Ruthie woke up Thanksgiving morning to the smell of her mother's cooking. She checked the time on her clock which read 7:30. She knew they had to be at the church by 10:30 so she hopped out of bed and changed into some sweats to help cook in. When she walked into the kitchen she found her mother, Lucy, and Sarah cooking.

"Ruthie can you peel the potatoes?" Annie didn't look up as she spoke.

"Sure mom."

Ruthie walked over to the counter and began her task. By the time she was done peeling, boiling, and mashing the potatoes it was 8:30. Ruthie walked over to her sister and helped Lucy finish her pies. At 9:30 Annie told the girls to go shower and change. Ruthie showered quickly and dried her hair. She decided that since it was Thanksgiving she fixed her hair and makeup really nice ready to play the roll of the perfect preacher's daughter. She decided on a white blouse to wear with a navy and white striped skirt she hated. As she skipped into her navy ballet flats Ruthie hesitated before going over to her jewelry box and pulling out a necklace she had never worn. It was the necklace Martin gave her 2 Christmases ago. It was a single pearl on a thin silver chain. Ruthie had never worn it because it was a bribe. He gave it to her because she was upset about the whole Aaron thing. But today she decided to wear it. When she was done she skipped downstairs thinking about what to tell T-bone. She had decided to break up with him after lunch but she didn't know what to say. When she went into the kitchen Lucy told her to start loading things into the car. They all drove to the church and unloaded. By 11:00 the church's dining hall smelled amazing. When Martin walked in he walked over to where Ruthie was and brushed her hand.

"Nice necklace."

Ruthie smirked, "Well I figured if I'm playing the perfect little church girl I should look the part."

He just laughed at that. He helped her finish setting up when Mrs. Beaker came up to them.

"Hello you two," Ruthie has always hated the woman's false cheery voice. Mrs. Beaker lived for drama and she enjoyed spreading ridiculous rumors about her family.

"Hello Mrs. Beaker," Martin was always nice to the woman even if she brought nothing but trouble. "How are you?"

"Oh just fine dear. Ruthie you know it would be much easier to fan out the napkins instead of having them in a pile."

Ruthie gritted her teeth before answering, "My mom was pretty specific about wanting the napkins in a pile. She has done this every year."

Mrs. Beaker mouth thinned out into a tight line as Martin looked between the two trying not to laugh. Gratefully Mrs. Beaker kept her mouth shut and walked away. Martin laughed quietly.

"It's not funny that woman gets on my last nerve." She shook her tiny head and let out a frustrated sigh. Martin rubbed his hand soothingly up her back.

"You did fine."

They finished their task then ate. The day went pretty smoothly except when T-bone approached Ruthie. She had gone outside to cool off and he came out after her.

"What is up with you and Martin? I thought we talked about that?"

Ruthie turned and looked him in the eye.

"I want to be with Martin, not you. I made a mistake by not facing my emotions and admitting it sooner."

He stared at her for a moment. All Ruthie could see in his eyes was pain.

"You are going to regret this. He is going to hurt you again and I'm not going to help you pick up the pieces again."

"You don't know him like I do."

T-bone's face turned hard, " Your right I don't know him but I also don't want to know him."

"Well if you choose to stay at my parent's house you are going to see Martin a lot."

T-bone just looked at her for a minute, "Fine I will be out by Sunday."

"T-bone you don't have to move. I was just saying."

"I was considering it anyways. Mac, Jane and Margret just moved into there house and they said I could share the basement with Mac. I think i'll tell them that."

Ruthie felt slightly guilty but didn't show it. She knew what she wanted.

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Ruthie could hardly contain her excitement for Friday. She woke up at 7:00 which she never does when she is aloud to sleep in. She was showered and dressed by 8. She ran downstairs and tried to calm herself. She was meeting Mac, Jane, Margret, and Martin in 2 hours and she couldn't wait to see Martin. At 9:30 she left she knew she would be early but she didn't want to sit around any longer. She decided to walk over to the small petting zoo that was next to the batting cages. She noticed a miniature horse inside. Ruthie had always loved horses so she went in and began petting it. The man running the petting zoo handed her a carrot to give it. She giggled as the horse snatched the carrot from her hand and then smelled her as though it was looking for more.

"Are you going to take it home?"

She turned toward the voice and saw Martin standing at the fence grinning at her.

"No," she stood up and brushed the hay off her jeans . "I was just thinking. I always regretted giving up riding."

"Why did you?"

"Well after Simon's accident the whole family just kinda shut down."

