Tonight in would not be like the late night snacks Ruthie had been so accustomed too.
Earlier:
For Ruthie this day was like any other day, except, well except for the fact that everything had a hint of dreadfulness to it. She couldn't even look at the plate of pancakes her mom had just set on the table for her to eat.
She hadn't expected things to be fine or for a big revelation to come to her after last night.
All Ruthie remembers is Martin's face. He was silent for a good while after she told him that she couldn't be with him. Ruthie can't quite describe his expression, but it was his eyes that told her everything. Just the thought brings an aching pang to her chest. He told her to 'take care' as he stood up and walked out.
And though Ruthie knew he had every right to do what he did, she can't help feel a little hurt by his lack of words. What had she expected, really?
Robbie hadn't said much in the morning. Her dad had woken up early and had left to tend some things at the Church so Robbie left with him thinking would be a good way to spend some time with him.
"Ruthie?" Her mom says.
"Yes?" Ruthie raises her eyes from the plate of food she hadn't realize she has been staring at. She finds her mom standing across from her.
"That's it." Her mom sighs, "What's been going on in that head of yours Ruthie?"
"What do you mean?"
Her mom raises and eyebrow at her. "Ruthie, I'm you mother and there is nothing you can hide from me. Now tell me what's going on with you. I must be about that fight you had with Jane or T-bone." And when she doesn't get response, she continues. "Maybe that late night visit from Martin?"
"You…You knew? Ruthie's throat suddenly feels really dry as she swallows hard.
She sees her mother's lip quirk up. "You're dad and I knew about him coming over. You may not have said anything, but Martin did. He didn't want me or your dad to think you and him were doing something other than talk and have an occasional "late night snack" he said. We figured you two were just talking so we never said anything. Expect yesterday you and Jane got into that argument. And now I come to find that you're no longer dating T-bone."
"Mom" She whines, "I don't want to talk about Jane or T-bone. Believe me they are not the problem. Not anymore."
Her mom's expression still looks worried. "Well, what is it then?"
Ruthie debates whether to tell her mom anything, but how can she tell her? It wasn't like her mom could really give her any advice. Her mom was against her dating Martin, whom she loves like a son, but would never allow her to date him because he was a father and more experienced.
"Or should I ask Martin?" she finally says, when Ruthie remains silent.
"I doubt he would want to step foot in here again." She says miserably.
"Ah…I see. So it is Martin."
"I didn't something awful mom. I'm an awful person."
Her mom reaches her arms out and extends her hands out to Ruthie while she mirrors her motions and takes her mom's hands. She feels like crying like when she was a little girl. Her mom would hold her and that's all it took for her to believe everything would be all right.
"You have never been and will never be an awful person, Ruthie." Her mom's voice is soft, reassuring. "Now tell me what happened."
And Ruthie does. She tells her everything.
And the more she tells the story, the more she regrets things that happened.
By the end of it, Ruthie can't even look at her mom, instead stares down at her hands, which her mom is still holding tightly.
"I wish I had told him that it didn't mean I didn't care about him or Aaron. I do. I love them, but I couldn't mom. The more I thought about my life and what I wanted; I knew I couldn't be with him. Not right now, I want to travel the world, maybe go back to Scotland like I thought I would by now. Is it selfish? Does the make me an awful person?"
"You were honest." Her mom says, "Ruthie, it's not an easy situation and I would never tell you that that is the life you should have or want. You are a sixteen-year-old girl and are just starting to learn about dating and love. Martin, he's done a lot of growing up this past year. He's learned a lot of lessons and I know he understands, because maybe those are his own fears. He wasn't ready for his, but he had to learn how to be. All those things you want for yourself, he wants all those things for you too, even if he didn't say it. He only wants the best for you just like you only want the best for him. Giving him hope, telling him that you where ready would have been selfish, but not this."
"You didn't see his face." Ruthie says, intent on staying feeling guilty.
"I know honey. It will take time."
"I'm going to miss our late night snacks" Ruthie admits, feeling her eyes water. "I just want him to be OK."
"He will be." Her mom reassures.
"I hope so."
"Well how about we have our own late night snack tonight. A girls night in?"
Her mom smiles warmly at her, and Ruthie cant help the relief she feels of not having to spend a night alone in her room.
"I would like that."
Her mom gets up and moves to get the plates around the table, then she turns back to Ruthie, "You're a wonderful person Ruthie, don't ever forget it."
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But things don't always turn out how we expect them too, Ruthie reminds herself. Her mom had told her dad to take Robbie, Kevin and the boys out for their own night out. He still wanted to talk to her, but it was her mom who convinced him that every thing was fine.
Ruthie had gone with a now normal acting Lucy to get some 'late night snacks.' It was going to be a good night, she thought. In the past year they hadn't had many nights were it was just the Camden women.
She carries Savannah in as Lucy follows with bags in hand.
"Hello, there!" Ruthie hears her voice before she can even see her, but she knows that voice.
Wavy blond hair, and wide smile greets them from across the island. Margaret and Meredith are there too. They look uncomfortable having heard what happened.
Her mouth gapes, she was sure of it. "Wha—"
"Look who has come to join us?" Her mother didn't even try to mask her betrayal. Her smile is even wider, if it's even possible.
"I wasn't sure you wanted me to come after what happened, but your mom told me that you were fine with it."
"You invited Jane?" Ruthie shrieks. She furiously walks up to the high chair to put Savannah in.
"Ruthie." her mom admonishes.
"Mom." She faints a calm voice.
"I can go?" Jane offers, but she makes no effort to leave.
