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“How did you have enough money for it?”
“I told you that I was to work and save money for when Franky came back. Well, I did that, even after Franky didn’t come back. Frank didn’t charge rent, utilities, or anything. I had almost no bills. I banked that money for years. I paid cash for the building.”
“You had that kind of money just sitting around?”
“Yes. Then I looked around and saw so many other sad buildings for sale in town, and I bought them too. I fix them a little at a time so that they are good places to live and work. I want people to be happy when they live in town.” It made her happy when people wanted to rent downtown, her downtown. Based on how easily she got people to rent from her, she knew they liked it as much as she did.
“Was that all money saved from working or was some of it book money?” he asked.
“Most was book money for the other buildings. I do well with that. Some of that money I have invested in the stock market and have done okay with it too.” She smiled at her good fortune.
“Rafferty says that you give money to anyone who comes to the office looking for a donation,” Anderson said.
“Yes, I don’t need the money. When the high school needs money for prom or new uniforms, I am happy to help. When a local family needs some help, I help. I was there once, right in that community. There was more than one fundraiser to keep me alive before my transplant,” she explained. She hoped that he would understand; not everyone would.
“I’ve missed you at the office,” Anderson admitted.
“You have Rafferty now.” Her heart broke at the words. She still wasn’t ready to work with Rafferty, no matter how nice he could be to her. There was still pain there.
“Rafferty may be your brother, but he is not you, Ruth. Also, he never blushes over dirty words at your desk. Nor does he ever slip his shoes off under the desk.” Anderson squeezed her hands.
“I have decided I am not going back to the office, Anderson.” She pulled her hands from under his. “I don’t want to be a personal assistant anymore. Instead, I want to focus on my writing for once.”
“You’re not coming back?” He sounded disappointed, and she knew he was.
“Not to the office. I am going back to live there today. The car is packed and ready to go. When do you leave?” It hurt to ask. That’s why she had run away a month ago, to not see him leave her. And now it seemed she would be forced to once again be left behind anyway.
“Leaving has been the last thing on my mind. All I have been doing is looking for you. I haven’t even thought about leaving,” he admitted.
“But you are still leaving?” She asked, even if she knew the answer. He was always going to leave.
“Landstad was always a stepping stone to getting my own office. My dad is now seeing me as ready for more responsibility now. I would get my own office and even have agents under me. Not just one, but three or four. Since I started working for my dad, this has been my dream,” he explained, something she should have listened to before running from town.
“You are going to love it there. Or here, I guess.” She looked around the coffee shop, because this was the town he was going to be in. “You deserve the life you have always dreamed of.”
“Your dreams are important also, Ruth. And You love Landstad, always have and always will. It’s where you belong.” He said with a sad smile.
“I decided I would rather be anywhere with you than in Landstad without you. I can write anywhere, but you are going to be here. I messed up by leaving, when I should have stayed and talked to you, but I don’t do confrontation well. I love you, Anderson.” She didn’t turn to him.
The silence across from her finally made her turn and look at him. His eyes were on her, but she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. She had laid it all out for him, and he was silent. He didn’t want her back.
“I tried not to love you because I knew it would end, and I didn’t want to be destroyed again. I have given my heart to two men, and neither has wanted it. When will I learn?” Pushing herself out of the booth, her coffee was left forgotten as she rushed out the door. Once free of the building, she did something she hadn’t done in years: she really ran away.
Her only goal was to get to her car before the tears filled her eyes and she couldn’t see. Now she had told him everything, and he didn’t want her anymore. She had messed it all up. He had stopped loving her, just like Franky had years before.
The parking lot was in front of her, but she couldn’t really see it through her tears.
Slowing to a stop, she leaned against a building and slid to the ground. Sitting with her back to the building, she wiped the tears away and saw her car. She had almost made it. Hugging her legs to her chest, she cried.
Anderson’s voice came from somewhere near her. “Ruth, don’t cry.”
“Leave me alone,” she said between sobs.
“No, Ruth, I am never leaving you alone again.” He pulled her into his arms.
“You don’t love me anymore. I destroyed that by leaving.”
“No, you made me realize how much I really loved you by running. You showed me how much I love you in my life, just as it was. I loved the life we had together.” He kissed her hair.
