Page 31 of The Fadeaway

“Who gives the legal aid?”

“Lawyers in Patty’s personal network. She connected us with various attorneys who could give both advice and would do probono work. I can’t even tell you how many women she’s helped with this program.”

Ruby is impressed beyond words, and in fact, for a moment she has no words, just awe. She continues to shake her head. “Thank you so much for bringing me here,” she says to Carmela. “And for working with my mother on this project. What’s your title here?”

“I’m the Program Manager,” Carmela says with obvious pride. “I keep this ship afloat. Run the office, meet with the lawyers. I can be on hand to talk to the women who come in for aid, and with your mother, I planned all of our fundraising events. I’m very proud of our work, and she set up the organization so that I can work here until I retire. It’s been one of the biggest accomplishments of my life, running a place where women feel safe and heard.”

“I can imagine,” Ruby says, blinking back tears. She’s so impressed by all of it.

“Let’s go into my office,” Carmela says.

“It was lovely to meet you,” Ruby says to the woman with the bun. She follows Carmela into a simple office with a small window that looks out onto the street four stories below.

“Please, sit.” Carmela motions to a chair on the opposite side of her desk and then sits in her own. “I wanted you to see the world that Patty helped me to build. It’s so important to me that you understand our friendship, and that she did all these things for me and my children out of the generosity of an extremely big heart.”

“I hope you don’t think that I would do anything to take this away from you,” Ruby says. “Her will is fairly ironclad anyway, but I firmly believe that my mother had the right to do whatever she wanted to do with her resources and her estate. I’m completely fine with her choices. I want to say that up front.”

Carmela gives a single nod and now she’s the one who looks like she might cry. “Thank you for that. I know I didn’t earn any of this, but I feel blessed by the gift of her friendship and love. Even if I had to move out of the apartment today, and even if there was no way to pay for them to stay on at Graham, I know I’d find a way to take care of my kids and to flourish. Because the most important thing that Patty taught me is to believe. I believe in myself, I believe in life, I believe in hard work. I believe in the goodness of people. She gave me that.”

Ruby stands up and walks around the desk, standing in front of a surprised Carmela, who eventually stands as well. The women embrace. “She gave me that too,” Ruby says into Carmela’s shoulder as they hug. “You have no idea how much of who I am is because of that woman.” Ruby takes a step back so that they’re looking at one another, tears streaming down both of their faces. “A woman who lost her husband unexpectedly stepped up and raised a little girl, showing her how to kick ass and take names. Everything I’ve done is because my mother made me think it was possible.”

“You are an impressive woman, Ruby Hudson,” Carmela says, wiping away her own tears with the pads of her thumbs. “And she loved you dearly. She spoke about you all the time—mostly stories about you as a girl.”

Ruby smiles at this image. “She was a proud mother, for sure. And a proud grandmother. I miss her all the time. It’s still weird that she’s not here.” Ruby frowns briefly. “And weird how little it seems I actually knew about her.”

“You knew the important things,” Carmela says firmly. “You knew she was smart, brave, strong, funny, and good. The rest of it is just gravy.”

Ruby laughs at this. “Well, there’s a helluva lot of gravy,” she says, glancing around at the office space to indicate some of thethings that she’d never known about. “So much that I’m learning about only now that she’s gone.”

“Keep going,” Carmela says. She gives Ruby a long look. “Keep learning. Even when they’re gone, our parents can still teach us.”

“You’re right,” Ruby says. “You are so right.” She takes a long, deep breath and composes herself. “Thank you for letting me into your world for the day. I know that I have nothing to say or do with any of this, but I’m so happy to know that Patty loved you and your kids, and now I know why.”

“Come again, will you?” Carmela asks genuinely. “Come visit—any time. There’s room for you in the apartment if you want to stay with us, and I promise you’ll get tons of attention from my kids next time.” She blushes as she realizes that she’s just asked the former First Lady to crash in her apartment with three kids. “Or you can stay somewhere nicer and we’ll show you around the city.”

“I’d love to stay with you,” Ruby says, reaching out for Carmela’s hand. “I’d be honored. But for now, I have to finish this journey and find out the rest of the story.”

“Texas?” Carmela asks.

Ruby nods. “Texas. I have a flight this evening.”

Carmela looks into her eyes as they stand there, sharing a moment of reverence for the woman who did so much for both of them.

“Safe travels, Ruby. I hope to see you soon.”

“You will,” Ruby promises. “You will.”

Dexter is sitting in the cafe when Ruby rolls her suitcase across the lobby. She’s sent Banks to have a beer in the bar and to watch the Yankees game that’s playing on the big screen in there.

“Hi,” Ruby says breathlessly, setting her case next to the chair across from Dexter’s.

He stands and leans in, kissing her lightly on one cheek. Even after all this time, in public he is a perfect gentleman, always aware of how it might look if they’re spotted kissing or being overly demonstrative with one another.

They sit in their chairs and Dexter orders a pot of tea for them to share.

“I think this is good,” he says. Dexter is watching her across the table, hands laced together. “You doing this trip is good for you, and us taking our time is wise.”

Ruby waits for the barista in her black cotton apron to set the tea and two cups and saucers on the table. When she retreats, Ruby looks right at Dexter.

---