Ruby Falls by Nicole James Read Free Book Online

the door. Steve walked over to the sink, where Summer was running water to do the dishes.
    “Cary and I’ll be out in the south field. If you need anything, call me on my cell phone. The number is there on the refrigerator.”
    She turned with soapy hands to look over her shoulder to the phone numbers taped to the refrigerator door. “Okay.”
    “Jessie should be down soon. She has to be at school by quarter to eight, so she needs to leave here by seven twenty-five at the latest.”
    Summer looked up at the clock on the wall. It was almost six thirty.
    “If you could make sure she’s not late, I’d appreciate it. She’s had a tardy problem. Anymore, and she’ll get a one day suspension.”
    “No problem. I’ll make sure.”
    “Okay. Thanks. You’ll be okay here alone?” he asked.
    “I’ll be fine. Now go.”
    “After lunch, we’ll make that drive, okay?”
    She nodded.
    He smiled and turned to leave.
    Summer watched out the kitchen window as he strode across the work yard and climbed into a pickup truck with Cary. They headed down a dirt road, across the backfield, and out of sight. Summer finished doing the dishes, and then went upstairs to check on Jessie. She found her in the bathroom, leaning over the sink, putting on makeup in the small mirror hanging over it. She saw Summer in the reflection and turned to look at her. “It’s quarter after seven. Your dad said you needed to be on the road in ten more minutes,” Summer reminded her.
    “I’m almost ready. I just need to brush my hair.”
    “Were you going to eat any breakfast?”
    “No. I usually grab something out of the vending machine between my first and second class.”
    “Do I need to pack you a lunch or anything?”
    “No. I eat the school lunch, or I get something out of the vending machines.”
    “Okay. Well, if you need me to do anything for you, I’d be happy to help. Oh, and what about dirty clothes? I need to do the laundry.”
    “They’re in the laundry basket on the floor of my closet. Oh, and please don’t wash the yellow blouse. I always hand wash that one.”
    “Okay. I’ll check the labels and won’t wash anything that’s not supposed to be machine washed.”
    “Thanks. Pop never checked. He’d shrink half my clothes!” she laughed, rushing out of the bathroom. Summer followed her out. Jessie grabbed her backpack off her bed and dashed down the stairs, yelling over her shoulder, “Bye, Summer.”
    A moment later, Summer heard the screen door bang, then a car door slam, an engine fire up, and then Jessie was gone. She went into Jessie’s room and collected her laundry basket. Then she walked into Steve’s room to get his laundry. She stopped and looked around, never having been in his room before. She felt like she was trespassing on his privacy.
    “Well, get over it, girl. You were hired to do his laundry and make his bed, so get used to it!” she scolded herself. Setting the laundry basket down on the floor, she began stripping the sheets off the bed. Tossing them into the basket, she turned to get the clothes from the pile on the floor in the corner, and froze.
    There on his dresser, was a framed photograph of Rita.
    Picking it up, she studied the glossy photo. It was a really sad, tragic story. How awful it must be to not know what happened to someone you loved. Setting the photo back on the dresser, Summer gathered up the dirty clothes and left the room. She got Pop’s dirty clothes and sheets next, and then the towels from the hamper in the bathroom. She took them all down to the mudroom and started the water in the washing machine. She added soap and started a load of towels and sheets.
    Pop came in later, sat in the living room in one of the easy chairs, and took a nap.
    Summer was on her third load of laundry when the phone on the kitchen wall rang. She picked it up and said, “Garrett’s.”
    “Hey, Summer. It’s Steve. We’ll be in for lunch at noon. Sandwiches will be fine.”
    “Okay. See you