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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3993430" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Two-hundred-fifty-seven, “Aphrodite’s Advice” , Wednesday, June 21st, 5:00 A.M. Ruby awakens to another day. She immediately notes that she is no longer in George’s bed, but is instead back along the private beach on Lake Ontario. She is lying on a blanket and attired in a white gown-style dress with a silver belt, silver bracelets and silver necklace. She hears movement to her left and turns to see George Eastman further down the beach around 100 feet away, arranging his tripod and camera atop a sand dune to take a picture of the lake. He is attired in dark pants, white dress shirt, dark tie and a gold-and-black patterned vest. His suit jacket and hat are neatly placed on his photography satchel behind him. He turns his head and notices Ruby looking at him. He smiles at her then reaches into his satchel, taking out a long-stemmed red rose. She then hears movement down by the water and turns her head, looking straight. A man in a rowboat is rowing towards shore. He is attired in a white Naval uniform. His rowing with his back towards her prevents her from seeing his face. As the boat approaches the beach he lifts up and stows the oars. He then moves towards the back of the boat, causing the bow to rise up as the boat slides onto the beach around 100 feet before her. He turns and walks towards the bow. She recognizes him as Petty Officer Roger Birch. He hops out of the boat and looks up towards shore, smiling at Ruby. He then reaches into the boat and lifts out a long-stemmed red rose. A door slams to her right. Ruby turns. The beach and lake are still there to her left in her peripheral vision but there is also a large building that should not be on this Rochester beach, namely Tucson Arizona’s Three Gods Meeting House. The sun is shining down on the magnificent stained glass windows in the from. Standing 100 feet away in front of the doorway to the building is Priestess Jane Boag, attired identically to the clothing Ruby now wears and holding a long-stemmed red rose in her hands. She then hears a sound from behind her, the sound of cards shuffling. She turns and sees that the beach sand ends after around fifty feet and turns into the familiar dirt/clay mixture of Main Street in Promise City, Arizona. The street ends with the hitching posts and porch of the three-story brick building with the fancy sign reading “Lucky Lady Dance Hall and Saloon”. Seated on the porch swing 100 feet away from her is Jacob Cook, shuffling a deck of cards. When he notices Ruby looking at him he sets down the cards, tips his lucky hat in her direction, and then reaches down to the side of the swing, picking up a long-stemmed red rose. “They all love you,” states the voice of the Goddess Aphrodite, who now materializes beside Ruby in attire identical to that which Ruby is wearing. "I... I don't understand," Ruby stutters. "I mean... they all love me? Roger...I barely know him. Jane..." She shakes her head. "I don't even know anymore. I'm confused." She perks up a little. "Jake, is he alright?" The Goddess replies, "All four of them are all right. As for Mr. Birch, he may be the one who knows you least but you two are kindred spirits. His outlook and personality towards life mirrors yours more than that of the other three. If you asked him to resign from the military and run away with you he would. You have said that running is what you do, well, he would be somebody that you could run with. You could explore every corner of the world together, taking each day one at a time, no plans or responsibilities, just continuous fun and adventure." Ruby breathes a sigh of relief. Jake and Jane were both okay. She pauses, then continues unsure. "And Jake? Is it how I think it is with him? That he cares about me but can't... can't really give himself to me?" Aphrodite says, “Love must be a mutual thing. I will not tell you the answers, they have to come from yourself. The lives of all four of these people have been enhanced and improved though having known you, and your experiences with them will be carried in their memories for the rest of their lives. You must choose which of them you will be with, and while the other three will be hurt by that decision they will come to accept it. Do not think of them, think of yourself, this decision isn’t theirs to make nor is it mine, it is yours and yours alone. Before this next day is done you will have the opportunity to be with whichever one of them you choose. Once you have made that decision you should accept it with all of your heart, putting all doubts aside." Ruby says, "I don't have much experience with this, I am afraid of making the wrong decision. How do I know how to figure out what's right, who the right person is?" As soon as the words leave her lips, she feels a pang, something in her heart that just feels real. Something deep, deeper than she had ever felt. She turns and smiles at the goddess. "Sounds like tomorrow will be a busy day. I have many questions but you're right, I should find the answers myself. But this one you can answer, what can I do for you?" Aphrodite says, "You have already done it. I thrive on love and you are a catalyst for true love. Part of your own self-exploration and learning about love is to understand selflessness. Last night you met your brother, and made a truly selfless gesture. To garner your silence and preserve your cooperation your father would have given a considerable amount of money to you, but instead of your own personal advantage all that you asked for was your brother’s future. And that gesture was truly an appropriate one for you to make as his sole existence is due to your past decisions." Ruby asks, "Because of me? How? My parents aren't going to give me answers, that's for sure." The Goddess replies, "After you left home five years ago your mother became very depressed over your departure. Your father provided her no comfort, so she was comforted by another, the family friend Lucas Burnham. They had both secretly loved one another for a considerable amount of time, but it was an unspoken love, each not realizing that the other felt the