I'm sorry for the wait guys! I've been busy! ALMOST at 100! I might have to add 2 tonight lol, on with chapter 16…

Lucy and Ruthie had just finished eating lunch and seeing a movie.

"Thanks for today Lucy…I needed to get out…with someone other than Martin…"
"Are you guys ok?"
"We're fine. It's just that…"
"Just…what?"
"I still sort of liked Jack. I know it's wrong but I still did…"
"So you don't want to hang out with Martin cause you don't like him?"
"No! I love Martin with all of my heart."
"I don't get the problem then."
"I don't want Martin to find out that I still liked Jack. Cause I'm afraid that he'll break up with me."
"Why would he do that?"
"Martin would go nuts and think that I don't love him anymore. Some other guy asked me out, and I told him no cause I'm dating Martin…and even though I told Martin that, he went nuts."
"Well I don't know what to tell ya hon…" She put her hand on Ruthie's shoulder comfortingly.
"Oh crap!" She said, looking at her watch.
"Huh?"
"We need to get home…"
"How come?"
"Calling hours are in an hour and a half."
"Oh we do have to go!" she said, running to the car in the crowded movie theater parking lot.

They arrived home about ten minutes later, and walked in the door.

"Kevin! Savannah!" Lucy called, as she shut the door. Her dad ran by. "Where's my tie!" he was asking everyone.
"Dad? Relax…we don't have to be there for an hour…" Lucy said. Kevin walked downstairs, holding Savannah. He kissed Lucy and handed Savannah to her.
"We have to go get ready. We'll meet you there." Lucy said, and hugged Ruthie.
"I love you. Thanks for everything today."
"You're welcome. See you there!" She said, and they walked out the door.
"Is that my woman I hear!" Martin shouted from the kitchen, and Ruthie laughed. He walked to the front door and picked Ruthie up, spinning around with her in his arms. He set her down and kissed her gently.
"Have fun today?"
"Yeah. It was great. Have fun with Savannah?"
"Yep…we colored for an hour." He said, obviously pleased with himself.
"Awww…my niece and my boyfriend. How adorable!" She said, taking off her coat and hanging it on the rack. "I'm going to go get ready." She announced.
"Alright." He said, as she walked upstairs.
"Reverend Camden? Could maybe…Ruthie and I meet you there a little later? I'm just thinking.."
"Yeah…she's not going to be doing too great…go ahead. Bring her whenever."
"I was planning on maybe taking her to dinner afterwards? Is that ok?"
"Sure…have her home by ten."
"Yes sir. What time are calling hours over?"
"Um…around 9:30."
"Maybe a late dinner? For all of us?"
"That'd be nice, Martin. I'll treat. Maybe the pool hall?"
"That'll work. I'll call and let them know we're coming."
"Thanks. I gotta head out…Lucy and I have to be there early…to open up the church and stuff."
"Ok. See you there."
"Love ya son."
"Son?"
"Well..you might as well be." He said, winking at him and giving him a "manly" hug.
"Bye Eric." He called, as Eric walked out the door.
"Annie!" Martin called. "Eric is leaving!"
Annie ran down the steps, with the boys slightly behind her. They grabbed their coats and ran out the door. Martin laughed and went upstairs. He knocked on Ruthie's bedroom door.

"Ruthie? You ready?"
"Yeah…" she said quietly.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure." He opened the door, and saw Ruthie sitting on her bed. She had obviously been crying, seeing the mascara running down her face and her red puffy eyes. He sat on the bed beside her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her forehead.
"I still can't believe this. It's not fair! He didn't deserve to die!"
"I know hon…but obviously God thought it was his time…if he didn't, he'd still be here."
'I know…but it's so hard…I mean I liked him a LOT."
"Liked or like?"
"Liked."
"Ruthie, you still liked him."
"Ok…a little bit. But..." She continued. "I didn't even know what love was until I fell in love with you. Martin, I liked him a little bit, but it's NOTHING compared to how I feel about you. I've loved you since the moment I met you. You mean everything to me. So please, just don't ask me if I like him. Because you know that I love you with all I am. Why do you doubt that?"
"I don't know. I mean…a part of me still thinks you deserve better. And in some ways, I think Jack could've been better for you."
"No…there's really no way he could have. What I felt for him was a crush. What I feel for you is love. True and genuine love. So just believe me when I say I love you! I just miss Jack…I mean…he was my friend."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"You didn't do anything wrong. All you did was try to understand why I was so upset."
"I love you Ruthie."
"I love you too Martin."
"Oh! I was talking to your dad…he's treating us all to dinner at the pool hall."
"Oh…gourmet dining!" she said jokingly.
"All that counts is that we're all together…It's gonna be me, you, Lucy, Kevin, Savannah, Mom, Dad, Sam, David, Simon, and Sandy."
"You're calling them mom and dad?"
"Well…some day they will be." He said smiling.
"How are you and Sandy doing?"
"Well since it's not my baby, we're great. She calls me every once in a while, mostly to apologize for dragging me into all this when the baby isn't even mine…which I've forgiven her for…and then we talk for a while. I think we're gonna be good friends."
"Good…cause you're MINE!" she said, kissing him.
"You ready to go?"
"Ugh…I guess…" She said, walking over to her vanity and redoing her makeup. She was wearing a black layered skirt, and a white cami with a short light purple sweater over it. She slipped on her white flip-flops with the sequins on the strap.
"You look like an angel."
"Well you don't look so bad yourself Mr.Brewer!"
Martin leaned in and kissed her passionately."I love you."
"I love you too. Let's get going."
She grabbed her coat, and she and Martin walked out to the car, hand in hand as the bright orange sun set in the sky.

A/N-What'd you guys think? This one was a little different lol…please review!