She patted the horse one last time then walked out of the gate. She followed Martin over to Mac and Margret.

"Where's Jane?" Ruthie thought it was a 5 person group thing instead of a double date. Mac answered after he saw the look she was giving him.

"She got called into work this morning. She was going to come."

Martin glanced between the two of them and coughed to cover his laugh. He motioned to Mac to follow him and the two went up to Martin's truck and pulled baseball equipment out of the back. When they rejoined the girls Martin put a batting helmet on Ruthie's head. She grimaced at him, he knew she hated playing. But when he walked into the batting cage and made her follow, she couldn't stop the smile that slipped onto her face. He handed her his bat and she stood at the plate. He came up behind her and showed her how to properly hold the bat. Ruthie could feel his body heat radiating off of him and she could a smell his amazing cologne. Once he was satisfied with her stance he left the cage and turned on the machine. Ruthie didn't miss one ball but she was far from perfect. Martin was just impressed she didn't let one past her. When she was done he went in. Ruthie couldn't help but be extremely impressed he didn't miss one either but he also hit them straight down the middle. When they were all done they went to the dairy shack for lunch. That was when Ruthie noticed just how often Martin was looking at her. He sat down next to her and kept his left hand on her thigh. Before they left Martin pulled Ruthie aside.

"Hey, Mac told me that T-bone was moving in with him."

"Yeah, we broke up."

"Well I guess that means we are truly official."

"Well that isn't really true." She saw his eyebrow arch up.

"On?"

"Well we've never been on an actual date." He laughed and leaned against his truck. She was shocked when he reached out and put his arm around her waist pulling her closer.

"Well then I owe you a date. Tomorrow night?"

"Ok." She leaned up and kissed him. He put one hand in her long, curly hair and kept the other on her waist. She wrapped her arms around his torso and he slipped his tounge into her mouth. When they broke apart, Martin was grinning.

"I'll pick you up at 8:30."

"Ok."

As she walked back to her car Ruthie felt like for once in her life she was on the right track.

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Ruthie had never been so nervous for a date in her life. Her room looked like her closet exploded and she still had no idea what to wear. She had only decided on one of her dresses, a pair of boots and some kind of jacket. Real progress she thought. She finally settled on her white eyelet dress with her navy cardigan with daisy buttons, and her brown knee high boots. She finished her makeup and hair and was just walking down the stairs when her phone lit up with a text from Martin.

m- I'm outside do you want me to come to the door?

r- I'll come out 2 u.

She had told her mom that morning that she was going out with her friends so she said goodbye to her family and went out the front door. She went out to Martin's truck and slid inside.

"So is this like a covert mission?"

"No we agreed to keep it quiet."

He laughed and leaned in for a quick kiss before he put the car in motion. He took her to a movie at the promenade then to pizza at Pete's. They talked about school and their futures and they joked about their past. Ruthie couldn't remember the last time she had had so much fun on a date. She felt so comfortable. By the time they pulled back up in front of her house she was almost sad to have to leave. Luckily Martin wasn't ready to let her go just yet. After she had unbuckled her seat belt and went to say goodnight, he pulled her into his lap and kissed her. This was quickly becoming one of Ruthie's favorite things. But this time something happened. Ruthie started to feel pressure in an area she had never given much thought to. She tried not to think about it but she was suddenly becoming really hot. It surprised her when Martin thrust his hips up and his hard groin hit her right where the pressure was. Suddenly their kisses became more frantic their tounges were tangling and the car was becoming like a sauna. But when Ruthie went to slip her hands under Martin's shirt his hands stopped her.

"Ruthie we can't." He was trying to catch his breath.

"Why not?"

"Because I made that mistake with Sandy. I gave up everything I believed in and I won't let that happen to you."

"What if I don't believe in that?"

He stared at her for a moment.

"Maybe you don't but still I think we should wait. I at least want to wait until we've been together for more then a few days."

Ruthie thought about that for a moment. He wasn't saying no but just not right now. She knew he had a point.

"Deal, but I'm not waiting until I'm married."

"Well that's your decision."

"So we'll wait."

She leaned down and sweetly pressed her lips to his. He held her for a few more seconds before releasing her.

"Goodnight Ruthie."

"Goodnight."

Ruthie got out of the truck and went straight to her room. She was so happy in that moment. She had Martin, the guy of her dreams. She changed into her pajamas and was about ready to climb into bed when her phone lit up with a text from Martin.

m- Just wanted to say goodnight again

Ruthie smiled before typing back.

r- Goodnight :)

That night Ruthie slept soundly, dreaming of her future.