Chapter 39. Unraveling the Roots of Ruby
848 Words
Saturday morning dawned with a soft drizzle, the kind that made the world outside look like a watercolor painting. Ryan and Jojo sat at the kitchen table, their coffee growing cold as they grappled with the conversation they knew they needed to have. "We can't keep putting this off," Jojo said, her voice barely above a whisper. "She needs to know." Ryan nodded, his gaze fixed on the swirling patterns in his coffee. "I know. But how do we tell her something like this?" Jojo reached across the table, taking his hand. "We tell her the truth. Gently, but honestly."Upstairs, Ruby was still tucked in bed, her nose buried in a book. She was a voracious reader, her imagination always hungry for new worlds to explore. As she heard her parents' footsteps on the stairs, she looked up, a smile lighting her
face."Morning, sleepyhead," Jojo said, pushing open the door. She sat down on the edge of Ruby's bed, Ryan following suit. Ruby's eyes flicked between them, her smile fading. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice small. Jojo took a deep breath. "Ruby, sweetheart, we need to talk to you about something important. Something about where you come from." Ruby's brows furrowed, confusion written all over her face.
"What do you mean?I come from you and Dad." Jojo glanced at Ryan, who gave her an encouraging nod. "That's true, in a way," Jojo said. "You're our daughter, and we love you more than anything. But you didn't grow in my
tummy. Another woman gave birth to you, and when you were
three, i adopted you and became your mother and your father was always your father." Ruby's eyes widened, her book forgotten. "So, you're not my
real mom?" Jojo said "We're your real parents, Ruby," Ryan said firmly. "Biology doesn't change that. We love you and jojo chose you, and we've been a family ever since." Ruby looked down, picking at her blanket. "So, who's my... other mom? Why didn't she want me?" Jojo's heart ached. She reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind Ruby's ear. "It's not that she didn't want you, sweetheart. She made some bad choices, and she couldn't take care of you. She's in prison, Ruby. And she might be
getting out soon." Ruby's head snapped up. "She's in prison? Why?"
Jojo hesitated, then said softly, "She hurt someone very badly,
Ruby. But that's not who you are. You're kind, and loving, and
you have a wonderful heart.” Ruby was silent for a long moment, processing the information. Then she looked up, her eyes filled with tears.
"So, she's a bad person. Does that mean I'm bad too?"
"No, sweetheart," Ryan said, pulling her into a hug. "You're not
her. You're our Ruby, and you're amazing." Jojo wrapped her arms around them both, holding them tight. The road ahead was uncertain, filled with potential potholes and sharp turns. But they were a family, and they would
navigate it together. For now, that was enough. The room was
filled with the soft sounds of their mingled breaths, the patter
of rain against the window, and the quiet strength of their love.
The story of Ruby's past was just beginning to unfold, but her future was theirs to shape, together. Ruby later came down the stairs, her footsteps soft and slow. She found her parents in the kitchen, their eyes still holding
the echo of their earlier conversation. She walked over to them, her arms wrapping around their waists in a tight hug. "I love you guys so much," she murmured, her voice muffled against their shirts. Jojo and Ryan looked at each other, their eyes reflecting a mix of relief and concern. They hugged her back, their arms forming a protective circle around her. After a moment, Ruby pulled back, her eyes flicking between them. "I was wondering," she started, her voice tentative. "Can I sleep over at Grandma Brittany's house tonight?" Jojo and Ryan exchanged a glance. They knew Ruby needed
some space, some time to process what she had just learned.
And Brittany, Ryan's mother, was a force to be reckoned with -
a warm, loving presence who could make even the darkest days seem brighter. "Of course, sweetheart," Jojo said, her voice gentle. "If that's what you want."Ryan nodded in agreement, ruffling Ruby's hair. "We'll drop you off after lunch." Ruby smiled, a small, grateful smile that tugged at their heartstrings. "Thank you," she said, her voice soft. She pulled out her phone, her thumbs flying over the screen as she texted Brittany. The response was almost immediate, a warm, welcoming 'yes' that made Ruby's smile widen. As she looked up from her phone, her eyes met her parents'. There was a silent understanding there, a shared knowledge
that they were navigating uncharted territory together. And for now, that was enough. The kitchen was filled with the soft hum of their shared breaths, the quiet strength of their love. The road ahead was uncertain, but they were a family, and they would walk it together, one step at a time.
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