Ruthie stood in front of her bedroom mirror and sighed. She was graduating from high school. Standing there in her cap and gown, Ruthie couldn't believe it. There were so many people counting on her. Ruthie heard footsteps and looked at the door. Ginger, her grandma, stood in the doorway smiling.

"Grandma!" Ruthie exclaimed.

"I'm so proud of you Ruthie Camden. I know your grandma and grandpa are too." Ginger said hugging her.

"I can't believe you flew in all the way from Arizona." Ruthie stated.

"I would have missed your graduation if I didn't sweetheart." Ginger replied with a smile.

"Does mom know you're here?" Ruthie asked.

"Yes. I spoke with Eric to tell him I was coming. But I chose to surprise you and Annie." Ginger stated. "Now come downstairs. Everybody is waiting for you."

"Who's everybody? Why are they waiting?" Ruthie asked.

"To eat your cake. come on, Mary and Carlos, Matt and Sarah, Lucy and Kevin, Simon, Sam and David are all here." Ginger responded smiling. Ruthie took off her cap and gown. Her long dark ringlet curls fell halfway down her back. She carefully laid the gown on the bed and turned around. Ruthie and Ginger walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Annie stood up and walked over to Ruthie.

"Dad thought Ginger should have gone to your room alone, which is why I let her." Annie stated hugging Ruthie.

"It's okay mom. I'm surprised she came all this way for my graduation." Ruthie said.

"You're her granddaughter Ruthie. She's here on her behalf and Grandpa's. Oh how I wish my parents could be here for your graduation." Annie started crying.

"Don't cry mom. They're here. In each of us." Ruthie said. "Didn't you always say that Lucy was just a picture of Grandma's past? And Simon has Grandpa's sense of humor?" Annie nodded.

"Yeah, I've said that for a long time." Annie responded. Lucy walked over and hugged Annie. She too had tears in her eyes.

"It's been a long time since Grandma died, but it still feels like yesterday at times like these." Lucy said. Annie held onto Lucy like she did when Lucy was younger.

"Yes it certainly does." Annie replied. Lucy walked back over and held onto Kevin. Eric walked into the kitchen.

"Is everybody ready for some cake?" He asked. Then he looked at Annie, Ginger, Lucy and Ruthie. "What did I say to make everybody so upset?" Ginger walked over to him.

"You didn't do anything son, we are just remembering Annie's father and that wonderful mother." Ginger replied.

"It's been so long, sometimes I even forget that it happened." Eric confessed. Annie looked at him. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her to comfort her. It was quiet like this for several minutes.

"Alright with all this sentimental stuff. Let's eat this cake before the icing melts." Simon said looking down at the cake holding his plate. Eric smiled.

"Simon, I think the first person who should get a piece of this cake is your sister. It is her graduation cake." Erin stated. They all looked at Ruthie. Eric sliced the cake and held up the piece to put on Ruthie's plate.

"I'm not hungry dad, give Simon my piece." Ruthie put the plate down on the counter and ran up the stairs. Annie looked up at the stairs, but Ginger put her hand on Annie's shoulder.

"Annie, I wouldn't advise going up there." Ginger said.

"What do you mean? Ruthie is my daughter." Annie replied taking another look at the stairs.

"I know she is. But she's hurting right now, and you can't fix what she's going through. She has to process this by herself." Ginger stated.

"There isn't a thing I can do for her?" Annie asked.

"Not this time Annie. The kind of pain she's in right now can only be dealt with by Ruthie. You and Eric can't fix it this time." Ginger replied. Annie looked up at the stairs one more time and sighed. She knew Ginger was right, only time will tell.