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I sat down next to Ruby with my legs stretched out in front of me, my ankles crossed, my hands linked together on my lap. I wasn’t sure how much touching this Ruby would be comfortable with. When we were together twenty years ago, she was effusive with her affection.
Dipping my head to the side, I touched my forehead to hers. “Hello, Ruby-mine.”
She smiled and leaned in closer, sliding her hand along the inside of my arm to link her fingers with mine. I closed my eyes and basked in her light.
“How’d it go?” She asked softly.
“Good, Ruby. Really good.” I squeezed her hand reassuringly.
“So.” She cleared her throat. “What’s next?”
“I’d like to pick him up tomorrow as well. The test results should be here Thursday. If it’s okay, I’d like to be here when we tell him.”
She tensed beside me. “What if it’s negative?”
I snorted. “Ruby. It’s not going to be negative. He walks like me, looks like me, could be George’s twin for fuck’s sake. He talks like me, likes all the same things I like, it’s not going to be negative.”
“But what if it is?” She whispered.
I kissed the top of her head and murmured, “I’m going to tell you the same thing I told him. If it’s negative, and you’ll let me, I’ll still be his dad.”
Ruby froze, then clapped a hand over her mouth. She bent over her knees while her body heaved.
Immediately, I scooped my arms under her and pulled her onto my lap. “Easy, baby.” I dropped kisses along her hairline. “Easy, agapi mou. It’ll all be alright in just a little while.”
She nodded but stayed curled against my chest for several minutes while she pulled herself together. I ran my hands up and down her side, dropped kisses onto her head, and felt her tension melt away.
With a deep inhale, she pushed herself off my lap. I stood and dusted off the back of my pants. Turning towards the door, I caught a glimpse of Jace watching us, his eyes large, a small smile on his sweet face.
Dinner went smoothly, much more so than on Sunday, and I laughed at Alex and Jace’s antics as they verbally danced around Yiayia, and she allowed it.
More than once, I caught Jace studying his mom.
Alex focussed more on me. Like his aunt, he wore his emotions on his sleeve, and he did not appear to be at all sure about the changes that were afoot.
I took another sip of my coffee.
Leaving them at the end of the night rubbed me the wrong way.
I wanted them here with me.