Ruthie looks at her mom, and feels herself deflate.
"Stay." She sighs.
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"I can't believe they kicked me out of my own home." Kevin says, "I mean, they could have done their 'late night snack' in you home dad or at least let us stay in one."
"Yes, but its better not to argue with them." Mr. Camden wisely says.
"I suppose. I'm still trying to get on Lucy's good side."
"Lucy's crazy." Sam pipes in.
"She is." David agrees.
Kevin nods but says nothing as he looks at his menu.
They ended up in the pool hall. The Shack was too busy and besides Sam and David seemed to enjoy the games.
"Here you go boys." Mr. Camden hands both of them some quarters as they make their way to the small arcade inside the pool hall.
"So how long are you staying Robbie?" Kevin asks. Robbie has been sitting quietly sipping his soda in the far corner of the booth since they had arrived.
"Two more days." He clears his throat.
"Too soon, you know you can always stay longer." Mr. Camden says.
"Well—"
"Mr. Camden!" someone yells across the pool hall. "It's Mr. Camden!"
Mac is already making his way to the table, while Martin stands there for a minute before he makes his own way to them.
"See I told you it wouldn't be a boring night out. Looks like we are having a guys night out, eh?" Mac says, pushing his way into the booth next to Kevin as he grabs some chips from a small bowl.
"Looks like it is." Mr. Camden smiles. "Martin come and take a seat."
Martin looks around the booth awkwardly; the only spot available was the one next to Robbie.
"You looks awful, what's wrong with you?" Kevin asks him.
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"Looks like it's a reunion of the Martin's exes" Jane says.
Ruthie almost chokes on the cookies she had been eating.
Margaret gives Jane an incredulous look, "Jane!"
"What?" she looks at everyone, "Am I not suppose to state the obvious?"
Meredith laughs. "I don't really care."
"See." Jane says, "Besides not all of us are Martin's exes."
She winks at Ruthie.
She winks.
Ruthie had to remind herself to take deep breaths.
Her mom eyes her from the corner.
"Am I missing something?" Lucy asks.
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"These fries are no bueno." Mac says as he grabs a hand full and eats them.
"Really?" Kevin asks. "Because you practically finished all of them."
"Yeah." Mac concludes as he puts another one in his mouth.
"So what brings you here Mr. Camden?" Martin asks, ignoring his friend.
"Annie and the girls decided on a 'girls night' so we came here."
Martin nods. He's aware of Robbie's stare. He wants to tell him to stop looking at him, to stop looking at his reactions. He's fine.
The waitress comes to ask them if they need anything else.
"Ah yes." Mac says, "My friend here as a broken heart so we are going to need more of these, oh and these." Mac smiles and he points at some of the fries Kevin was eating earlier.
"Sure thing." She says.
"Broken heart?" Kevin suddenly seems interested.
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"What?" Lucy almost jumps out of her chair. Her eyebrows could get lost in her hairline by the ways she raises them.
Meredith sits quietly, a calm expression on her face.
Ruthie had not choice but to tell them at least part of the story.
"Its not…we're not together." She finishes.
Jane looks devastated by this. "But why not? I thought you loved him."
Ruthie smiles a sad smile.
"You made him want to change." Meredith says after a while. "It must have been love."
"Everyone knew before me?" Lucy says disbelievingly.
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Dr. Camden looks so serious. "I don't know what to say."
"I'm sorry Mr. Camden, I was going to tell you, but I guess in the end there wasn't anything to tell."
He sighs. "I know Martin."
"These Camden women" Mac says, "Heartbreakers is what they are."
He eyes the booth. All of them have dated a Camden. They all silently agree.
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"I know I've asked you before but you're not going to get back with T-bone?" Jane asks anxiously.
"No." It doesn't even take Ruthie a second to think about her answer.
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"It probably wasn't an easy decision." They have been trying to dissect the situation for the past half an hour. Everyone had an opinion.
"Come one, you're either in or your not." Mac says.
"It's not that easy." Kevin considers.
"She wanted this for so long." Mr. Camden admits. "She had a good reason."
And even though they had been discussing his love life in public and very loudly, he might add, Martin felt optimistic at Mr. Camden's admission. She had wanted this, so what when wrong?
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"This doesn't seem familiar?" Lucy asks her mom, "Mary and Wilson all over again?"
"I guess I finally understand her." Ruthie says, grabbing Savannah from her chair.
" Mary and who?" Jane and Margaret look at each other.
"Robbie, my man" Mac says. They hadn't even known each other two hours. "What would you do in such a situation? The love of your life had a child, would you stay?"
"Hypothetically? Robbie asks. Mac nods.
"Well I would…I would stay with her because I love her and I would love her child. I wouldn't care."
He can't help but look at Kevin when he says this. Kevin narrows his eyes at him like he's beginning to understand something.
"But," Robbie continues, "I'm much older, and I can take care of them."
" But this is all hypothetical" Kevin says.
"Of course."
"Did I just unintentionally start something?" Mac whispers loudly to Martin.
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"It's so late. Who can it be?" Lucy says when they hear a knock. She gets up to open the door.
"Hi Luc, no one is at the Camden home so I was wondering if Ruthie was here?"
Lucy opens the door wider.
It's T-bone. The first person he sees is Ruthie… Who is standing right next to Jane.
No, not like the late night snacks she was accustomed too.
A/N: I don't normally like to add these here, but I would just like to thank everyone who has read and reviewed my story! Thank so much! You keep me going. Sorry for such a late update, I was having a hard time finding inspiration. I know where it's going and what's going to happen so hopefully you guys stay tune! Thanks!