"Mom!" Ruby muttered under her breath, her chest tightening at the sight of Derek's mother, holding a blue suitcase.
"Miss Ruby, is there a problem?" Stan pulled the car to a halt, his gaze narrowed at the mature woman perched under a shed beside the apartment building.
"No." Ruby shook her head, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, panic crippling her heart. "Please can you keep the engine running? I need to make a quick call." She said lowering her head.
"Certainly, ma'am." Stan raised the tinted glass partition to further conceal Ruby's identity while discreetly sending Kai a text message.
Ruby dialled Elena's number with trembling fingers and waited breathlessly for Elena to pick up.
"Ellie, there is trouble."
"Trouble!"
"Yes. I'm in front of your house and guess who is waiting for me outside?" Ruby's voice quivered as she spoke.
"Who?"
"Derek's mom."
"What?!" Why is she at my place? Doesn't she know where her son lives?" Elena demanded in a slightly raised voice.
"I don't think she has been to Derek's house yet because she is with her suitcase."
"You've got to be kidding me."
"I'm afraid Mom or Dad might have spoken to her about my condition. That is why I've been avoiding her calls and those of Uncle August all this time. I'm not ready to face them, Ellie. You know I can't lie to Aunt Donna. What should I do?" Ruby's voice quivered even more. "I'm freaking out."
"Take a deep breath and calm down, Ruby."
"Okay." Ruby inhaled and exhaled through her mouth.
"Good girl. Now do you think she has seen your face?"
Ruby shook her head. "No, I'm still inside the car and the glass is tinted."
"Awesome! Inform your driver to step out of the car and pretend to be making a call as if looking for someone. Then he should get back into the car and drive off to the nearest cafe. Preferably, Kels Cafe. I will handle this myself."
"Okay. Thanks, Ellie." Ruby ended the call and instructed Stan accordingly.
-
-
Donna dabbed at the sweat beading her forehead, a sigh escaping her parted lips every now and then.
She checked her wrist watch for the umpteenth time, wishing she had listened to her first instinct and gone straight to her son's company to track down her daughter-in-law.
It was already four long hours of waiting for Ruby or her best friend to show up but it seemed they wouldn't be coming anytime soon.
She watched as a luxury white car pulled over by the roadside, the gleaming tinted glass catching the sun at the right angle.
"Wow...do rich people also live around this neighbourhood?" Donna muttered under her breath as she admired the flashy car, wishing her son would make enough money in the future to buy Ruby such a beautiful car.
After the car left the premises, Donna patiently waited another thirty minutes before a taxi pulled over to a stop along the roadside.
Elena stepped out of the car, carrying a brown paper bag, containing pastries and some veggies.
"Aunt Donna?!" She feigned surprise. "Is that you?"
"Ellie!" Donna stood up and hurried over to embrace her. "How are you?"
"Great! I wasn't expecting you."
"I know." Donna plucked Elena's cheeks teasingly. "I came here to surprise my daughter-in-law. I heard she's staying with you now."
"Yes....she was." Elena pouted, faking a sad expression. "But she moved out today."
"She did?!" Donna clutched her heart, her initial bubbly expression dampened.
"Yes, Aunt Donna. But let's go inside. I can see you've been here under the sun for quite some time."
"I have." Donna sighed. "But do you know where she moved to?" She lifted her suitcase, following Elena into the apartment building.
"I'm afraid she didn't say." Elena kept up with her saddened look while sneering in her heart. "And it's all thanks to your son, who told everyone that she is staying with me."
"That young man...".Donna sighed gritting her teeth. "I haven't been able to forgive him for what he did to my poor baby."
Elena scoffed inwardly as she unlocked her door and ushered the older woman inside.
"Thank you, my dear." Donna pulled her suitcase to a halt and sank into one of the couches, her gaze sweeping across the moderately furnished sitting room.
"Can I get you a glass of water?" Elena asked sweetly.
"Please do." Donna took off her scarf and kicked off her shoes before relaxing her back.
Elena dropped off the things she bought on her kitchen slab before fetching Donna a glass of water.
"So does Derek know that you're in town?"
"No." Donna gulped down the entire cold, refreshing water as if she had been trekking in the desert for a day. "Thanks for the water."
"You're welcome, aunty." Elena collected the glass from her and put it aside. "But don't you think you should inform him that you are in the city?"
"I didn't come for that rascal." Donna waved her hand dismissively. "I came here to be with my Ruby for the next week."
"One week?!" Elena raised her brow slightly.
"I hope you wouldn't mind my staying at your place. I really have to see Ruby and make things work between her and Derek. I don't want to lose her as my daughter-in-law. Please."
"What about your pregnant son's mistress?" Elena's tone was unintentionally hostile.
"Come on Ellie, you of all people should know better." Donna brows furrowed. "If not for the fact that I don't subscribe to abortion I would have had Bailey removed that child. Nevertheless Derek is not going to marry her. When she has her baby, we will take care of our grandchild and she can go on with her life."
"It's easier said than done aunt Donna." Elena pointed out.
"I promise you. I've already discussed with Bailey's parents and they've all agreed for peace sake."
"But Aunt Donna, what if Ruby doesn't want to get back together with Derek? Have you considered that yet? I'm sure you know she's married." Elena managed to keep the anger out of her voice as she explained calmly.
"Yes, Agnes told me about her fake marriage to a stranger just to get back at my son and I completely understand her anger."
"Is that all Aunt Agnes told you?" Elena asked softly, clenching her left fist behind her.