Again, Ruthie doesn't answer aloud, but I can picture her nodding on the other side of the door.
"It never really bothered me before," she argues. "But I think I'm realizing that it's not exactly… normal. Everyone else has a momanda dad—even if they don't live together. Or they at least have brothers or sisters. Here it's just… us."
My stomach drops as I brace my weight against the island.
"I get that," Tess reassures. "But also… what even isnormal? There are five kids in my family." She laughs. "I don't know many others with seven people in one house."
Ruthie lets out the faintest laugh.
"But that doesn't mean different is bad. It's cool, remember?"
I hear a deep inhale and mimic it. "I know, but I'm older now…" Ruthie hesitates before continuing. "What if there's… stuff… that I don't really want to talk to Dad about?"
I hang my head, my eyes falling to the floor searching for my heart that undoubtedly dropped there.
"Well, then you talk to your Aunt Alex or our friend Brooke." There's a pause before she finishes—a break in the voice that's unknowingly soothing both of us. "Or you can always talk to me."
"I know," Ruthie whispers.
"But your dad will always listen," Tess reminds her. "And I can promise you he'll try his best with whatever it is."
My throat grows tight.
"You're lucky, you know," she adds. "He's pretty special."
My legs go weak.
"Heisa Gator," Ruthie quips.
"Yeah." Tess laughs. "But that's not what I meant."
Pride rises in my chest, rivaled by a feeling I can only describe as need.
To hug Ruthie.
To see Tessa.
To thank her once again. But dammit if I don't want to do it without words this time.
"I'm glad you're here," Ruthie says, her tone brighter than it's been.
Tess sucks in a breath. "Me too."
There's a silence I imagine is them hugging, and I fill it with thoughts—some I shouldn't have but can't stop.
What if Tessa wasn't here?
Will Ruthie be okay?
Did she mean the things she said?
Tess speaks again. "You ready to go back up there?"
Ruthie sighs. "What if she keeps bringing it up?"
"Then you tell her that families come in all shapes and sizes, and yours is perfect exactly as it is. And if she still has a problem with that…" She pauses, considering her next words carefully. "Then you tell her we'd be happy to call her mother to come pick her up."
That earns a snort from Ruthie, and one hell of a smile from me.
