The day of the party arrived, and Ruby found her stomach filled with butterflies. She couldn't decide what she was nervous about—if it was August's reaction to her gift, or the thought of meeting so many new people. It seemed strange to prepare for a celebration when the day before had marked one month since Peter's passing, but Ruby also knew she couldn't stay cloistered away forever. If she was honest, she was starting to feel ready to get back out into the real world, though the pangs of guilt never went away.
The day before, Archibald had asked if she wanted to visit Peter's grave. Ruby froze as panic shot through her veins before she vehemently shook her head. "No, thank you," she choked out. She couldn't stand the idea of visiting that patch of dirt where she'd cried herself dry. She couldn't bring herself to see how much grass had already grown in front of the rough wooden cross.
Maybe someday, but not now. Not yet.
She'd taken care to choose a suitable dress of lavender for the party—it wasn't exactly dark, but it was the closest to mourning colours that she had, and she would not give the folk of Storybrooke any more reason to gossip than they already had. As she fastened herself up, she could feel the fabric pull around her middle where she was beginning to swell. The realization both warmed her through and made her heart beat faster at the thought that she'd have to tell her secret soon.
Shaking her head at herself, Ruby called August to her while his pa was outside. "I have something for you!" she exclaimed, unable to hide the excitement from her voice—though perhaps with too much cheer to counter the grief that threatened to show its claws. She tried to keep herself in check, since the boy would probably not be overjoyed at receiving a new garment.
His eyes widened and he followed her in to her bedroom, though Ruby could sense his hesitancy. He glanced around the room as she shut the door, and she realized that he had not been in his own bedroom since she'd joined him and his pa.
Now she really hoped he'd like his gift.
Ruby opened the top drawer of the chest and carefully pulled out the folded garment. She held it up against her torso so he could see it fully. "What do you think?"
It was a simple vest—it didn't even have any buttons—but it was made from her green paisley dress. The pattern was vibrant and the colour was bright, and she thought it would be perfect for a little boy—and it would show off his red hair nicely.
She could see a smile creep over his features before his expression dropped as he glanced up at her. "Why would you make something for me?"
Ruby let out a nervous chuckle, starting to feel unsure about the whole idea. "Well, believe it or not, I would like us to be friends," she explained. "I thought you could wear it to the party, and your pa would be so happy to see you looking so smart."
She helped him with the vest and stepped back as he shrugged it on to his shoulders. A smile pulled the corners of his lips as he tugged at the edges of the fabric. "How do I look?" he asked hesitantly.
Ruby nodded her approval. "Very handsome. I wouldn't be able to tell you apart from a proper gentleman in Boston."
August's smile widened.
A knock at the door made them both jump. "Ruby? Have you seen August? I can't find him anywhere."
"Just a minute!" Ruby called back to Mr. Hopper as she flashed a smile to August.
She swept her fingers through his hair and smooth out his vest before turning him towards the closed door.
"Ready?" she asked with her hand on the doorknob. He nodded, and Ruby opened the door to a very puzzled Archibald Hopper.
"August, what are you doing…" the father trailed off as his eyes widened before he broke into a grin. "Golly, August, look at you! You look like you're ready to meet the president!"
August grinned back at his father's appraisal. "You like it, Pa?"
Archibald's eyes met Ruby's, and his expression softened as he beamed at her. "I love it," he replied, and Ruby's heart lifted as she smiled back. She couldn't help it when his clear eyes brightened and his laugh lines creased around his eyes framed by his glasses.
Archibald turned back to his son and crouched down. "Why don't you finish getting the wagon ready while I talk to Miss Ruby, hmm?" Ruby noticed how Mr. Hopper resisted ruffling the boy's hair as he stood up, reaching his hand out before pulling it back, and August bounded away in an instant.
Ruby held her breath as Archibald turned his attention towards her, and she fought the urge to lay her hand on her stomach. Was she showing? No, it was too soon. She really did need to tell him, though, because it wouldn't be long before she blew up like a balloon.
