Ruby looked up from her cold mug of coffee just as a mysterious man walked into the diner. the sound of the bells on the door handle had startled her and interrupted her usual day dreaming. She watched the man from her counter stool as he seated himself at a nearby booth. He gazed out the window with a troubled look on his face and finally turned and met eyes with Ruby. He offered her a kind smile but Ruby turned her head quickly out of embarrassment. She hadn’t even realized she was starring at him, but there was something so familiar about him she couldn’t help herself.’ Wishful thinking, gals like us never get guys like that.’ Ruby’s thoughts were immediately shut off bye her friend Elaine’s comment.’ And just why not?’ Ruby replied, Elaine just smiled and continued drying the silver wear.
Elaine worked at the diner as a waitress, though Ruby never quite understood why. She hated her job, always complaining about everything and everyone there. But that was just Elaine’s nature, never satisfied.’ Well I better get going, I still have to get my dress from the tailor’s, for the big event,’ started Ruby as she gathered her coat and purse.’ I would hardly call your sister’s wedding a big event,’ commented Elaine. ‘If I recall this is her third big event in two years.’ ‘Fourth!’ Ruby called out over her shoulder on her way out the door.
The days of the week seemed to fly by and before she knew it, Ruby was in her apartment dressing for her sister, Jillian’s wedding. The mysterious man from the diner had almost completely escaped her thoughts. Running late, as usual, she finished fastening the clasp on her bridesmaid gown and hurried outside to catch a cab. Ruby was her sister’s maid of honor and to her it was an honor, at least the first time she was chosen for the position.
“Where to?” beckoned the cabby from the front seat. “Church of the Redeemer on 38 th Street,” Ruby told the cabby as she searched through her purse for the lipstick she had bought strictly for the occasion. She recalled standing, starring at the cosmetics shelf of the drug store for close to twenty minutes trying desperately to locate a shade that would match her dress. She felt foolish for wasting so much time on such an insignificant thing, but how in the world do you match a color like sea-foam? It was ridiculous but she finally located what she had been looking for and quickly applied it just in time before they pulled up to the church.
Ruby paid the driver and hurried inside with her matching sea-foam high heels in hand. She made her way to the back room where her sister and the other brides maids would be doing their last minute preparations for the wedding. As Ruby entered the room she automatically located her sister. Ruby breathed a sigh of relief with the comforting notion that the wedding hadn’t started without her. “Where have you been? How could you be late on the most important day of my life?” joked Jillian.
“Gee, why does that sound so familiar?” laughed Ruby. “You look beautiful, have you done this before?” Jillian smiled and gave Ruby a hug. Ruby could feel the excitement in the air and couldn’t help but be a little nervous, of course. After she helped Jillian fit her veil, Ruby wandered around and greeted the other brides maids. Ruby knew most of them from the other weddings. They were all very nice and friendly but every time she would greet one of them their eyes were immediately drawn to Ruby’s shoeless feet.
She explained to them all how uncomfortable she felt in high heels and that she wanted to put off the pain as long as possible. Finally came the time where Ruby could put it off no longer and she reluctantly pulled on her shoes and buckled the strap. She instantly felt the strap was entirely too tight and she bent down to loosen it another hole. This only brought along more problems, when she did this the strap became too loose. Ruby solved her dilemma bye leaving the straps loose, she had suffered through plenty of weddings with her shoes cutting off her circulation and she felt she deserved to be comfortable for once. She found her place in the back of the line, it was customary for the maid of honor to be last in order just before the bride.
The music began and the procession of brides maids slowly made its way up to the front of the church. Right before she followed the others, Ruby turned and smiled at her sister, Jillian smiled back. Ruby nervously made her way down the aisle. She grinned at the congregation and nodded to people she recognized, even those she didn’t.
Just as Ruby approached the end of the aisle she felt the excess part of her strap get caught on her foot, she lost her balance and toppled to the floor. Worried cries could be heard from the congregation as viewers in the back rows stood to get a better view of what had just taken place. The closest person to her besides the groom, who was too shocked to move, was the best man. He rushed over to her and offered Ruby his hand to help her get up. Ruby rose up and looked at the man who had so kindly assisted her.
At that exact moment she realized it was the mysterious looking man from the diner! By the look on his face she could tell he recognized her too. “Are you okay?” he asked with a smile. Ruby nodded, besides the horrible embarrassment there seemed to be no real damage done. “Your shoe straps are a bit loose, you might want to fix those,” he whispered before returning to his place.
Still very embarrassed with a face as red as her name, Ruby also made her way to her place at the front, near the altar. The ceremony continued and Ruby began to relax and enjoy it. When it finally ended, Ruby proceeded out of the sanctuary and into the back room with the rest of the brides maids. The first thing she did when she walked through the doors was kick off those shoes.
She didn’t even bother putting them on for the reception, anyone that attended the ceremony could understand why. Ruby had a wonderful time at the reception, they had a delicious meal and Ruby even made a toast to the happy new couple. She just hoped they lasted as a couple for longer than a few months like all Jillian’s other failed relationships. Later that evening the disc jockey announced it was time for the throwing of the bouquet and the garter. All the single women, which included Ruby, gathered around the bride. Ruby didn’t even have to try, she caught the bouquet for the fourth time in a row.
Jillian always intentionally looked over her shoulder and threw it right at Ruby. But Ruby acted surprised, of course, like always. Next it was the groom’s turn, he threw the garter over his shoulder and it was easily caught. Traditionally the two had to dance. Ruby set the flowers down on a nearby table and made her way out to the dance floor, shoeless and all. Completely surprised she found the best man waiting for her.
As they danced they began to talk. “Thanks for helping me out today, I really appreciated it,” said Ruby. “My pleasure, I knew you looked familiar but I just couldn’t remember why,” he explained. “I know, I feel awful, I still can’t remember!”Allow me to introduce myself, again.
My name is Holden, I’m Nate’s best friend, that is why he chose me as his best man. We met just this past summer when all four of us went sailing… any of this sounding familiar?” he asked. “That’s it! I knew I had met you before that si why I was staring at you in the diner the other day, I must apologize, I didn’t mean to be so rude,” explained Ruby. “Think nothing of it, I was staring at you too but for an entirely different reason.
Would you like to go out for coffee some time, maybe?”Of course, I’d love to,” said Ruby. “Smile!” yelled Jillian as she took a Polaroid of them dancing. The next day the two of them met at the diner where they had previously seen one another. They talked for hours and every once in a while Elaine would come over and pour them more coffee. Over the conversation they decided to go see a movie together.
As Holden went to get the car, Ruby recalled the comment Elaine made when she was first caught staring at Holden. “Wishful thinking, gals like us never get guys like that.” Ruby quickly scribbled down a little note to Elaine and left it with the tip, she gathered her things and hurried out to the car. Elaine made her way over to clear the table and on top of the tip she found the picture of Ruby and Holden dancing. Just below it was the note from Ruby, it read: Dear Elaine, I guess anything’s possible.