It was my number 1 motto to make ribs so good that it would make you want to slap your mama.

My restaurant Sweet Ruby was a lifesaver, the only thing keeping my sanity together after Ruby went missing. Ruby never wanted me to have the restaurant blame the cost, but deep down inside, I knew she had never believed in me or my dreams. The only good thing about Ruby’s absence is that I could be at the restaurant more. I hate to admit it, but she was right! This restaurant was costly, leading me to find other ways to cut costs.

The bell to the door rang, notifying me of my next customer.

“Hey, Billy,” Matt, my regular customer, said before sitting down in his favorite spot. I didn’t even need to ask him what he wanted. It was the same as always, half slab pork ribs with a glass of Pepsi with no ice.

“Any word about your wife?” he asked. I shifted to my other foot, hearing his question.

I didn’t want to think about her. I had gotten enough of that when I went home to an empty house with pictures and her memories crowding the place. The cops searched for her for days before chopping it up to she probably met somebody new. I knew that was far from the truth. Our marriage wasn’t perfect, but Ruby wouldn’t up and leave.

Not like that.

“Nothing today,” I responded, not looking at him.

I wandered back to the kitchen to check on my sweet ribs. I whistled as I took the ribs out of the oven. The smell attacked my nose more. They were so tender that the meat fell right off the bone. The butterfly tattoo was barely noticeable anymore, and the skin was tan perfectly. I think Ruby would have been proud.

I placed the food on the plate before walking to the dining area. I sat the plate down in front of Matt and started to whistle. I couldn’t help but chuckle as I quietly sang the lyrics.

“If only you knew what you were eating. If only you knew what you were eating.”

I walked to the freezer and kissed the leftover of my sweet Ruby.

“I was right about one thing. You looked good enough to eat.”