"I-I have something for you, too," Mr. Hopper said as he reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a small velvet box, and Ruby instinctively clasped her hands together and fiddled with her wedding ring.
She stared at his hands as he opened the box to reveal two gold rings, one larger than the other. Tears welled up, and she tried to blink them back as she focused on the objects in front of her, her mind racing.
I can't wear his ring! I won't take Peter's off—especially not while I'm carrying his child. You won't make me, Archibald Hopper.
"I know our situation is unusual," Archibald began, "b-but I thought this would be b-best to—to quell any gossip."
Ruby forced herself to look up once more, and her tentative glance from under her lashes met Archibald's eyes, full of understanding. Her chest felt tight as he seemed to know the impossible situation in which she found herself—in which they both found themselves.
Ruby slowly took the ring from the box. It was clearly meant for her, with its small size, and the dainty engraving on the gold band made her breath hitch in her throat. It was beautiful, and she couldn't help but think that Archibald had taken such care in picking it out.
Glancing at him, Ruby slid the ring on her fourth finger and nestled it up to Peter's gold band. It looked dull and worn and thin compared to the new one, but it was no less precious to her. She waited for Mr. Hopper to make a comment about her other ring, but he stayed silent.
She watched him slide the other gold band onto his own finger. Ruby swallowed at the significance of the action, and though she was grateful he had let her put on her own ring, the intimacy of the simple bands hit Ruby anew.
They were, for all intents and purposes, husband and wife.
They stood silently for a moment, and Ruby didn't dare look up as she studied her hands with the foreign object around her fourth finger. Then, his raspy voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"We'd, uh—w-we'd better get going," he said as he stepped back and motioned to the front door.
Ruby nodded and grabbed her shawl and bonnet while he grabbed the basket from the kitchen table that held their offering to the festivities—a pumpkin pie, which Ruby hoped tasted as good as it looked.
"When did you have time to make that vest, anyway?" Mr. Hopper asked as he helped her into the wagon.
"Saturday, while you boys were in town," Ruby answered, satisfied with a job well done and a surprise well kept. August sat up a little straighter as he bounced in his seat.
Archibald nodded with a smile as he made his way to the other side of the wagon and hoisted himself up, with August between them. "Did you say thank you to Miss Ruby?" the father prompted the son.
"Thank you, Miss Ruby."
Ruby chuckled and realized they looked the part of a regular family. She couldn't deny there was something pleasant about that, even if it wasn't true. It felt familiar and predictable somehow.
Mr. Hopper gripped the reins, and with a click of his tongue, they were off.
The Nolans' homestead was close by, and as they neared the farm, the sounds of the townsfolk gathered grew louder and louder as the collection of wagons came into view. Ruby swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to ignore the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach, which she knew had nothing to do with her little one.
Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe she should have stayed home. What if she still smelled like skunk? Mr. Hopper had assured her she didn't. She barely knew anyone, and what if they all stared and gawked at the new "Mrs. Hopper"? She twisted her rings and stared straight ahead as Archibald guided Cleo to a stop with a soft, "Woah".
"Everything okay?" a deep voice beside her asked from the ground.
Ruby jumped and gave a small smile to Archibald as he offered his hand. She took it and hopped down, her mind racing with everything that could go wrong as he handed the basket to her.
Ruby felt a hand on her back, and Archibald leaned close and whispered in her ear, "If you need to go home at any time, just let me know, alright? We can leave whenever you'd like." His breath was warm on her ear and his tone was reassuring. She looked at him and nodded with a small smile, and she couldn't deny how the warmth in his eyes helped calm the flutters in her stomach.
August had already rushed ahead to join the other children as Archibald walked with Ruby to the house, his hand a reassuring presence on her back. Ruby pasted on a smile, deciding it was best to play the part of "Mrs. Hopper" as best she could until she could get her bearings. Her smile turned genuine when she spotted Mary Margaret, who rushed towards her and gave her a hug around the pumpkin pie.
"I'm so glad you came!" Mary Margaret exclaimed as she took the basket from her friend. "Welcome!"