same way. In his attempt to help her through the grief of loosing a daughter those feelings became known and your brother was the result. Your father was immediately aware that the child was not, your parents had had no sexual relations for quite some time, with him seeking out a bevy of young women in New York City to fulfill those physical needs instead. Lucas Burnham is a man of great integrity, he was quick to tell your father the truth, thereby ending their business relationship and friendship. So the two lovers parted, each falling into the acceptable roles that society dictated to them. In the more than three years since they have corresponded in secret and spoken to one another by telephone but they have not seen each other, nor has Burnham ever seen his son in person, only images through photographs mailed to him by your mother. And that is how things would have continued if you had not come back here and now. Once again you have been a catalyst, forcing your parents to now explore untold truths and hidden feelings. Without you Alma West would never have had a son. Even if she and Lucas Burnham were reunited now she has reached a point beyond child-bearing years so they will not have another. Alma West understands how precious her son is, she loves that child…she actually now knows what it means to love both of her children. It took both your running away and your equally abrupt return to make her finally come to that realization." Ruby's mouth hangs open before she realizes it and shuts it. "My... my mother cares about me? I always thought she hated me." The Goddess replies, "People can change. She had to first think that she lost you forever to help to bring about that change. Lucas Burnham then helped to soften her hardened heart and show her what true love is all about. Unfortunately his absence and your father's cruel treatment in the years since then has hardened it once more. But there is hope, you have provided that to her again." Ruby looks unsure but tries to hide it. "That seems unbelievable but you're the goddess, I think you know what you're talking about." She considers the possibilities about her mother... "I'm very honored that you would come to me Aphrodite. I feel comforted and know at least I can help my brother, and possibly my mother too. As for me, I guess I have some decisions to make." Ruby smiles at the goddess, the most beautiful creature she has ever laid eyes upon. "Not easy ones. I am still afraid that I will make the right choice. It is such a difficult decision to make. It's the happiness of the rest of my life." Aphrodite replies, "Yes, you must decide which person you wish to share your life with. Whichever you decide will bring you happiness. That is not to say you will necessarily be forever with that person, but for as long as your time together lasts it should be filled with love and leave behind loving memories." Ruby's eyes shut and those words ring through her ears. Her heart fills full as she steps towards the goddess. "Thank you," she says and kisses the goddess on the cheek. "Thank you." The Goddess says, "And I Thank you. Think about this decision, discuss it with your best friend, and learn to follow your heart. And feel safe in the knowledge that I will continue to watch over and protect you as I did this last evening." Ruby says, "Yes, I miss her dearly. I will speak to her soon, I promise. And I will try my best to follow my heart." She hugs the goddess then steps away. "You have my respect, admiration and love for all you have done for me. I won't forget you are with me." The Goddess embraces her and says, "Goodnight my child. Sleep well." When Ruby awakens again she feels rested and sees that she is back in the bedroom, George Eastman sleeping beside her. The first light of dawn are filtering in through the recesses of the window curtains and shining just enough light to slightly illuminate the room. She sees that there is a vase on the table that was not there the night before which contains four long-stemmed red roses. Ruby lays motionless, staring at George. What was going to happen this day that would make her decide for good? Ruby remembers the goddess words: Learn to follow your heart. She continues to watch George sleep, and thinks about all her goddess told her. Finally she kisses George softly then swings her legs off the bed. She takes the four roses out of the vase and holds them to her nose. They smell sweet and feel soft to the touch. She thinks about her four choices and even considers being alone before gently placing them back in the vase. She feels so well rested that she wants to hop out of bed and hurry right to the Western Union office. The thought that it might be closed occurs to her for only a moment but she imagines that telegrams being so important would be a 24/7 operation. Yes, she would hurry there and return and get back in bed before George even knew she was gone. So she gets out of bed and dresses quietly and simply, barely brushing her hair. She heads downstairs and hopes someone is up. Ruby finds Alvina downstairs in the kitchen beginning to make breakfast. "Good morning Al," she chirps. "How was the show last night?" Alvina replies, "Wonderful, you will enjoy it when you see it tonight. You're up rather early, I didn't get the impression that you were much of a morning person." Ruby says, "I'm not actually, not at all. But I had a very good night's rest last night. Although truth be told, I was very comfy in bed. I was wondering if William was up, I wanted to do a little errand this morning before George got up. It's silly of me, it can wait, it's just a telegram, but I thought if someone could take me..." Al replies, "He is still asleep and the telegram office won't be open for another few hours yet." She seems disappointed but only for a moment. "Alright then. I will stop causing trouble and head back to bed. Perhaps later we can talk." Ruby surprises Al with a kiss on the cheek before she hurries back upstairs. What had she been thinking anyway? She considers it while throwing off her clothes and climbing back into bed with George, snuggling. She closes her eyes and smiles. She had just been following her heart.</blockquote>

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