The Meeting

The morning came with whoops and hollers, and I looked out to see Matt and his family greeting Mary and her baby out front. Mary looked amazingly well, in a pretty peach halter dress, her hair cut short, spiky and bleached almost white; her baby was dressed in bright red overalls and a purple t-shirt. Matt was tall, lean and healthy looking, with a wide grin as he hugged our sister and kissed the baby's cheek. Simon went running out to greet them, followed by the twins, and I had to race to join the crowd.

"Oh my god," Mary cried out, laughing to see my nose ring. "Ruthie!"

"Hey, it looks cool and I'm 21. Why not? It's not like I've gotten to Simon's style."

Simon rolled his eyes but kept quiet, knowing his look always would get teasing. I hugged my eldest sister, cooed over my niece, then went to hug Matt, Sarah, and their children Ben and Christine. By then, Lucy, Kevin, Savannah and Marco has come out, with mother, father and a curious Xavier. Seeing Mary's look, Simon grinned and stepped back.

"Xavier, your look has improved," Mary said, coming to hug him. "You still hanging around my little sister?" she added with a wink.

He nodded. "Sorry, I only date one sister in a family, and she's it." He came to hug and give me a quick kiss, then turned to stand by my side.

"You being good to her?" Matt began, putting on a stern look.

"And not because I know I'd get in trouble with you guys if I wasn't," Xavier said, to all the guys. "Because she's my girl and deserved the best."

"Right answer," Kevin and Simon chorused.

"Come in, come in," Mother said. "Lucy, Shannon and I just made breakfast enough for everyone, buffet style."

So went the morning, in fun and games. It was when the babies and little ones went down to nap that I finally got the change to draw aside my (adoptive) parents, feeling more than a little nervous, to lead them to father's office for that talk. Xavier went with me, insisting he would not leave me alone at my time of need, and I had to wince inside to see the whispering begin.

My siblings probably though this was about an upcoming marriage.

Father's office was now his and Lucy's, and much tidier that I ever remembered it, with a sofa to sit at as well as two desks, chairs and a new fireplace. I sat with Xavier at the sofa, and my parents took the chairs and sat them before us.

"First things first," father Eric said. "May we please see the letter you received?"

"Do you promise not to tear it up?" came out of my mouth,.

Annie-mother flushed. "We are trying to handle this in a mature, reasonable manner. If…"

"I'm sorry," I quickly said. "I…I was just afraid, if there was any anger between you and her…"

"Her?" Mother asked.

I handed over the letter, and they read it in silence.

Mother wiped her eyes as father folded the letter and handed it back. "We didn't know she was looking for you," she said. "In fact, we didn't know she knew you were…." She choked. "It's complicated.

"Then uncomplicate it. Tell us everything," Xavier said, holding my hand a little tighter.