Here's chapter 6. It's all taken more from Ruthie's point of view which is why I don't expand too much on Mary and Carlos even though they are pivotal in this chapter.
Chapter 6: It Takes a Little Convincing
People bustled in and out of the airport entrance. Each one of them passing by the Camden clan with a curious look wondering whether such an already large family could possibly be awaiting the arrival of more members.
Ruthie, Sam and David sat slouched on the low brick wall that edged a pitiful looking garden. "Why didn't we let them take the taxi like last time?" David complained.
Annie shot him an exasperated look from her place on the bench. "Because we want them all to feel like we love them and we miss them."
"I guess we didn't love them and miss them the last time they came visiting." Ruthie said sarcastically. This time she was on her brothers' side. She had spent all day at school and had a term paper to write but yet her parents insisted she come welcome Matt, Mary, The Colonel, Grandma Ruth and their respected spouses and children at the airport.
It was Eric's turn to defend the airport visitation. "No. It's just that the last time we hadn't been given the hint that one or more of our prodigal family members may be moving back home. We want to make sure they understand how much we love it when they come home."
Ruthie rolled her eyes. She couldn't wait to get that degree in psychology so she could officially declare her family insane.
"I don't know. I've talked to Matt and Mary a lot lately and neither one of them have said anything about moving. Are you sure you heard the Colonel correctly?" Lucy reasoned.
"I got to agree with Lucy, Dad. Matt and Mary are pretty settled in New York." Simon added. He and Megan arrived in town yesterday.
"He said on the phone last week, that when they all arrive this week, we should expect some news involving a moving truck." Eric said.
"I hope it's Mary!" Sam exclaimed.
"I hope it's Matt!" David countered.
"I hope it's both of them!" Annie said dreamily.
Kevin and Lucy just looked at each other like they knew the truth and Ruthie rolled her eyes again. I swear they are all insane.
"Well, it looks like we're about to find out. There they are." Kevin pointed while stabling Savannah, who was squirming, in his arms.
And there they were indeed. The Colonel and Ruth led the pack in their usual proper attire. Matt and Sarah followed each with a twin in their arms. Trailing them, was Mary and Carlos also each with a twin in their arms. Charlie was running forward to greet his grandparents and aunts and uncles. A mysterious tall, red-headed teenage girl sulked behind the Riveras.
"Grandpa!!" Charlie yelled running into Eric's arms.
Eric lifted him up. "How's my little guy doing today?"
"Awesome." Declared the blonde, curly-headed, three and a half year-old.
"Aww, it's so great to see you all!" Annie almost cried. Soon everyone was hugging and talking at the same time. Passerbyers were staring even more.
When everyone calmed down, Eric announced, "Well, let's go. I've got the van and Kevin's got his SUV so hopefully everyone will fit."
"Uh, wait." Mary held up her hand. "I want you all to meet, Cassandra." She put her hands on the girl's shoulders from behind. "She's been living with me and Carlos for a few months now."
All the Glen Oak members of the family widened their eyes.
"Wow! This family sure knows how to deal with surprises." Cassandra said sarcastically, folding her arms while smirking at the Camden's blank faces.
"So Mary and Carlos just took this girl in without telling your parents?" Felicity tried clear up the situation. Ruthie had called her with the news as soon as she had a chance to get away from the family festivities.
"Yep. I knew we couldn't get through a visit from Mary without some sort bombshell." Ruthie declared thrilled.
"Well, it's about time you sounded happy but isn't it the wrong time?" Felicity mused.
"I can't help it. It feels like old times. One of my siblings does something crazy and I just sit back and make wise commentaries on it." Ruthie almost squealed.
Felicity laughed. "Unfortunately I'll never understand that since I'm an only child. Anyways, changing the subject, I have something I'd like to ask you."
"Shoot." Ruthie replied.
"Well, my Dad was hoping that you and I would be willing to lead a Bible study for sixth grade girls at our church. It would only be a one hour a week and I think it would be really great." Felicity spouted excitedly.
Ruthie sighed. "I don't know, Felicity. You know I'm not that big on church stuff."
"What are you talking about. You know more about religion than I do." Felicity asked in disbelief.
"That's because all I did in Scotland was read books on religion. They have an amazing library there."
