RUBY.
There's this number that has been calling me for the past few weeks at roughly the same time. When Toby leaves for work then the call comes in. I say hello and there is no reply, it's like we are engaged in some sort of breathing contest. Most times I'm the first to give in and cut the call. Every day I tell myself that I won't pick up the call again but every morning I find myself picking up the call like it's something to check off my to-do list. The day I woke up determined not to end the call no matter how long it took for the person on the other end of the line to either say what they have to say to me or cut the damn call, the call never came. It didn't come until a week after and by then I had almost forgotten what had been happening.
I woke up feeling more rested than usual. I couldn't remember the last time I had slept so many hours at night. I make my way to the nursery to check up on Jeremy, wondering why the source of my sleepless nights was absent. Maybe he's finally sleeping through the night but isn't it too early for that? On entering the nursery I met the most adorable sight. Toby is asleep on the rocking chair with Jeremy in his arms. I wish I could just let them be, they both look so peaceful but Toby has work in a few hours so I had to wake him up. I gently transfer Jeremy from his arms to mine and that does the trick, Toby jerks awake. His eyes popped open and his whole body tensed up until he noticed it was me.
"Good morning," I whispered.
"Good morning, I heard the little guy crying so I came in and I must have slept off here," he explained.
"I must have been really tired to not have heard him. How long ago was that?" I asked, I laid Jeremy down on his belly in his crib.
"I don't know what time it was but it's been a while," he said, sitting up and stretching. His neck and back made a weird cracking sound as he stretched.
"It must hurt," I said. I came up behind the chair and began to massage his neck and back.
"That feels a lot better," he said. I continued my ministrations on his neck and lower back. Our silence was punctuated by his groans.
"That's enough, you should go get ready for work," I said, slapping him playfully on the back.
"No, it's not. Keep going," he said.
"And then you'll be late for work, go get ready," I insisted. He reluctantly got up and left the room when he saw that I was serious. With one last peep at a sleeping Jeremy, I left the room for the kitchen to prepare breakfast. I tied my robe, making sure it was secure before proceeding to wash my hands and start making the meal.
Everything was almost ready when Toby walked in dressed in a white button-up shirt and black trousers, his jacket would be laying around somewhere in the living room. I filled up a plate with eggs, sausage and toast. I placed it in front of him and then went about making my plate.
"Thank you," he said, looking up from his phone as I placed a mug of coffee in front of him. I waved off his thanks and poured some hot water over my favourite tea bags at that moment. My fork was halfway to my mouth when Jeremy's cries coming through the baby monitor on the table filled the room. My fork clanged against the plate as I stood to my feet and dashed up the stairs.
"I'm coming my love," I said as I entered his nursery. His howling got louder at the sound of my voice. "Just calm down." I rocked him in my arms for a few seconds before he finally calmed down. I wiped the few stray tears that had found their way out from his face. He breathed heavily in my arms from all the effort his crying took as we descended the stairs. Toby was washing the dishes he used at the sink when we joined him. After he was done he held Jeremy and kissed him goodbye. The handover wasn't as smooth as it used to be. Jeremy wanted to stay in his arms so he started crying in mine.
"Just go," I said to a confused-looking Toby over all the crying. He pecked Jeremy and me on the cheek before dashing out the door.
It took a few minutes to console Jeremy before I could set him down on his play mat and warm up some milk for him. I took a few bites of my bow cold breakfast as I waited for the milk to heat up. Motherhood made hot meals a privilege for me most especially breakfast.
Jeremy was almost through with his bottle when my cell phone rang. I found it between the couch and picked it up on the third ring after Jeremy had finished his milk.
"Hello," I said, I balanced the phone between my shoulder and my ear while trying to burp Jeremy. There was no reply on the other end, just steady breathing that told me another human being was at the other end of the phone. I plopped down on the couch in determination. Whatever this nonsense was about, whether it was a prank or a threat it ended today. I put the phone on speaker and placed it on the couch beside me. I watched Jeremy fall asleep but still nothing. I walked up the stairs with him sleeping peacefully in my arms, my left hand clutching my phone and my heart beating in fear and anticipation. It was not until I placed Jeremy in his crib and shut the nursery door behind me that a voice spoke to me from the phone.
"Ruby Coker, or should I say, Ruby Daniel?"
"Yes," I answered the unfamiliar voice. It sounded feminine, soft and raspy.
"Are you alone?"
I almost started to say yes but then I shook my head deciding against it and asked, "who the hell are you and what are you playing at?"
"Calm down Ruby, I'm a friend. I have some classified information for you that can save your life."
"What do you mean by saving my life, I'm not in any danger."
"You're in danger, don't tell a single soul about this conversation but let's just say they want you dead when you're almost twenty-five."
"Why? Who the hell are they?"
"I've said too much already, I'll arrange for us to meet in person and then we'll discuss everything in detail but for now keep your lips sealed on the issue."
"How will we meet?" I asked but the line was already dead.