“No. The last thing I want to do is overstep.”
“That’s not overstepping, Maverick.” Ruby clarifies. “She’sgoing through this way worse than I ever did, but then again, Ididn’t want the baby.”
“She didn’t want the baby in the beginning,either.”
“But in the end?”
I lift abrow.
“She’s mourning, Maverick.” Blake says. “It’s a naturalthing.”
“Go over and see her. If she doesn’t want you there, she’lltell you. But she needs to see that you’re still thinking ofher.”
“I feel like she’s pushing me away.”
“And she is. If you let her.” Blake says. “This is a fragiletime for you two.”
“You really think I should just show up?”
“I really think you should.” Ruby says withconviction.
“You mind?” I ask Blake.
“Be my guest. I’ll get Gunner up and moving around some thismorning. Take her over some breakfast.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Tenminutes later, I’m standing at Ellie’s doorway, with a plate ofwaffles in my hand. The look on her face when she opens the door isunreadable. “Mornin’.”
“Good morning.” She says, eyes on the floor. “I…didn’t expectto see you.”
“I thought I’d come over and see how you were doing. Hope I’mnot intruding.”
“No. Come in.”
“You’re not working already, are you?”
“No, not yet. But soon.”
“I won’t keep you long, darlin’. I just wanted to have a quickvisit, bring you some food, make sure you’re headed in the rightdirection is all.”
Shegives me another look that I can’t decipher.
“I met Ruby.”
“She’s a doll, ain’t she?”
“Yeah. She’s really nice. I was shocked at first, but then Irealized that she’d come on her own accord.”
“Yeah. I’d never send anyone over to you, love. Not when I’drather see you myself.”
A tightsmile, but there’s something in her eyes that I can’t put my fingeron, and I wonder if I crossed a line. To change the subject, Istart placing the food on the table. “I hope you’re hungry. My mamasent over a feast.”
“How is…how is your family taking it?” she askstentatively.
I giveher a fleeting look. “Just fine, love. Sometimes things happen.It’s a part of life.”
“Is your mama okay?”
