Ruby Unscripted by Cindy Martinusen Coloma

for me too. You aren’t the only one who grew up in little Cottonwood.”
    I grab the broom from a hook and ask, “What made it hard for you?”
    â€œWell, I’m the only woman in my Bible study who works because she really has to. One woman complains about her job as an interior designer. She says she wishes she could quit, but they just can’t afford it. She drives a Beemer and has a rock on her hand the size of an Easter egg. The concept of money is very different.
    â€œAnd then there are the vacations and the education. I know a homemaker with a PhD, and most of the others have a master’s. I didn’t finish college. But if you have a strong sense of who you are, what you believe, and God’s purpose for you, you’ll have no trouble with anyone you meet your entire life.” Aunt Jenna glances up at the wall clock. “Oh, wow, you’ve been here twelve hours.”
    â€œBoth of us have been here twelve hours.”
    â€œI’ll have to do something to pay you back. Oh, and I totally forgot—he was just here too!”
    â€œWhat? Who was here?”
    â€œI meant to introduce you to Kaden.”
    â€œKaden, the yard and moving boy again?” I ask.
    Uncle Jimmy looks up again. “He tried helping with the dishwasher problem, but I sent him to focus on his film.”
    Aunt Jenna interjects, like they’re a team selling a car. “He did a short film last year that won some contest and gained critical acclaim. He’s involved with media at a church I want your mom and Austin to try out. I guarantee you’ll think he’s hot the moment you see him. But I think he was leaving—we should try to catch him.”
    It’s always funny to me when Aunt Jenna says things like “You’ll think he’s hot.”
    But then suddenly I think of the guy I saw coming out of the kitchen. The one with the dark eyes and serious expression.
    â€œWhat does this Kaden look like?”

    It’s nearly midnight before we get back to the house. It feels like the week I went to Mexico with the youth mission trip. Well, actually, it’s not like that at all, except for how long it feels since I’ve been home, since I’ve talked to my friends. My head is spinning from exhaustion, but I have to see who wrote me.
    My phone sits on the windowsill, partly plugged into the wall. Beneath it is a white sheet of paper that says, “Ruby, I am very very sorry I messed up your texts. I cleaned your room and made you a snack. Love, Mac.”
    There’s a plate of Wheat Thins with orange cheese melted on top, and even though it’s hours old, I try one. Not bad.
    Even with what Mac deleted, I have fifteen new texts. From Kate, Isabelle, Randy, Felicity, and Nikki. And to think I felt alone today. But I am surprised to find nothing from Nick or Carson. Maybe those were ones that Mac erased.
    KATE: What was that halt message you sent lake about
forgetting your phone.
    KATE: Hello??!
    KATE: Should I call for search and rescue?
    KATE: You MUST call me ASAP!
    ISABELLE: I hate Nikki. How could she think what she did
would be okay?
    RANDY: Now that you're gone, I might as well tell you that I was the one who sent you the rose-a-gram last year on Valentine's. But don't tell Angie. She always thought I had a thing for you and now that we're going out. .. .
    I decide to read the rest of that bizarre text later.
    FELICITY: Josh asked me to the dance. You always give me
the best advice. What should I do? Josh is really
cute, but you know how I feel about Harlen...
    I skip this one too and move on.
    NIKKI: Hey girl. How's the big dry' So I need to know. Do you like Nick or what? I'll back oft if you do, you know I will. Everyone says you've got this great new life down there so I didnt think you'd mind that I asked him to prom. Tell me if you do.
    NIKKI: Uh-oh. Kate said you'd want to go to prom with Nick, that you'd come home for it. I suck! I can tell