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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 4169298" data-attributes="member: 8530">Quiet bunch out there - based upon the changes in post count we appear to have about 100 or so readers.  As Queenie suggested, I would love to hear from some of you regarding your thoughts about this module and campaign.Chapter Two-hundred-eighty-seven, “Life in Rochester”, June 22nd until mid-July Ruby’s trip home to Rochester is uneventful and Nana doesn’t stay, she continues straight on to New York, leaving George and Ruby finally alone again. Ruby is extremely glad to be back in a place she feels safe, although remembering that she invited Colin Turner in, and not wanting to take a chance, she asks George to start building the new house for them. Mr. Gonzales does as he said he would do and brings Lucky and Mischief to Ruby. He explains that Kate wished to come too but that Conrad talked her out of it, not wanting her to leave again so soon after just getting back. The puppies seem to cheer her considerably while she is still healing from her attack to have her companions by her side. They love having a big backyard and a forest and lake to run freely in too. George and his employees, William, Alvina and Rosaire along with George’s mother quietly celebrate George and Ruby’s engagement, although Rosie still seems apprehensive of Ruby. He seems to lighten up towards her a bit after she surprises them with tickets for all of them to attend the baseball game together. George also throws Ruby a small birthday party, “The first of many together,” he tells her. He presents her with beautiful hanging ruby heart earrings, to replace her “cheap silver ones.” Ruby seems very reluctant to give up her silver earrings but finally gives in after he also presents her with a matching ruby necklace, also in the shape of a heart. She puts them on and wears them mostly every day but keeps the old silver earrings tucked away safely. He also gives her a beautiful Scarlet Tanager in a large fancy golden cage, a fiery red songbird, which she lovingly and carefully cares for. The next week or so float by for the two lovers. To George, Ruby seems quite content, most of the time. Whenever she would catch him looking at her she would be smiling and happy. It was the times he looked at her that she didn’t know he was gazing upon her that worried him some. Her smile would fade, her eyes lose some twinkle and she would drift off into her thoughts. Any time he asked her what she was thinking she would always respond “you.” One night, in the middle of the night, Ruby crawled out of bed quietly and made her way out of the bedroom. George was awake and considered following her but instead figured she needed some space. He didn’t want to crowd her or make her feel like he was overbearing. He was lying in bed, alone with his thoughts, when he heard through the open window the back door open. He went to the window and peered out, watching Ruby in her thin nightgown float across the green grass. He took a seat in the chair that Ruby had moved to the window, it seemed she always wanted to be near the night. He watched her as she slide to the ground, sitting on her heels as she so often did. The moonlight danced upon her skin, glistening in the pale light. She turned her face to the sky, to the glittering stars that winked and twinkled against the deep dark night. George watched her smile grow as she gazed up, trance like, into the darkness. After a moment she closed her eyes yet the smile stayed fixed in place as George watched her drift into her private thoughts. He wanted to go to her, ask her to let him in, tell him what had made her so happy. In his heart though he was afraid to hear the truth, the answer which he guessed at but refused to acknowledge. Instead he stayed motionless, watching her from afar, hoping she would come to him as he always hoped she would. And she did. Not much time goes by before Ruby returns to their bed where George pretends to be asleep. She snuggles up to him tightly and he assures himself that all she needs is time, time to heal over whatever happened to her in the past and time to accept the loving, exciting and secure future they would have together. And that to have her, he was willing to do anything, give her anything she needed. Having her in his arms, in his life, made everything seem possible for him, and he wanted to return the favor to her, be by her side for whatever she needed or wanted. He drifts off to sleep with the thoughts of just how he would do that her when the time came. The next day, Ruby receives a letter from Kate, apologizing for missing the puppy delivery. The letter goes on to state that Jake has decided to relinquish his ownership of the house but wishes to retain his ownership of the Lucky Lady. Ruby is furious, stomping around the house in a huff. Finally she sits at George’s desk and begins scribbling furiously. Her anger and pain flows out of her as she writes.   The quill drops to desk as she rereads the note and when she is done reading, she crumples it into a tight ball her hand. Tears begin to fall and as she rubs her eyes, ink smears across her cheek. George hears her sobbing and this time he does not leave her alone, instead choosing to join her. He doesn’t ask what the telegram said or what is wrong; he just wraps her arms around her tightly and holds her as she cries. They stay like that for a long while, time passes and Ruby lets it all out, all her pent up emotions and tears, fears and worries. She finally looks up at George with red, swollen eyes, a pathetic, pained look on her face. He licks his thumb and gently rubs at the ink smear on her cheek, his own eyes kindly gazing at her in return. “Darling, would it help if we took a trip to Arizona?” Ruby pauses for minutes before finally nodding yes. “Alright, I’ll take care of it.” He hugs her again, hoping this would be what she needed. Perhaps they would have to face her old demons but at least they would do it together. He makes arrangements to be away for a couple of weeks. He leaves Al and Rosey in charge of the house and they set off to Tucson, enjoying the traveling along the way. Tucson is a very enjoyable stop. Ruby is reunited with Red, Richard and Jane, although initially Jane seems distant, Ruby guesses because of her engagement. Ruby and George stay in her new partners room at the Three Gods Meeting House. One of the first things they do is finalize the papers for Ruby’s part ownership in the Meeting House. While George is off making business arrangements for his new Arizona branch of the Eastman Company with Richard, Ruby spends time with Red and time with Jane, and by the end of the trip Jane seems back to her old self in regard to Ruby. Jane uses the salve Ruby received for her birthday and she is thrilled when all the old and new scars are removed. George and Ruby do spend their nights relaxing, in worship of Aphrodite, Hermes and Dionysus and Ruby is surprised by how much George takes to it with her. Ruby also, finally, returns to the stage to sing and dance. She is invigorated by it and vows not to let so much time go by without being up on stage and George seems even more enthralled with her than ever. After the short stay in Tucson they depart on the train to Tucson and then board the stagecoach to Promise City.</blockquote>

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