"Thank you so much," Ruby replied as she followed the hostess to the tables lined with food. The idea of fixing herself behind the table with a defined purpose of helping behind the scenes appealed to Ruby, and she prayed she could stay busy and out of the way.
As if to contradict her intentions, Mary Margaret pulled a petite woman over to them. "Ruby, I'd like you to meet Mrs. Belle Gold," she said with a grin. "Belle, this is Archie's…"
"I'm Mrs. Hopper," Ruby said quickly. She couldn't help but notice Mary Margaret's eyebrows rise in surprise before she focused back on Mrs. Gold.
"Call me Belle. It's so lovely to meet you!" Belle beamed. "I'm married to Mr. Gold who owns the general store." She scanned the crowd to find him, and pointed to an impeccably dressed man talking to David. "Over there."
"It's lovely to meet you," Ruby said warmly as she tried to remember where she had seen this woman before.
"Belle is also the step-mother of Neal," Mary Margaret said, as if to make it clear that Ruby shared a commonality with this woman.
"He's probably with August and Emma," Belle explained. "Those three are inseparable."
"When they're not at each other's throats," Mary Margaret added with a chuckle.
Ruby laughed with the other woman, grateful for the ease with which they fell into conversation. As she noticed the children playing a game of tag across the yard, she saw a familiar-looking boy with August and Emma. He was a bit taller, and Ruby realized it was the same boy she saw the day she was here to marry Mr. Hopper.
She kept the realization to herself as she focused on the conversation that bubbled around her, and she felt her shoulders relax in the company of Belle and Mary Margaret as she helped them with the last of the preparations before the food was ready to be served.
Archie watched as Ruby quickly fell in with Mary Margaret and Belle, and he smiled to see how they took her under their wings. Ruby forgot about him almost instantly, and so he slipped away, only to be cornered Leroy, who always gave him an earful about some complaint or another. He smiled and nodded like usual, with a few glances towards the house to keep an eye on Ruby, who seemed to fit in well with the other women.
It looked like this outing was doing her some good after all.
The afternoon passed quickly, filled with the usual food and drink and merriment in which everyone indulged, soaking up the fun that would sustain them through the long months ahead. Still, Archie heard the murmurings as everyone sized up the stranger who had found herself in unusual circumstances—and they'd heard she was pretty, but my, wasn't she beautiful? And how did she end up with plain old Archibald Hopper?
It was harmless chatter—mostly—and he shrugged it off as he joined his friend.
While he was enjoying a pint of cider with David Nolan, he saw Cora Mills sweep in with her daughter close behind. Her presence was impossible to miss, especially with her elaborate dress and her queenly attitude that was anything but benevolent. He couldn't help but overhear her remarks to her daughter—it was hard to miss her commanding voice with which she took no pains to hide her opinions.
"Stand up straight, Regina, dear. Don't fidget. You don't want to rumple your dress. I don't order the finest things from Boston and Paris for you to be the second-prettiest girl at the party."
"Yes, mother," said a quiet voice, and Archie's heart went out to the young woman who was so unfortunate as to be tied to such a domineering mother.
He could almost hear Cora's silent judgments as her gaze swept over the gathering, sizing up everyone's worth. It was a wonder that the wealthy widow stayed in their "backwater town" at all, but Archie knew she was determined to continue where her husband left off, building up her assets in a growing frontier town.
He was about to walk away when he heard something that made him freeze in his tracks.
"Look, Regina, that must be the new Hopper bride," Cora remarked with a sneer. "I didn't believe it at first, but no wonder that bachelor was so eager to snatch up a young widow. Still, even if she is pretty, it's such a tasteless agreement on both their parts—her husband barely cold in his grave—just for a warm bed."
The ice in the pit of his stomach instantly steamed to a boil as Archie turned to the woman with fire in his eyes.
"I'll thank you not to pass such judgments about my wife!" Archie spat. "Our marriage is nobody's concern but our own—completely proper—and I will not stand for what you are implying." He could see her shock as her eyes widened, but his anger simmered into a focused energy as he continued. "My wife is strong and intelligent and worth twenty of you, so I'd thank you to remember that before you go spreading your poison, Mrs. Mills."
