Ruby and I

chapter 47 (part 2)

As Ruby stood in front of the mirror, finishing her makeup, her breath caught in her throat as she took in the reflection before her. Hair pinned up in an elegant bun and glowing makeup that brought out the perfections of her face. Her lace dress hugged her sweet curves with the bottom flowing down to her feet. She spins around giving herself praise for looking this exquisite.

Behind her, the door opened with a soft creak, and Ruby turned to see her group. Each of them carried a small box, their faces alight with the same excitement that bubbled inside Ruby.

"Oh my goodness! Ruby, you look so fabulous!" Alexa said.

"I cannot wait to see the look on Clark's face!" Faye said.

"Thank girls! So uh....what's behind your backs? Ruby questioned.

"We couldn't resist following a tradition!" Alexa said with a mischievous grin.

"Oh is this my something old, new, borrowed, and blue?" Ruby asked with joy.

"Yes! And of course, I'll be going first!" Alexa said.

She stepped forward holding up a small, intricately designed brooch. It was delicate, made of silver, with a small ruby embedded in the center. The metal was slightly tarnished, showing its age, but it added to its beauty.

"This is something old," Alexa said, her voice softening. "It belonged to my grandmother. She wore it on her wedding day, and now I want you to have it."

"Really? Alexa, I couldn't." Ruby said.

"No, please take it. My grandmother said her friend gifted this to her at her wedding and she told me to give it to a trusted friend. And that friend is you." Alexa said.

Ruby felt her eyes welling up as she took the brooch from Alexa's hand, carefully pinning it to her dress. The weight of it was comforting, a piece of history that now belonged to her.

Next was Jenna. She stepped forward, her hands revealing a small, pristine box. "And this," Jenna said with a proud smile, "is something new." She opened the box to reveal a sparkling diamond necklace, its design simple yet stunning.

"Jenna, it's beautiful," Ruby gasped, reaching out to touch the cool stones.

"I wanted you to have something that would always remind you of today," Jenna said, fastening the necklace around Ruby's neck. "A little bit of sparkle for your special day."

The necklace settled against Ruby's skin, catching the light in a way that made her feel even more radiant. She looked at Jenna, gratitude shining in her eyes.

Faye was next, stepping forward with a small, carefully folded handkerchief. The fabric was white with delicate lace trimming, and a faint scent of lavender clung to it.

"This is something borrowed," Faye said, placing it gently in Ruby's hand. "It brought me comfort, and now I hope it brings you the same for today."

Ruby smiled. "Thank you, Faye. It's perfect and I will be needing it during the vows," she laughed.

"Just tuck it in your dress. Easy access!" Faye said.

The three women stood back, admiring Ruby as she held each of their gifts close. But then, Alexa's eyes twinkled with a secret, and she nudged Jenna. "There's one more thing."