"I thought you spent all you time going out with boys."
Ruthie gulped. "Okay. So I exaggerated a little bit. And we're not really talking about religion. We're talking about Christianity which if you want to get technical is a faith not a religion."
Felicity grinned. "See you do know something. Come on, Ruthie. I know you'd be great as a leader."
Ruthie smiled slightly. "True I am a natural born leader." She said with fake pomposity.
It was just then that Cassandra walked into the room. She hardly even looked at Ruthie before starting to rummage through Ruthie's dresser drawers.
"Ruthie? Are you still there?" Felicity called over the phone.
Ruthie's eyes were still on Cassandra wondering what she was doing. "Uh, yeah. Hey can I get back to you on that Bible study idea?" She hung up before she could even hear Felicity's reply.
Cassandra had pulled a notebook out of one of the drawers and opened it.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ruthie exclaimed jumping off her bed.
Cassandra looked up from the book. "What better way to learn about someone but to read their diary." Looking back down at Ruthie's journal, she added, "Ooh, who's Martin. You're boyfriend?"
"No. And give me that!" Ruthie pulled her journal from Cassandra's grasp. "You have no right to get into my personal stuff!"
"Can I help it if this place is boring?" Cassandra complained. "I can't believe Mary and Carlos dragged me here. I can't wait to get away."
"Well, I think it will be awhile before you can get out of this family since Mary and Carlos are probably going to adopt you." Ruthie, still angry, wasn't even thinking about what she was saying.
Cassandra for the first time seemed speechless. "They're not adopting me. They're just…"
"Waiting until you can talk them into letting you go live on the streets? Yeah, right. There's one thing you got to learn about our family. We tend to take in kids in need. And if since your only fifteen, there's a ninety-nine percent chance that you're going to be adopted." Ruthie showed off her reasoning skills.
"You think you're so smart. Well, guess what? This time you're wrong." Cassandra retorted weakly before running out of the room almost running right into Megan.
"What was that about?" Megan asked coming into the room. Megan was a pretty blonde with crystal clear blue eyes. Simon met her last year during his senior year in college. They fell in love and got engaged. Their wedding is planned for next month. They plan to continue living in LA where Simon has a job at a small production company and Megan pursues a career in acting.
"I got a little angry when she got into my journal." Ruthie explained.
"She certainly does seem troubled." Megan commented.
Ruthie nodded starting to feel bad for the way she acted. "I guess, I should go apologize. She is a guest in this house and a possible future niece, right?"
"That would probably be wise." Megan agreed.
The foyer was empty and so was the living room, Ruthie noticed as she descended the stairs. When she reached the kitchen, she found it empty also. Where is everyone? She wondered. It was only on her way back into the foyer that she heard voices from inside her father's office. Curiosity taking over, she moved closer to the door.
"When are you two going to realize that I've grown up?" Mary's voice exclaimed inside the office. "I'm not that stupid, immature, fickle, crazy girl anymore."
"We know that honey but taking on a teenager at your young age is not an easy task." Annie replied.
"I've grown up with many cousins and siblings of all ages." Ruthie heard Carlos add. "I'm quite prepare with dealing with Cassandra."
"Yeah, as her former basketball coach, I seemed to be the only one to get through to her." Mary explained.
"Former?" Eric questioned. "I thought you were still the coach."
"It's not me that got removed. It was Cassandra. She was pulled off the team after she got caught trying to steal from the school's petty cash. And it wasn't the first trouble she had gotten herself into. It took me and Carlos becoming foster parents and saying that we would take her in and make sure she'd be good to keep her from being expelled. She's incredibly smart. She needs to be in school."
"We understand that but…" Eric started.
"But what?" Mary practically yelled. "This is mine and Carlos's life and we've decided to adopt her. We love her and you can't stop us."
Ruthie had become so engrossed in the conversation, she didn't hear Cassandra sneak behind her toward the front door. But Ruthie did hear the door shut. Turning around quickly, Ruthie rushed toward the door and opened it to see a shadow that looked a lot like Cassandra run down the street. "Hey, stop! Where are you going?!" Ruthie yelled futilely. She knew it was too late to run after her especially in dark and in the heels she was wearing.
