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One of them is reading from the booklet, but I notice the two of the men keep glancing at the television above the bookcase. The same game show that the guys at Dick’s watch every morning is on. It’s turned too low to hear, and the closed captions are scrolling across the bottom.
I overhear something about it being everyone’s obligation to model the behavior of Christ, but I tune them out as I pull out a chair for Ruby and then settle next to her.
“I want to ask you about how we’re going to run Ruby’s Way here in Emerald,” I tell her, my voice low.
She has her cup lifted to her mouth for a sip, and she cocks one eyebrow.
“I have an idea, and I want to be sure that it’s something you and Scarlett would like.”
Ruby swallows and sets her cup down. “We’re going to talk about that here?”
I incline my head toward the gentlemen. “They come here to talk with the intention of being overheard. The idea is for those around them to be influenced by what they say, right?”
She nods. “Quiet preaching. Leading by example. Kind of.”
“We both know that Ruby’s Way is going to be leading by a much better example. If we talk about our plans here and people overhear us and like what we say, that wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”
She catches on immediately. “It’s not a terrible way to get a message out, honestly.”
“Less annoying than being on a soapbox on a street corner screaming into a bullhorn.”
“And cheaper than a billboard.”
I chuckle. Then I raise my voice slightly to say, “So I want to run some ideas past you because you and Scarlett get to approve it all.”
She looks surprised but pleased. She lifts her cup for another sip.
“Here’s what I’m thinking,” I continue. “Since your father and the mayor declined the grant from the state to support families here in Emerald, Ruby’s Way is going to step in and supply those funds. One million a year for housing, childcare, education, work training—and we’re open to other ideas.”
She nods. “That’s amazing.”
“But,” I go on. “I want there to be a Board, made up of Emerald citizens, that meets at least twice a year and proposes programs and ideas where the money can be used for the community at large too, especially for families who are struggling. Single parents aren’t the only ones who do, though they will have priority.”
“You’re in charge of this? Not Cian?”
“Cian just wants Scarlett to be happy and to help people. He’s fine if I have specific ideas about how to run things here.”
“Okay. Well, I think that sounds good.”
“And,” I lean in. “This is important.”
“Okay.”
“No one from your father’s church will be allowed to be on that Board. That is not negotiable.”
Her eyes widen.
“They have proven by their affiliation that they don’t care about helping others in a way that meets my standards. If they choose to be affiliated with a group that chooses that kind of leadership, I don’t trust that they’ll make good choices for peoplein this town, especially those outside of that group. Also no one who is a member of that church will be awarded any money or resources from Ruby’s Way. If they aren’t willing to help others, then they can take care of their own.”
“Wow.”
“Of course, if they want to leave the church and come to us, we’ll give them a second chance. We all really like those?—”
She smiles.
“And we’ll help, then, of course. Because that’s the right thing to do.”
Ruby wets her lips. And nods.