Love Finds You at Home for Christmas by Annalisa Daughety Page A

Cliff was easier than she’d expected. “It was the last conversation we ever had.”
    Cliff let out a low whistle. “Wow, I’m so sorry to hear about this. That must have been a horrible thing to go through.”
    Ruby nodded. “It sure put things into perspective. I know lots of girls are happily engaged or married, but I can’t imagine risking my heart like that again.” She pushed a wayward strand of hair from her face and glanced over at him. “I just want to enjoy my independence.”
    Cliff nodded. “After what you’ve been through, that’s only natural.”
    Ruby appreciated his understanding. “It seems like a lifetime ago—almost like something that happened to someone else.”
    He wrinkled his forehead. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI was only nineteen when we met,” she explained. “We celebrated my twentieth birthday together. It was one of our first dates. And in just a couple of months, I’ll turn twenty-three. I know it seems like not much time has passed, but it has. When I met him, I was just a girl straight off the farm. But now…I’m grown up, living away from my family and working.”
    â€œSo you’re not the same person now that you were then?”
    She sighed. “Yes, I think that’s it exactly. I’m a different person now. I’ve watched my friends and my brothers go off to war. I’ve seen the world change around me.” She shrugged. “I wonder sometimes if Joseph would even recognize me now.”
    Cliff reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “I’m sure he would. And he’d probably be proud of the woman you’ve become.”
    She blinked back tears. Was Cliff right? She’d often wondered what Joseph would think of her decision to work at the ordnance plant. Would he be proud of her service, or would he be more like Wade and think she was better off at home? She’d never know. “He was a good person. Sweet and kind.”
    What she didn’t tell Cliff was how much turmoil accepting Joseph’s proposal had created for her. She’d wondered if he’d only asked for her hand because he was headed to war. And likewise, she wondered if her acceptance had been for the same reason.
    She’d loved him. But had she loved him in a happily-ever-after, soul mate kind of way? She wasn’t sure.
    But she knew that as long as she didn’t give her heart away to anyone else, she would be safe from being hurt. She’d never have the kind of hard farm life that she’d seen Mama and Lucille have. She’d be her own boss and make her own rules.
    The problem was that she couldn’t quite figure out where Cliff fit into that plan.

Chapter Ten
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    Cliff tossed his screwdriver on the work bench with a clatter. “Jeepers. This radio is driving me crazy.” Even though he was off today, he’d decided to come to the shop and spend some time working on Ruby’s radio.
    â€œThat thing still on the blink?” Harold asked. He grinned. “I would offer to help, but I’m still a little sore that I’m not going to the football game today.”
    Cliff chuckled. “Sorry about that. Maybe next time.” He rubbed his chin. “Must be a short in this thing or something.” He sighed. “And I’m getting a bum rap. Ruby’s starting to think I’m just hanging on to the radio so we’ll have music in the shop.” She’d teased him yesterday, accusing him of pretending he was Ol’ Blue Eyes and singing along while he did his work.
    â€œDon’t tell me you’re throwing in the towel. What will Ruby think?”
    Cliff shrugged. “I just don’t know what else to try. It seems like every other day I have it working, but then the next day it stops.” He glanced up at Harold’s freckled face. “You have any