Mary, Carlos, Eric and Annie must of heard Ruthie yell because they came rushing out of the office.
"What's going on?" Eric demanded.
"Cassandra. She's run away." Ruthie said breathlessly.
Mary gasped.
Carlos grabbed his coat off the rack. "Well, let's go. We got to find her."
"I don't think she's around here." Ruthie stated looking over at The Colonel as they walked down the dark neighborhood street.
"Affirmative." The Colonel replied. "We should return home and see if she's returned."
They turned around a walked along the sidewalk quietly.
"So what have you done that my son doesn't agree with?" The Colonel finally spoke.
Ruthie looked up at him questioningly. "Huh?"
"Well, during all the phone conversations I've had with your father over the past few months, his discretely left you out. And I've learned when he does that, it means that that particular kid has done something he doesn't like."
Ruthie smiled at her grandfather's deduction skills. "Yeah, well, you're right. I broke up with T Bone and he and Mom weren't too happy about it."
"T Bone? He's that furry headed guy that lived with you, right?"
Ruthie laughed. "Yeah. That's him. Mom and Dad love him and when he went to live with his father, they were crushed. I can't help but feel a little guilty. I'm the reason he moved."
The Colonel stopped walking and turned to his granddaughter. "Well, you're not guilty. I'm sure you had good reason to break up with him and you have no control over decisions he makes."
"Thanks." Ruthie murmured.
They continued walking but The Colonel wasn't done with his probe. "Something tells me something else is bothering you."
Ruthie let her body give a little. "You're right again. I had this huge fight with Martin last month."
"The marine's son. I always thought there was something between you two." The Colonel said.
"Maybe but we've been given several chances. I don't think God has anymore planned. I'm pretty sure it's over." Ruthie claimed.
The Colonel chuckled. "You never know what God has planned. Are there any other guys on the horizon?"
Ruthie shrugged. "Not really. I mean, there is this guy in my English class, Byrant. He likes me and he seems nice enough but I don't know if I'm really ready to date."
"My advice is to go out with him. The best way to get over a setback is to move forward not to dwell in the past."
"That's not bad advice…Grandpa."
The Colonel winced at Ruthie's address.
As they got in view of the Camden home, a thought came across Ruthie's mind, "You and Grandma Ruth are the ones moving to Glen Oak. Aren't you?"
The Colonel was surprised. "You always were the smart one. Weren't you?"
Ruthie smiled. "Guilty as charged."
"C'mon. Let's go see if Cassandra was found." The Colonel quickened his pace.
Making their way through the back gate, the two ran into Matt coming out of the house.
"Hey." He greeted. "We found Cassandra in the park. Mary and Carlos are talking to her in the living room right now."
"Well, I think I go join them." The Colonel said as if he were about to go on a military mission.
Matt and Ruthie watched him go into the house. "I think he's going to give Cassandra a piece of his mind." Matt turned to Ruthie.
"Yeah." Ruthie agreed.
"It figures we couldn't get through a family get together without some drama." Matt commented.
Ruthie laughed slightly. "Yeah. And I have a feeling we'll have some more once the Colonel and Grandma Ruth tell Mom and Dad about their big plans."
"Ahh. So he told you."
"No. I figured it out."
Matt shaked his finger at his sister. "You always were the smart one."
"That's what the Colonel said."
"Well, he's right. I better get back to Lucy's before Kevin locks me out." Matt said. "Goodnight." He hugged his sister. "It's good to see you."
Ruthie returned the hug. "It's good to see you too. I got to go in too. I need to make a call to Felicity. She convinced me to help lead a sixth grade girls Bible study."
"Good for you." Matt compliment.
"Thanks." Ruthie said before they both took their separate ways.
"Oh, by the way." Matt turned around for a second. "Simon and Megan are making out in your room so you may want to break them up."
Ruthie smiled. "Aye, aye, sir." She saluted him.
Walking into the house, Ruthie didn't care so much about whether her parents weren't convinced of the choices she has made lately. She was just ready to move ahead and see what more was out there. Much like Mary and Carlos were doing.
Next time on Far Away: During Simon's wedding, Ruthie and Martin share a meaningful dance. (December 15) This will be the last really long break for a while. I promise.
