Intertwined

Chapter Four

Scarlet stopped in her tracks as she saw the same little boy she thought looked just like Stone. The little boy from the train was now in the lobby of the shelter she ran. Only people inside the building were residents and the staff. She couldn't fight that feeling that the little boy was Stone's son. They had spoken about his wife and kids. He had admitted to cheating and losing his cool. Scarlet knew that she left him. She couldn't imagine she would be in a shelter with their children and he had just opened his private practice. 

Scarlet smiled at the little boy. He smiled back. She smiled at the little girl and the mom as well and decided to introduce herself. "Hello I am Scarlet Michaels. I am the director of operations here. Welcome to Serendipity. If ever you need something my office door is always open and I am more than glad to help." The woman smiled back. Scarlet pushed back that feeling of jealousy. She didn't even know if this was Stone's ex wife. She was gorgeous. Model gorgeous. "Hi. I'm Ruby Stone. These are my little ones Jerrod and Janai. We just got here today. Hopefully we wont be here too long." That was the confirmation. Scarlet's mind was racing but she remained professional. "That is great to hear. If there is anything I can do to aid in the process just let me know. Nothing is to big or too small. I just want to help people get back to their normal. I know no matter how nice it is here this isn't the normal most people are used to." Ruby shook her head in agreement. They made more small talk til the elevator came.

Scarlet didn't know what to do. She didn't want to go against the confidentiality of Ruby and her kids, but she wanted answers. Part of her thought of having Ruby transferred because this was a conflict of interest. But she also knew that Serendipity was the best domestic violence shelter in the city. It was clean and had the best and hardest working staff. Whatever brought Ruby to the system she deserved the best help to get her and her children stable and on their feet. Her personal desires had to take a back burner to her professional ones.

Scarlet's mind was racing with possible scenarios. She planned on being with Stone for a long time. They briefly discussed marriage and more kids. What would happen when the kids met her through him and made the connection to the lady that worked in the shelter they lived in. How would she explain this mess? Could she get fired? How exactly was she supposed to handle this as a professional? Scarlet knew the answer started with having a drink. Alone. This was something she didn't want opinions on.

"Amaretto sour, please." She sat in the booth and started looking over the menu. She had been doing so well with her healthy eating, but this moment called for grease and fat. She needed that comfort that only food could give. By the time her drink came back she ordered another along with an appetizer platter that came with a variety of fried wings, cheese and vegetables. She already knew she was getting dessert too. Her phone vibrated. It was Stone. Probably one of the last people she wanted to talk to until she got her thoughts together.

"Hey baby. What's up." She reluctantly answered. "What's wrong he asked instantly picking up something wasn't right. Scarlet loved that he was in tuned with her usually but at the moment it was most inconvenient. "Nothing much baby. Just work. I'm unwinding with some wings and a few drinks. I just needed a few to clear my mind. Just taking some quality alone time. How was your day?" She asked trying to quickly get the heat off of her. "It was quite the day. Today I need a therapist. I really wish I was there with you." Scarlet couldn't resist the sound of longing in his voice. As much as she really wanted to be alone she extended an invite to him. She giggled as she felt a kiss on his cheek.

"I was going to come have a drink alone to clear my head as well. Seeing you I knew I wasn't meant to fight this battle alone." Stone removed his newsboy hat sitting it on the seat next to him. "So, what's going on? You look the most stressed I've seen you." Scarlet felt herself starting to worry. "Well, I haven't spoken to my ex wife since she left. Everything has been through the court and intermediaries. Today she called me..." he let the sentence fade into silence. Scarlet felt her anxiety soaring. She fought the thoughts fighting for her attention so she could stay present in the moment with Stone. "She wants to meet for lunch tomorrow. She said she needed time and space to put things into perspective and now it was time for us to talk without lawyers." Scarlet felt her heart start to break.

When Ruby said she didn't plan on being there long it wasn't because she was moving out of her own accord, it was because she planned on getting her man back and putting her family back together. One thing Scarlet knew was that Stone felt a lot of guilt about what he did to her and he still had a lot of love for her. The only reason they weren't together is because she didn't want to be with him anymore. Ruby felt her fairy tale quickly turning into a nightmare. She was so confident in their relationship and its direction just a few moments before and now she was equally confident it was quickly coming to an end. Who wouldn't take the chance to right their wrongs and get their family back if given the opportunity?

Scarlet had no idea what to say to the information. She just listened smiled and gently caressed his hand as he went through all his worries and concerns over the coming lunch meeting. All the worry she had about how to handle his ex-wife and children residing in her Shelter was for nothing. She ordered another drink when the appetizer platter came. All of a sudden she had no appetite.

"So, you want to share why you're in here pushing back drink after drink?" He asked as he watched her guzzled down her current amaretto sour. She thought of different answers she could give him but decided on the truth. "No." she said grabbing a fried asparagus from the platter. She contemplated just breaking up with him right then and there to get the impending heartbreak on the roll. The rest of the night went by in a blur. No matter how much she tried to stay in the present her thought kept traveling to the unknown future.

"Can we schedule an afternoon together for tomorrow after the lunch?" Stone asked. As much as Scarlet wanted to know what took place at the lunch she wasn't going to flake on her existing plans. "Tomorrow is Girls Day." Saturdays were spent with Kindred. Since she started seeing Stone they cut back to every other Saturday. This was Kindred's Saturday. They had a day of pampering planned out. They decided to stop being scary and try Brazilian wax for the first time. Stone looked at her defeated. Scarlet was glad she had plans with Kindred. It was looking like she was about to be single again and her girl's days were going to be the highlight of her life again.

Stone walked her to her car, they kissed goodnight and went their separate ways. Scarlet drove home determined not to let the breakup break her sending her back to the woman she was before Stone. She was still beautiful and amazing. Him wanting to put his family back together had nothing to do with her beauty or her worth. Before going to bed she decided she had a family emergency she had to attend to and booked herself a vacation. A week in the Bahamas would do her right. She could do some retail therapy while she was out with Kindred. She would come back ready for whatever. 

***** As short chapter. My goal is to separate the chapters by the perspective of narration. I did a good bit of writing before I began to publish so there will be multiple short chapters published together.  Thanks for reading. Please share, comment, and vote*****

Do you think Stone's ex-wife is looking to get back togher?

Do you think Stone is going to get back with his ex-wife if the opportunity presents itself?

What would you do, say, think, or feel if you were Scarlet?