Chapter Thirty Two

"Anything I want?" Ruby asked, wide eyed.

She and Joey were sitting on her hospital bed. The five year old was set to leave the hospital and go back home the next date, although she wasn't quite as excited as everyone had expected her to be. She had been rather thrilled when Charlie and Joey had taken her out in a wheelchair around the grounds. They had had lots of fun.

"Well, within reason," Joey said. "I'm not going to be able to turn into a bunny or anything."

Ruby laughed loudly. As a celebration of her recovery, Joey had said that if she had one wish, she would try to provide it for her.

"Could you turn into a puppy?" Ruby asked. "I'd really like a puppy."

Joey chuckled.

"Afraid not," she said.

Ruby didn't look too disappointed. She chewed her lip and looked behind them, out into the corridor, just in case someone was around. She didn't want to be overheard.

"Could you convince Mum to let me live with her?" she asked.

Joey swallowed, struck by the sincerity in the little girl's voice.

"What do you mean?" she asked curiously.

"Like... at school. You know, where you and Mum live? In that room. Do you think... do you think maybe Mum would let me live with her in there? I'll be really, really good. I could sleep on the wind bed..."

"The wind bed?" Joey asked.

"You know, the one where... where you put the thingy in and it blows wind into..."

"The airbed," Joey chuckled.

Ruby blushed and giggled, nodding.

"That," she said. "And I wouldn't bring that many toys and I'd be super quiet when she needs to do her homework and stuff. I'd be on my best behaviour every single minute. And maybe... maybe when Mum needs to be alone, I could go and play in your room. Could I?"

"Uh..." Joey struggled.

She looked around, not entirely sure what to say. Finally, she focussed back on Ruby.

"Would you really want to live in a tiny room?" she asked.

"If I could be with Mum then yes," Ruby replied, nodding by way of confirmation.

"Even though you live in that big house with all those toys?" Joey asked.

Ruby nodded again.

"I miss Mum," she said.

Her voice was heartbreaking.

"I don't think it's something I can do, Rubes," Joey said diplomatically.

"Please?" Ruby begged. "Mum listens to you!"

"I'm not really sure that's true," Joey ventured.

"What's not true?"

Ruby and Joey both jumped in fright as Charlie glided into the room.

"What's going on?" Charlie asked curiously.

Joey struggled to find the words. She didn't want to put her friend into an awkward position. But she felt like it was something she ought to know.

"I was asking Joey to ask you if I could come and live with you," Ruby blurted out.

She was trembling slightly, at risk of being overwhelmed by her feelings.

"At Uni?" Charlie asked, looking a little helplessly at Joey who silently willed her to hear Ruby out.

"Yes," Ruby said. "I was telling Joey. I'd be really good and when you didn't want me around then I could play in her room instead. And I could sleep on the airbed..."

She said the last word with particularly emphasis that only made sense to Joey.

"And I'd be really quiet and let you study and..."

"Ruby," Charlie said gently, moving to sit beside her.

Ruby was now wedged between Charlie and Joey.

"Do you want me to...?" Joey offered, jerking a thumb in the direction of the door.

Charlie shook her head so Joey stayed put.

"Where has this come from, Rubes?" Charlie asked gently. "I thought you were happy with Nan and Granddad."

"I do love them," Ruby said quietly. "But I miss you."

"I see you every week," Charlie pointed out.

"I want to see you every day," Ruby replied.

"I call you every day."

"It's not the same."

Everyone frowned.

"How long have you been feeling like this?" Charlie asked worriedly.

"Since you left," Ruby said. "I want to come with you. I promise I'll be a good girl. I promise."

Charlie reached out and cuddled her daughter, kissing the top of her head.

"It's not about you being good, Ruby," she said. "You're always good."

"Don't you want me?" Ruby asked sadly.

Tears welled up in mother and daughter's eyes. Even Joey felt a lump in her throat.

"Of course I want you," Charlie said. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love you. But you see, the room I'm in... I wouldn't be allowed to have you there."

"Why not?"

"Because you need more space."

"I'm only little!" Ruby protested.

Charlie chuckled softly and wiped her eyes.

"It's just... you have such a nice home with Nan and Granddad."

"But you're not there," Ruby said unhappily.

"And you've made so many friends at school..."

"I love you more than my friends."

Charlie sighed. Her heart physically ached as she cuddled her baby girl. She felt terribly guilty, like she had been letting her child down all this time without even realising it.

"I can't make promises, Ruby," she finally said. "But... I could look into it. Couldn't I?"

She directed her question to Joey who nodded.

"We could see," Charlie continued. "It probably wouldn't be soon but... but I could see."

Ruby nodded and clutched Charlie tighter.

"I love you," she mumbled against her mother's shoulder.

"I love you too," Charlie said gently.

She gazed at Joey over Ruby's head. Joey managed a smile, feeling rather guilty that she'd brought all of this up in the first place. She had expected Ruby to request chocolate or some other such treat. She hadn't expected all of this to come tumbling out. But she hoped it could be a good thing. She knew that Charlie missed Ruby every day that they weren't together. She believed it would do both of them good to be reunited on a permanent basis.

Next time… Joey does some research for Charlie and pledges her support to both her and Ruby…