With that, he drained his mug and traipsed off towards the house to put as much distance between himself and the woman who was left gawking at the usually mild-mannered farmer before he did anything he'd regret.
Ruby came back outside after washing some dishes and felt a change sweep over the gathering. "What is it?" she asked Mary Margaret and Belle who were staring at an overly-dressed older woman and a younger girl who looked to be her daughter.
"Oh, nothing!" they both said at once as they spun around. Ruby smirked at them, but there was enough to keep them all busy and so she didn't press it further.
Just as the women were about to join the rest of the merriment, a trio of troublemakers ran up to them in a huff.
"I wanted to be—"
"He's not being fair—"
"August said—"
Mary Margaret raised her hands and cried, "Woah! One at a time, if you please." She bent down to hear Emma's story first. "Now, what's the matter?"
Emma wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand. Ruby noticed her pink dress already streaked with dirt, and she had to hide her smile behind her hand. "We're all playing pirates and cowboys but August says I can't be a pirate and I have to be a princess instead."
"Oh, is that right?" Mary Margaret cooed as she licked her thumb and wiped some dirt from her daughter's cheek.
"She's a girl!" August cried. "She can't be a pirate." He crossed his arms in a huff.
Neal rolled his eyes. "I told them it didn't matter, but they won't listen to me."
The three women exchanged knowing looks and tried to bite back smiles.
"Come on, Miss Ruby, can't you tell Emma that she has to be a princess? We're going to rescue her!"
Ruby raised her eyebrows as all eyes turned to her. "I, uh…." She scanned the crowd for Mr. Hopper, praying that he would come and sort this mess out since Mary Margaret and Belle were hesitant to chastise someone else's child.
Or they were waiting to see how she would react.
Ruby crouched down to meet August at eye level. "Would you like it if Emma told you you couldn't be a pirate?" she asked.
He thought about it for a moment. "No," he finally admitted.
"Well, do you think it's fair to tell Emma what she has to be?"
"But she's—"
"Do you think it's fair?"
"No, Ma'am." He kept his gaze on his shoe as he kicked at the ground, and Ruby heard a little sniffle escape from Emma.
"Well, then, why can't Emma be a pirate with you? Or a cowboy? She's just as much a pirate as you boys are."
Ruby could see that the redhead was not happy at the logic that she'd outlined, but he nodded begrudgingly.
"I think it will be a whole lot more fun to have another pirate in your gang, anyway," Ruby added softly, appealing to his own self-interests.
"Okay," August finally said.
"C'mon, Emma, you can be part of our pirate gang," Neal said as he extended his hand to the little girl who grinned back at him. They quickly rushed off on their adventures, with Emma's blonde braids bobbing behind her.
"Wait for me!" August called off as he followed after them.
Ruby stood up and chuckled. She met the approving gazes of the mothers beside her and felt her cheeks flush.
"Very nicely handled," Mary Margaret beamed.
"Oh, you'll be an excellent mother!" Belle exclaimed.
Ruby's expression dropped. "Did you tell her?" she all but hissed at Mary Margaret as fear gripped her.
"No!" Mary Margaret exclaimed.
Belle looked from Ruby to Mary Margaret and back to Ruby. "Oh my stars, you're pregnant?!"
"Sh-h-h-h!" Ruby hissed again. At this rate, the whole town would know before Mr. Hopper.
"She hasn't told Archie yet," Mary Margaret whispered to Belle.
Ruby rubbed her temple. "I haven't found the right time," she admitted.
"Oh, I only meant eventually, but congratulations!" Belle cried softly, and Ruby couldn't help but smile as her hands flew to her belly.
She dropped her hands, now scanning the crowd for fear that Archibald was close by. She spotted him at a distance, and her heart swelled to see he was running around with the children, his own grin almost as big as theirs as he chased them around and they squealed in delight.
