like they could be her dad. Every second, I worry more and more that he won't show. Cancel at the last second.

Until I see a man looking for something. Or someone. He is tall and wearing a suit with a long coat. He has a hat on and looks young, but aged by his wrinkles. I walk up at him. "Are you Ruby's dad? Mr. Klein?" I ask hopefully. He nods. "I am. Are you Sapphire?" He replies.

"Yes. Let me go get her." I say and start to walk away but he stops me. "Wait. I want to talk to you for a minute." He says. I turn around and look at him. "I want to thank you. For watching her. I thought I wouldn't be able to find anyone." He says. I nod and smile. "No problem." I say.

I make my way though the children and find Ruby. When I tell her that Mr. Klein is here, she raced ahead of me back to where he is.

I watch him open up his arms to grab her and she jumps into them. I watch and smile from a distance. I almost start to cry. That's what I used to do with my father.

Ruby says something to him and points to me. He looks up at me and motions for me to come over.

I walk over to them and he stands up. Ruby looks up at us with a big grin on her face. "Sapphy! Sapphy! This is my daddy!" She yells at me pointing to him. I smile down at her and nod.

"Daddy! I want to show you something! Come here!" She yells and starts to pull him by his fingers. She turns around and looks at me after a few steps.

"You too Sapphy! Come on!" She says and I follow them. "Sit here and watch!" Ruby says and points the bench I was on before. We both sit and she runs to the monkey bars.

"You have really made an impact on her life." Mr. Klein says to me suddenly. I turn and look at him surprised. "Before she started staying with you, she was always sad. I never saw her smile. When I first dropped her off at your house, she screamed and kicked and cried. She didn't want me to leave." He says.

I look down at the cement. "Watch me!" I hear Ruby yell. I look up at her as she starts across the monkey bars. "She's just happy to see you." I say. He shakes his head. "No. It's more than that. She said you are her best friend. And she's only ever had one other best friend before." He replies.

I look over at him again. "And who was that?" I ask. "Watch me! You're not watching!" I hear her yell again. I look at her as she climbs the latter to get back up to the monkey bars.

"Her mother." He answers. We sit in silence the rest of the time, watching Ruby do different things on the play ground.

When it's time for Mr. Klein to leave, Ruby stops her laughter and her smiles fades. "I don't want you to go daddy." She says sadly. He crouches down in front of her and pulls her into a hug.

"I'm sorry. But one day, we can be together all the time. I just need a little more money." He says. They pull out of the hug and he kisses her head.

"I love you Ruby and I'll see you next week okay?" He says. She nods. "Okay." He hugs her one more time before standing up and shaking my hand.

"Nice to finally meet you, Sapphire." He says. I nod. "Same to you, Mr. Klein." I reply.

He walks away and back to his car. I pick Ruby up and we wave to him as he drives away.