Page 38 of The Takeaway

This changes the whole tone of the mission, but Ruby can see that Banks is coming with her, whether she wants him to or not, and she's honestly kind of flattered that he still gets up early to make sure things are looking good.

Ruby lets her foot fall from the railing and puts the other one up, doing the same stretch. "I'm planning on walking around the entire perimeter of the island," she says, glancing in his direction.

"That's fine. It’s five point seven miles. We can do that in about two hours, give or take."

Ruby stands up straight and raises both arms overhead, stretching first to one side and then to the other. "Okay," she says when she's done. "Let's go. And you can walk with me, not behind. If you want to listen to music and not talk, I'm good with that."

The first mile passes in nearly silent contemplation, which is perfectly fine for Ruby at six in the morning. Neither of them speaks, but they also don't put in their AirPods to block one another out.

Ruby breaks the silence first: "Banks? Do you think a man might really choose love over the promise of a family?"

Banks sits with this for a moment as they keep up their pace. "Is love not the same thing as family?"

"Well...I mean children, more specifically. Do you think Dexter could possibly decide that being with me instead of a woman who can give him children is enough?" She's wearing her heart all over her face here, and as such, she keeps her eyes trained on the morning sky ahead of them.

"I think any person can choose to follow their heart wherever it leads," Banks says simply. "The situations are not entirely the same, but Dexter and I are kind of in the same boat."

Ruby turns to glance at him and then looks ahead again. "How so?"

"Neither of us have children of our own, and both of us are in love with women who are no longer able to have babies." His tone is matter-of-fact. "I can only speak for myself here, obviously, but I have to decidehowimportant it is to have that. Is it so important that I might be willing to lose the woman who I could easily find true happiness with? Could I forgive myself if I gave that up for someone--and I hate to say this--younger and ofchildbearing age, only to find that I loved that woman less? That the only thing she can offer me that Sunday can’t is children?"

Ruby thinks about this. She's aware that her argument will make her and Sunday sound like the lesser choices, but she's trying to be realistic. "Children are a big deal, Banks. They give your whole life a different purpose."

"So does love."

"And watching them grow--being a parent--is essentially the meaning of life."

"I would argue that loving them is the meaning to life, but that lovinganyoneis also the meaning of our existence."

This shuts Ruby up for a minute. He's got a point. "So basically, in your estimation, just finding love of any sort gives your life meaning?”

"Absolutely. Finding that feeling that you get in your heart--maybe from children, maybe from caring for your aging parents, maybe from a great, passionate love--is the true fulfillment of a life well-lived."

"I've never heard you say so many words, Banks," Ruby jokes. She laughs and leans towards him, nudging him with her elbow. "Or speak so eloquently."

"Still waters run deep," he says gruffly, but he laughs at himself as he does.

They walk together for a while, listening to the waves crashing on shore and breathing in the humid air of the summer morning.

"Again," Banks finally says, holding up one strong hand. "I can't speak for Dexter, but he's a younger man than I am. I've been married once, and I'm assuming he hasn't?"

Ruby shakes her head. "Nope."

"So maybe he needs a minute to himself to think about it all. You should give him that."

"I know, it's just hard. I want to call him, to see him. I want to know what he's thinking."

Banks lifts one shoulder and lets it fall. "Women," he finally says, though his tone is fond. "Always wondering what we're thinking. My advice is to let the man think. Let him make sure and come to the conclusion on his own that he's living the life he wants to live. I don't think it's impossible at all that he might choose a life of pure happiness with an amazing woman over the potential happiness of something that isn't even guaranteed."

Ruby feels a happy glow just hearing this, but she's still troubled. "But it is guaranteed--he could find someone, settle down, and have kids, Banks. He could. Dexter is a catch."

Banks looks at her like she's missing the plot. "Ruby, there is no guarantee. Maybe he'll never find someone. Maybe he'll fall wildly in love, settle down, and they'll find that they can't have children for some reason. Or that they're totally incompatible. Maybe he'll get divorced in his forties and find himself alone, devoted to his work, and wondering why his ex-wife married a doctor and had twins with this guy in some suburb of D.C. while he's still alone."

Ruby knows he's referring to himself, and she looks at him sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Banks. I guess I'm tunneling here and I forgot that there are plenty of extenuating circumstances in life."

"There sure as hell are," he says, sounding a little put out. "So a man would be wise to look at his life and take stock. To be grateful for the good things. That's all I'm saying." He pauses for a moment. "But again, Dexter is, what, thirty-five?" Ruby nods. "Right. And I'm fifty. Give him a breather here, okay?"

"Okay," Ruby agrees. She looks at the sand as they walk. "I'll give him space."

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