Mary Margaret and Belle followed her gaze. "He's a good man," Mary Margaret said softly.
Ruby found herself nodding in agreement.
As attention dwindled away from the food in favour of other amusements, Ruby found herself enjoying some time alone as she observed the townsfolk. There was Belle and her husband Mr. Gold and Neal, and she knew the Nolans. Cora Mills was impossible to miss, with her latest fashions that looked ridiculous so far from Boston. Ruby felt her heart go out to her daughter, who couldn't have been any older than herself and who looked miserable under her mother's shadow. Mary Margaret whispered something about a doomed love affair with their stable boy, and Ruby couldn't imagine what she would have done if her grandmother had forbade her to marry Peter. No one should have to suffer the loss of true love, or be denied it so cruelly.
Ruby's eye settled on young Sean and Ashley, who were obviously smitten with each other. He was the son of one of the more settled farming families, and she was "just" a maid to the Mills' household, but what did such distinctions matter out here? Just looking at them, with Ashley's cheeks flushed as she smiled at something Sean said, Ruby could feel butterflies in her own stomach as she remembered when Peter wooed her.
Sean took Ashley's hand and led her to the open area for dancing as the band began to strum their first notes. Ruby could feel the sparks pass between them—or maybe she just recalled how it felt when Peter held her hand for the first time, how her heart raced to be pressed up close as he took her in his arms and whirled her across the dance floor. Or the way he took her breath away when he lead her to a hidden corner and pressed his lips against hers for the first time.
Love crashed over you like a storm—passed through you like lightning before you even knew what happened, all-consuming. She could see it in the way that Sean and Ashley looked at each other, and she sent a little prayer to the heavens that everything would align for them.
Before she could let her bittersweet memories sharpen the ache in her heart, Ruby shook her head at herself. Instead, she focused on the strum of the banjo and the light-as-air notes of the fiddle that played while people paired off, moving to the rhythm that swirled around them. She couldn't resist tapping her toes, and before she knew it, she was clapping along with the others who were not brave enough to try their feet on the sod dance floor.
She laughed—genuinely laughed—to see Emma and Neal and August in their awkward trio dancing together. They looked so cute, all holding hands and jumping around to the beat as best they could, though the tempo became faster and faster until their swings and hops could not keep up, but they didn't seem to mind. August stuck his tongue out in concentration as he stared downwards, his efforts deemed a success when he didn't trip over his own feet.
Soon, the song ended, and another one began. Ruby saw August's face fall when Neal and Emma paired off together in their own imitation of the grown ups' dancing, and so, before she knew what she was doing, she found herself approaching the boy. "May I have this dance, kind sir?" she asked, her hand outstretched. August pursed his lips in consideration before he nodded seriously. Ruby kept her own expression serious, despite her amusement, as she took August's hands in hers. She placed one of his hands on her waist while she placed her own hand on his shoulder, and they kept their other hands together as they swayed and swirled with the other dancers.
Keeping him in the middle, she swung around him in wide arcs to keep themselves perfectly matched with his shorter legs. The energy of the music seeped into her bones, and she smiled as August found his footing and became more assured. They swept across the dance floor with the other dancers, adding some hops and skips as the intricate notes of the fiddle soared around them.
As they danced, Ruby glanced up to see the other dancers, and her gaze landed on the band. Her eyes widened as she noticed none other than Mr. Hopper himself playing the violin, his arm fluttering over the instrument as he expertly strung the notes together. How had she not known this about the man with whom she'd been living for over a month?
"I didn't know your father played!" Ruby almost shouted at August to be heard over the hollers of the dancers and the claps of the crowd gathered around the perimeter.
"Yes!" August yelled back, and he grinned. "He's the best in Storybrooke!"
Ruby had to chuckle at the boy's pride in his father, but she had a feeling that his boasting was not misplaced. She couldn't deny how her heart lifted along with the music—and with the discovery of Archibald's "new" talent.
He was better than any she'd heard in Boston.
