Ain't No Sunshine by Leslie Dubois Read Free Book Online Page B

wriggle out of his grasp.  Finally, she succeeded and bolted out of the back door.  My father stood there for a few minutes, staring at where she had been, and then he walked right past me and headed to his bedroom.  He didn't say another word.
    I didn't understand his reaction. Why would he think I was trying to hurt Ruthie? The way he looked at her was...was...I don't know what it was. It was almost as if he was looking through her and into another time, and into some secret past. I didn't know if I really wanted to know that secret.
     

Chapter 10
     
    I had no idea what went through my father's head.  All I knew for sure was that he didn't want me with Ruthie.  He could see that his attempt to set me up with Mary Elizabeth had failed miserably.  For two years she continued to call and try to find ways for us to meet up together, but I always found an excuse to avoid her. We never became a couple, so my father had to find another way to put an end to the feelings Ruthie and I shared.
    "Ruth is going away for the summer," he said on the last day of my sophomore year of high school.
    My spoon clattered in my cereal bowl. "What are you talking about?"
    My father spun around on me. "Don't question me, boy."
    "I'm sorry, Father." I cast my eyes downward, afraid to meet his menacing glare.
    He straightened his shoulders then reached for a coffee mug from the cupboard. "Ruth is a very talented artist," he said. "It's about time she developed that talent."
    I was afraid to ask what he meant. Thankfully, he continued.
    "I'm paying for a program at an art school in New York. She'll be gone for six weeks."
    "Six weeks!" I leapt from my chair. How could she be gone for six weeks? We hadn't been apart for more than two days our entire lives. I didn't know if I could live without her for six weeks. What was I going to do?
    Sure that my reaction would spark a violent tirade from my father, I braced myself for a blow to the face, but it didn't come.
    Instead, he looked down and said, "It's for the best."
    One look shared with Ruthie after English class that day was enough of a sign - she knew we needed to talk. We met during lunch, in the woods a block away from school.
    "Six weeks?" I said, folding her into my arms as soon as we were alone.
    "I know. I know. I have no idea why he's doing this. What is he thinking?"
    "I'll tell you what he's thinking. He's trying to keep us apart," I said, squeezing her tightly.
    "How can he be trying to keep us apart when he doesn't even know we're together?" She pulled away and looked at me with panic in her eyes before saying, "You haven't told him anything have you?"
    "No, of course not. If my father knew what I felt for you, I'd be dead right now." That was the wrong choice of words. Ruthie turned away and hugged herself. "That's not what I meant," I said placing my hands on her shoulders and kissing the top of her head.
    "You're right," she said, shaking her head. "We're stepping into dangerous territory, Stephen. Stealing kisses by the lake as children is one thing, but we're getting older now. We're going to be sixteen."
    "So?" I didn't know what she was trying to say, but I didn't like her tone. "You're not seriously considering going are you?"
    She didn't answer at first. I spun her around so that I was looking in her eyes. "Stephen, we don't have a future together. There's just no way. Maybe some time apart would be good for us. Maybe if we see that there are other things out there –"
    "I don't care what else is out there. I only want you." I leaned down to kiss her, but she turned away. My lips landed on her cheek.
    "I know that's what you think, but look at us. We're hiding in the woods just so we can talk. You can't even tell your father about us."
    "Is that what you want? I'll tell him today if it will make you stay."
    She shook her head. "Your father scares me. I don't know what he'd do if he knew. I also don't know what he'd do if I reject his offer."
    She took a step away from