Page 194 of Broken Road

“On what?” I asked.

Instead of answering, Ruby spun around and walked into the kitchen, then through to the dining room, living room, and family room. At the stairs, she put her foot on the bottom step.

“Ruby, is anybody home here? We can’t just go traipsing around someone’s house.”

“I’m pretty sure the person we’re looking for is upstairs. You got the camera turned around for Georgie, agapimeno?”

“Yup!” Jace answered happily.

At the top of the stairs, Ruby opened the first door and stepped inside. I heard her greet someone, then followed her in.

“Gus? What the hell are you doing here?”

My brain worked feverishly to catch up to what my heart already guessed as Gus grinned at me wryly.

Ruby turned to face me, Jace, and George. The first hint of trepidation flickered over her face.

“You asked if there was anybody home. Well, we’re here. We might be home. If you like it. You and the boys.” She nodded towards Jace and George.

I stared at her, dumbfounded. She took my silence for confusion and continued.

“Uh, I called Gus the other day and asked him to look for a house for us. We, uh, we went out yesterday and looked at a few houses, including this one. I didn’t like the other ones, even though they were perfect. I know this one needs work, but I thought it would be a good project for us.” She waved her hand to encompass me and the boys. “All of us. We could make it what we want.”

George spoke first, sounding young and unsure. “I thought we were moving into your house, Ruby?”

Ruby met his eyes through the magic of technology, and answered, “We’re making a new family, you, your dad, your brother, and me. I thought we should have a new house, too.”

“Cool,” George whispered.

All my senses tuned into Ruby, and the rest of the world slipped away. She shifted from one foot to the other, fidgeting with my cross. I slipped past Jace and cupped her face in my hands. She stilled. Resting my forehead on hers, I silently thanked God for bringing her back to me.

“Thank you, Ruby.”

“Do you like it, Van?” She whispered.

“You like it?”

She nodded. “I do. But I want you and the boys to like it, too.”

I knew I’d buy it for her no matter what, but I wanted her to have the pleasure of selling it to us.

I turned to look at George to see his reaction. He stared at Ruby with something akin to adoration.

“Alright, Georgie?” I asked.

His eyes swung to me. “Fuck, yeah!”

“George!” Ruby yelled and threw her hands up in the air.

Gus chuckled, Jace laughed, and George mumbled a non-repentant, grinning, ‘sorry’.

“Jace? You want to go first? Follow Thio Gus and make sure George gets a good look?”

I tucked Ruby’s hand tightly inside mine and tipped her chin up to look at me. Her eyes shone with happiness, and she smiled widely.

I couldn’t smile, I just took her in. Tugging her closer, I wrapped my arm around her back and pressed my mouth to hers.

I cupped the back of her head in my palm and held her still. “I don’t deserve you, but I promise, I’ll do whatever it takes until I do.”

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