As the music came to a close, August beamed at Ruby as they stepped apart, and Ruby gave a curtsy, to which he replied with his own bow. He looked such the little gentlemen, despite his crooked vest and his rumpled hair. "Thank you, Master Hopper," Ruby said with a smile.
August nodded, pleased with himself, before he noticed Neal and Emma leaving the "dance floor" and he scurried away.
Ruby caught herself looking at the band as she made her way towards the house, and she met Archibald's gaze. Her heart strummed in her chest—probably from the exertion of dancing, which she hadn't done in so long—and she thought she saw him mouth the words "thank you" as he smiled at her.
The sun dipped behind the horizon and the light was fading fast when the Hopper family finally left the Nolans' in their wagon. After so much excitement, the three of them huddled together in silence painted a sharp contrast to the merriment of the day.
Truth be told, Archie was still reeling from a certain discovery he'd made.
He and Ruby and August made a pleasant picture of a family, he thought, though he and Ruby kept their distance. Still, he kept an eye on her to make sure he didn't miss a subtle plea for help—to make sure she wasn't eager to leave. His fears proved unfounded, and maybe he was a little disappointed that she never approached him, although their eyes met once or twice over the throng of people.
No, he was glad that she got along so well with Mary Margaret and Belle. It was too bad that winter would surround them soon, because otherwise he would try to get the women together—but there was still time for another visit or two before the frost turned into a blanket of snow, surely.
His heart lifted as he saw Ruby smile with her new friends. Then, he saw a distinct change in all of their expressions—as if Belle had discovered a secret.
When Ruby's hands fluttered to her stomach, it clicked.
She was expecting.
Of course, he should have known sooner, but he assumed all of the signs—her fatigue, her irregular appetite, the way she looked at Mary Margaret and baby Leo, along with unpredictable emotions—were only symptoms of her grief. Even when he saw her vomit during the hog-butchering, he assumed she was overcome with the odour of the meat, or at worst, coming down with an illness.
His careful attentions assured him that she was not ill, to his great relief. But how could he, of all people, have missed something so obvious! After living in the same house for weeks, a man with his experience should pick up on a few things.
As he drove Cleo home, with August snoring lightly as he slept under Ruby's arm, Archie considered saying something. She stared straight ahead, and Archie couldn't help but feel like the magical spell of the party—the pretense that almost started to feel real, the pride with which he would assure someone that yes, that was his wife—was fading as they returned to the homestead.
He looked down at his hands clenched around the reins, and he noticed the gold band on his fourth finger. His heart swelled with the knowledge that, for awhile, at least, he would be a surrogate father to a new little one. Still, there was a sadness mixed with the happy realization, as if the two emotions went hand in hand.
As he brought Cleo to a stop in front of the house, and as Ruby nudged the boy awake, Archie decided he would let her tell him her secret in her own time. If she wanted it to be hers for a little while longer, he wouldn't take that from her. Perhaps it was a comfort, to have something to keep as only hers and her husband's while she could.
He carried his son, who returned back to sleep in his arms, from the wagon to his bed in the lean-to. He could see his own breath fogging in the cool evening, and he knew that autumn was starting to fade into winter. He wouldn't be able to keep August in the lean-to for much longer.
Archie threw another blanket over the boy, nestled in his bed, and kissed his forehead before he left to get Cleo settled in the barn. Pongo pranced along at his heels, and Archie was grateful for the extra company, aside from the barn animals.
"Things are gonna be more different around here than I thought," Archie chuckled as he tried to come to terms with the change that was to come upon them. What would a new baby need, anyhow? Perhaps David and Mary Margaret would have some advice, or maybe Belle would know on his next trip into town. There was a lot to be done.
Archie fed and watered the horse as he wondered how August would take the news. He couldn't help but grin at the idea of a little brother or sister for his boy—something he'd never dreamed would happen. He was worried that August was too used to only having his pa around, but he seemed to enjoy the company of Neal and Emma. Another little one wouldn't be too different.
Darkness had settled as Archie made his way from the barn to the house under the glow of his lantern. He decided to check in on Ruby before he headed to bed, and he slowly entered the house.
