Not Another Broken Doll

Chapter 18

Ruth got to the café at around two and the place was still full of people. She saw Chris and Matthias working hard, each on their section as they normally would, but she could feel something was amiss. She decided to wait in line to buy some time and observe them both. There were five people in front of her. It didn’t take them long to get to her. Matthias was at the counter taking the orders. He smiled as he saw her.

“Finally, help is here!” he said and gave her an apron. “Come to this side, will you?”

Confused, but also amused, Ruth followed instructions and was placed on cake and pastry duty. Chris looked at her and winked an eye. Ruth saw the tension between the friends relax a bit as they served all the costumers that were left in the shop. After half an hour the flow of costumers slowed down from rush hour to nobody, and Matthias went to the back to start working on the early evening service.

“You are looking good” Chris said, looking at Ruth put the last cake back in the cooler.

“You too. Though I don’t remember agreeing to work for you” she said and returned the apron.

“I’m sorry.” He said “You’re a life saver.”

“It was fun, don’t worry” she said. “I know you can’t leave the shop right now. I just wanted to come by and tell you what we are up to with the court case.”

Chris took a step forward and he noticed she didn’t flinch. She was the most relaxed he had ever seen her. Whatever had happened over there, she seemed much more comfortable in her skin.

“I don’t have to be back until December and everything is on the judge’s table now. Next time round I will testify and my lawyers will call forward all the witnesses” she explained. “This time they got him good and he’s not going anywhere” she smiled.

“That’s good. Does that mean that you won’t be running away for a while then?” he said, getting another step closer.

“Unless you make me” she answered, noticing how close he was, and still feeling fine with that. For a split second she locked eyes with him, but the door opened and both of them looked at the new costumer.

“Marie?” Chris asked. A pregnant woman came into the shop carrying a box of books. “What can I do for you?” He asked coldly. Ruth observed the scene play out. She was not up for any drama, so she hoped that Marie would go away without causing a scene. She had noticed how Chris’ body had stiffen, and how he quickly covered his tattoo.

“Hello, Christoff” She answered. She was pretty, with big green eyes. She was at least six months pregnant. “I’ve brought you the last of your things from my house.”

“Our house, you mean. It’s still under my name too” he said, matter-of-factly.

“I know. My lawyers will call you back with an offer to buy you out of there soon” she said in a tone that was not very amicable, and she noticed Ruth’s presence behind the bar. “I see you finally got the help you so badly needed. About time. Too bad you didn’t hear me when that still mattered” Ruth arched an eyebrow. She was not in the mood for that sort of entitlement. She took Chris’s hand and looked at him.

“Do you know each other?” she asked sweetly. She was not going to allow this go on unless they played her game. “Is this the person you told me about before, babe?”

“Ruth, this is Marie” Chris held Ruth’s hand tighter and pulled her gently closer. He smiled lightly at Ruth and played along. “Marie, this is Ruth.”

“Oh, I see” Ruth said. “Congratulations on your baby!” she continued.

“Thank you” Marie said. “And who are you?”

“Why? Well I am here for Chris, isn’t it obvious?” Ruth said, getting the closer she had been to Chris before. He was obviously enjoying this game. “It has been a few months, now, hasn’t it?”

“We met here, actually” Chris said. “The 23rd of April. You were wearing a denim jacket and a green scarf. You ordered your coffee and sat over there with a big book and pretended I didn’t exist until I brought your coffee over.” He was very specific about that memory. He looked at Ruth in the eyes and she winked at him.

“And then you were distracted for what seemed an eternity. Can you believe this guy, how sweet?” She asked Marie, touching his arm, knowing that would sting.

“I see. Well, congratulations then” Marie cut. “These are the last of your books. We needed the study for the baby’s room. So, this is it.”

“Of course” Chris said and walked closer to Marie without letting go of Ruth. “Ah, my cooking books. Good memories here. Tell me Marie, how is Tom doing?”

“He is fine, thank you” She said coldly. “I’d better get going, though. Good to see you on your two feet, Christoff” She said and nodded at Ruth before leaving.

As soon as Marie closed the door behind her and was out of sight, Ruth started laughing. Chris held her close and laughed along.

“You didn’t need to do that” he said as she let go of him.

“Oh, yes I did. That felt like the right thing to do!” she said. “And honestly that was so much fun. I feel bad for making a pregnant woman feel bad about her past choices, but I was not going to let that entitled woman be in control of the situation. She has a resting b***h face.” Chris looked at her and he noticed that she had let some of the guards down around him.

“That’s accurate, that’s accurate. It seems the unspeakable one has met her rival” Matthias said as he brought a tray of freshly baked Franzbröchten, the city’s most famous cakes. “I like this one, Krüeger. You can give her a job if she ever gets bored of teaching.”

“I’m not anyone’s rival. But someone had to put her in her place. I truly did not like her tone. And no offense, but if you need workers, I have a ton of students in need of cash” Ruth responded. “Anyway, can I steal this guy from you for half an hour? I believe he owes me lunch for the services offered today.”

Matthias nodded and hurried them out of the place. Matthias took a second to watch his friend being hopeful about a woman like he had never seen him before. He texted Katrina to keep her in the loop. She texted back a glowing red heart.