Chapter 25: Chapter 25

The ambiance of the restaurant was festive, with bright red, blue, and green décor. A lovely young lady with long, dark hair took them to a booth, and shortly thereafter, a young man presented them with menus and chips and salsa. Cutter ordered iced tea while Ru decided it would be a good night for a margarita considering Cutter said he had a lot to tell her.

They studied the menu in silence, though Ru did occasionally glance over top of hers to see what he was doing. Cutter appeared to be deep in thought, his strong jaw set, and she assumed it had nothing to do with the chimichangas.

Once Manuel, the waiter, brought them their drinks and they’d both ordered, Ru looked at Cutter expectantly. He smiled at her, folded his hands, and said, “Ru, tell me about your childhood.”

His tone sounded almost like a psychologist or a counselor, and she wasn’t quite sure how to take the request. She tried to never talk about her childhood if she could help it, but as had happened a few times before, she was compelled to tell him everything. Taking a chip and dipping it in her own personal salsa, she popped it into her mouth, prolonging her contemplation before she’d be forced to respond. Chasing the chip down with a drink, she finally asked, “What do you want to know?”

“Everything,” he replied, his blue eyes nothing but sincere. “You were adopted, weren’t you?”

“How do you know that?” She was certain she’d never mentioned it to him.

He shrugged. “I know more than I probably should. Liddy Brown adopted you when you were two?”

“Three,” she corrected, although he could be right for all she knew. Questioning how he’d gotten that information was pointless. Clearly, he wasn’t willing to divulge much at this juncture. “I don’t know what there is to tell. I grew up pretty poor. Mom worked as a cashier and a part-time custodian, trying to provide for us. She said that she agreed to take me in because I would supplement her income.”

Cutter grimaced at the words. “So… did she treat you like a burden?”

Though she’d never thought of it quite that harshly, Ru realized that was a good word. “I guess so,” she replied, playing it off. She tried not to think about it whenever she could avoid it. “What does this have to do with anything?”

“And your reaction to electronics--when did that start?”

“As long ago as I can remember,” she replied, growing a little annoyed at the fact that he wouldn’t answer her. “I’ve always had difficulties with anything mechanical.”

“Do you remember shorting out appliances when you were little?”

Ru vividly remembered her mother’s reaction to the refrigerator, the hot water heater, and other electronics. Her sister’s MP3 player, countless hairdryers and toasters, a phone at her mother’s friend’s house. “Yes.”

Cutter only nodded. “Do you think part of Liddy’s anger toward you had to do with that?”

Wondering where he might be headed with this line of questioning, Ru said, “I don’t know. Maybe. Seriously, Cutter, why are you asking me all of this?”

“I’m sorry, Ru. I just… I need some information from you so I can best figure out how to tell you what I need to say.”

Manuel came with their food then, and Ru thanked him before biting into her enchiladas. They were covered with thick queso, so she opted to use a fork. Cutter dug into his tacos, and they ate in silence for several minutes. This not-a-date was definitely not going the way she’d expected. She tried to think of a lighter topic to explore, but before she could come up with anything, the inquisition had begun again.

“Do you have any memories at all of your birth parents?”

Ru set her fork aside. “No,” she replied, quickly. Why was he so stuck on this topic.

“Nothing at all?”

With a sigh, Ru wiped her mouth on her napkin. “No, Cutter. I don’t remember either one of them. Liddy said she didn’t think my mom even knew who my father was. She said…” her voice caught a bit as she remembered the harsh words spat at her as a small child by a woman who was tasked to love her but couldn’t find it in herself to do so, “she said my mom was an acquaintance, someone she met at the grocery store who was looking to get rid of her child because she couldn’t handle me anymore. She said my mom explained that she had the necessary paperwork. If Liddy would take me, the state would give her a nice stipend. Liddy said she asked her why she wanted to get rid of me, and my mom said, ‘She’s ruined my life.’ And when Liddy asked her what my name was, she said… she said… Ruin.” She’d never told him her full name before, had even lied to him when he’d asked. Her eyes were starting to mist up, and Ru contemplated excusing herself to go to the restroom and calm down, but before she could do so, Cutter reached across the table and took her hand.

Glancing down at where his flesh rested on hers, she could not only feel a pulse of energy, it was as if she could actually see an ebb of blue arching from his fingertips to the back of her hand. She blinked, not sure what she was seeing, and when she opened her eyes again, it was gone. “Ru, look at me.” His words were almost a command, and she couldn’t help but meet his eyes. “What I have to tell you is going to alter your whole world, but I need you to trust me. The first thing you need to know is, that’s not your name.”

Ru stared into Cutter’s eyes dumbfounded. She yanked her hand away from his, folding hers in her lap. “What do you mean?” she asked. “What do you mean that’s not my name? Of course it is. I’ve seen my own birth certificate.” Had he lost his mind?