As he closed the door, Ruby stood up from the hearth. The fire bathed the room in a warm glow, and Archie's breath hitched in his throat at the sight of Ruby under the light that flickered from the fireplace. He tipped his hat to her as she tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
It took all his willpower not to let her know he knew her good news. "I, uh, just wanted to make sure you were all right here before I retired."
"Umhmm," she nodded. "Thank you."
He stood awkwardly by the door, not wanting to leave, but unsure of what to say. "I hope—I hope you had a good time today," he tried before cringing at himself.
"Oh, yes—it was a lovely day," she said with a soft smile.
Silence hung thick in the air and neither made a move, nor spoke a word. Archie was highly aware of the space that separated them both standing at either side of the room—he by the door, she by the hearth.
He thought he saw her open her mouth to say something before closing it, and he took a step forward. She brought her hands together, wringing them over one another, and he couldn't tell if she wanted him to stay or leave.
Then, she spoke. "I wanted to tell you how grateful I am for all you've done," she said firmly. Archie's hearted lifted before it sank. She spoke as if he was still a stranger, or at best, an acquaintance—someone to which she owed a debt.
"It's my p-pleasure," he said, cursing himself for his stutter. When she said no more, he reached for the door handle.
"Wait!" she exclaimed with a step forward. "I just—I need to tell you something."
"Yes?" His eyes softened as he took his hat off and held it in his hands, trying to look as open and inviting as he could. He could barely make out her expression in the shadows as she stood with her back to the fire.
Her words tumbled out, tripping over one another as she refused to meet his eyes. "I should have told you sooner, but this has all taken so much getting used to, and then I was worried about what you might think, and I don't want to cause any more trouble for you, but I know I need to tell you because it will be apparent soon enough…"
Her hands fluttered over one another, and he took a couple of steps closer, unable to hide his grin as he stood in front of her. If there was any doubt before, there certainly was none now.
He placed his hat on the table to free his hands and, daring to take hers in his, he noticed how his thumb brushed across her wedding rings. "It's okay," he said softly.
She finally stilled and met his gaze, looking up at him from under her dark lashes. He took a step sideways, causing her to turn with him as the firelight danced across her features and made her eyes glimmer.
"I'm pregnant," she said so softly that Archie almost didn't catch her words. Her eyes flitted back and forth, studying his, as if she was worried about his reaction.
"Ruby, that's wonderful!" he beamed back at her as he squeezed her hands. "I'm so happy for you!"
Her shoulders relaxed slightly and her expression softened into a small smile of relief. "Really?"
"Of course," he said with a nod. "I think it's wonderful that you'll have a little one to remember your husband by."
A smile bloomed across her features and Archie felt a lump rise in his throat.
"I-I'm sure it won't make a difference to the price of my ticket back home," she said quickly, pulling her hands from his. "And it won't affect my chores, or my teaching August, and I'm sure a new baby won't be too much of hassle."
Archie turned away to face the door as she returned to the hearth to stoke the fire. He felt his heart sink lower than he thought possible, only realizing now that he'd entertained hopes that she'd postpone her trip, now that she'd have a newborn.
"When are you due?" he asked with a steady voice, turning back to her.
"March," she replied, and Archie calculated how far along she was already.
"That's wonderful," he said again. All of a sudden he was unsure of what to do with his hands until he noticed his hat on the table. He grabbed it and ran his fingers over its brim before he remembered himself. He wasn't usually so nervous around her—not anymore. "Well, I'd best leave you to get your rest."
Ruby nodded. "Good night, Mr. Hopper—Archibald."
Archie met her gaze. "Good night, Ruby," he said softly. He placed his hat back on his head at tipped it towards her before he disappeared behind the door.
With a deep sigh, he closed his eyes and leaned against the solid wood. The ache that grew in his chest made him realize he'd forgotten himself—had let himself pretend something that wasn't to be.
Theirs wasn't a real marriage, of course. It was just a convenient arrangement—a business contract—which would be fulfilled come spring.
He'd have to be more careful.