Audrey Hepburn's Pearls: Part I

Chapter 42.2: 1995, Ruiz

Chapter 42.2: 1995, Ruiz

Standing with Ambrose just behind the glass double doors of the fabric store, I was in shock. 

"Wow, its really snowing. Look at all that. How are we going to get home?" He whistled, letting slip his two bags full of fabric to the floor in awe. It was evident we weren't going anywhere soon. 

"Um. I guess if there's a telephone booth somewhere we can call Miss Cha Cha to come get us. Maybe." I was antsy, feeling uncomfortable. 

"I can't even see the other side of the street in that."

I closed my eyes in semi-frustration, but they popped open upon feeling his hand on my shoulder. They looked over at him, and he was staring down at me on his elevated heels in a concerned way. It made my stressed out heart feel like sludge, too tired for this. Too stressed out at him to care from thinking about him all day.

"Are you tired? I'm sorry. We were walking around a lot," he apologized, trying to stare into my eyes but they avoided him, looking down at the floor. I noticed the beige tile was slick with patrons' footsteps from the snow outside. He went on. "You haven't eaten either. I knew we should have eaten before we came here. Shopping on an empty stomach is just wrong."

At just this wrong time, my selfish stomach gave a growl. My hands went over it in an attempt to quiet it after the fact, but too late. I hadn't wanted to acknowledge what he'd said. 

"See? I knew it. You're probably tired from not eating and spending all of that energy. Hmm, let me think." His finger pressed to his chin in thought. My eyes focused on the floor again, studying the patterns of the bottoms of people's shoes. Many of them melded into one another creating more complex designs than on any of the fabrics in this store. Hexagonal, octogons. Diamonds, facets...

"There's a McDonald's on the end of this block, I think. Hmm. Yeah, I definitely saw it when we were on the bus. We could go there. I'll buy you a Happy Meal. What do you think?"

I was the opposite of happy. Slowly, I looked up at him. He was smiling a little at me, hopeful. 

I studied him as he stared out into the snow, putting on the green and blue mittens Miss Cha Cha had knitted for him for Christmas. His hazel eyes looked more green with his straight, layered, light brown wig going down his back. Under his puffy, light blue jacket he was wearing a long button down white shirt and his women's jeans were very tight, fashionable. Finally, my eyes rested on his shoes, skinny black patent leather stiletto heels. He looked like a super model. It made me feel uneasy. Almost ashamed, alone. 

Compared to him, I felt like a Plain Jane. My hair was surely a mess, super curly and stupid. My light green turtleneck sweater was bulky, my white pleated mini skirt inappropriate for the weather. My cream wool stockings were itchy and my brand new white sneakers...what was I thinking pairing this outfit with sneakers? 

Deep in my thoughts, I startled when Ambrose started to pull at my overly long white scarf, a present from Miss Cha Cha on Christmas, too. "Got to wrap that really good," he said, being gentle, "I don't want you to catch a cold again. Though, I wouldn't mind taking care of you. Do you have your mittens? Right, you do. I remember. Are they in your purse? How about your earmuffs?"

I took my large black purse from my shoulder and opened it, taking out my puffy white earmuffs and mittens which matched my scarf. A part of me was protesting, not wanting to do what he wanted. But it was just good sense to do these things, going out into what looked like a blizzard and all. At least that was what I told myself.

He waited patiently for me to put these on, all the while giving me that little smile. The smile was stabbing me in the gut. Why did he have to smile at me like that? A little smirk so in love. I bet he didn't even know he was doing it. It looked dumb, puppy dog. It confused me, made me think too much. Tired me out. I was already so tired. Why did he have to smile at me like that?