PAPA'S QUESTION
1279 Words
RUBY
“Ah!” I picked up a pillow and screamed into it. All these thoughts running through my head were giving me a headache.
I reached over and turned on the lights. I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. I missed Ethel so much right then. I wished I had someone to talk to about all this.
I stood up to pace in my nightdress, a silky pink thing Ethel had bought for me last Christmas. In her words, to "s*x me up." Pacing usually helped me think and organize my thoughts, but tonight it wasn't helping. Frustrated, I sat in the armchair by the window, where I sometimes read and looked out at the night sky.
My phone vibrated, announcing a text message. I grabbed it.
“Hey, stranger.”
“Huh,” I wondered who that was and concluded it must have been a wrong number. Just as I was about to put down the phone, it vibrated again.
“It’s Archer, by the way. Got your number from your dad.”
I burst out laughing.
“Hey.”
I giggled. I walked to my bed and dropped onto it, feeling like a teenage girl texting with her high school crush.
“I hope I didn’t wake you up.”
“I wasn’t sleeping yet.”
“I couldn’t sleep either. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
That made me blush furiously.
“Me neither.”
“Can I call you?”
I didn’t think about it for long.
“Yes.”
I had barely sent the message before my phone rang, and I picked it up.
“Hey,” his voice sounded husky. I shivered.
“Hi,” I replied. He laughed.
“Thinking about me too, huh?” he asked, sounding haughty.
"It was mutual," I replied, covering myself entirely with the duvet, then closed my eyes. It made it feel like he was with me.
“Our thoughts sync. That should go into your con list,” he advised, picking up the conversation from earlier.
“Definitely,” I said solemnly while trying not to giggle.
“And while you’re making your list, you should add good-looking, smoking hot, good genes, and intelligence too, just to mention a few,” he supplied. I couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.
"Thank you for the comments; I'll consider it as I work on my list," I responded when I could talk again.
“You’re welcome. Although, I think you’re going to have a problem with the Pro column,” he informed me.
“Why?” I asked breathlessly.
“Because I’m perfect, of course,” he said boldly.
Another round of laughter rolled out of me, and he joined me.
"God, I love the way you laugh," he said, sounding breathless, and quickly the mood changed. Or it didn't change; more like we had been trying not to address the tension between us.
“Archer,” I moaned.
“I know. I just wanted to hear your voice before falling asleep. Goodnight, Ruby.”
"Goodnight, Archer." The phone went silent. I needed to hear his voice, too.
I reached across my bed and opened the drawer to get a note and a pen. Sitting up, I made a list.
Pro: he’s handsome, he’s intelligent, he’s a good kisser, he’s easy to talk to, I know he’s into me, he’s considerate, and my father approves.
Con: He’s a stranger.
He was right; I didn’t have anything against him. I fell asleep thinking about him.
Waking up from a good night's sleep, I stretched and fell back onto the bed. I blushed as I thought about my naughty dream about Archer. Talking to him before bed and listening to his sexy voice was probably the cause.
I quickly went through my schedule for the day in my head. Then I picked up my phone and dialed Ethel.
“Hey, sis, good morning,” she sounded as chirpy as ever.
“Good morning. How have you been?” I asked.
“I’ve been good. Real good,” she replied happily.
“Marriage must agree with you,” I said.
“Totally. Who knew?” she asked rhetorically.
“That’s good then. How’s the Duke?” I asked about her husband.
“He’s fine,” she drawled. “Now, give me the gist.”
“What makes you think there’s any gist?” I asked.
“Are you saying that there’s no gist?” she retorted.
“There is,” I sighed and told her the whole story. By the time I was done, I felt relaxed and relieved.
“Well, at least you know he liked you before you met him, so that’s a plus. And you like him too. You’re just being stubborn. I’m sorry about Diavolo. I liked him.”
“Thanks, Ethel…” I was interrupted by a knock on my door. “Hold on,” I told Ethel.
“Yes, come in,” I said.
Maria walked in. That was strange. Everybody in the house knew not to wake me up. I usually just went downstairs whenever I woke up.
“Signorina, a package came for you. You need to sign the delivery.”
“Package for me?” I repeated in surprise. Ethel squealed from the phone.
“I’ll call you back,” I said as I stood up.
“You better. I cannot wait to hear about this package,” she laughed, and I hung up.
I picked up my robe hanging on the chair and put it on. Maria walked in front of me. The moment I entered the living room, I froze.
There were thousands of red roses in my living room. This was the first time I had seen something like it. They smelled divine and looked fresh. I was speechless. Nobody had ever done anything like this for me before. Nobody.
I saw the delivery boys, Angelina, Pedro, our butler, and the other workers all looking happy. They were happy for me.
"What's the noise about?" Papa asked gruffly, coming from his room. When he saw the reason for our gathering, he stopped and smiled smugly.
“Bambino?” he asked. “Is this from Archer?”
“I think so, Papa,” I replied.
The delivery man gave me a form to sign, and I did. That was when I noticed a card sticking out of one of the vases containing the roses. I picked it up and opened it. The roses were definitely from Archer. I blushed.
“It’s from Archer, Papa,” I said, folding the note and holding it tight. The content was for my eyes only.
“Ah, I knew he was a good one. I did good, didn’t I?” he asked, sounding too smug for my liking.
“Yes, you did, Papa.” I rolled my eyes.
I touched the roses and felt how soft they were. Archer didn't have to send these roses; he didn't have to try to woo me again. My father had finalized the marriage, and my say wasn't needed. The thought that he went to this large extent just endeared him to me more.
“He’s a good man, Bambino; he will take care of you and give you what you deserve,” Papa stated.
The delivery van drove away, and the workers returned to their posts. I heard a couple of sighs and whispers as they left.
“I know, Papa,” I said softly, still trying to wrap my head around this gesture.
Papa picked up a stem and twirled it. “Then you will marry him?”
- Writer
