“Thank you, Ruben. That means a lot to me.”
“Well, I mean it. I couldn’t have asked for a better husband for Tess, even if you have been acting like a jackass lately.”
I chuckle a little. “I have been, haven’t I?”
“Pretty normal for a father-to-be, actually.”
“Is it?” I ask.
He nods. “That’s why I’m willing to let this whole thing go.”
“Really? I’m forgiven?”
“Yep.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I’ve also given some thought to what you said about how we treat Tess and I suppose there’s some truth to it. We haven’t always given her the encouragement she needed or the credit she deserved. I intend to tell her as much. Evi, too. We both feel quite bad, actually.”
“That’ll mean a lot to Tessa.” Shaking my head, I say, “This parenting thing might be somewhat trickier than I thought.”
Ruben snorts a bit. “It’s the hardest fecking thing you’ll ever do. But also the very best.”
“I’m in for a lot of trouble, aren’t I?”
“You have no idea,” he says, slapping me on the shoulder. “But you won’t be alone to figure it out.”
“Does that mean you'll come back?"
"All packed!" Evi calls from down the hall.
Ruben glances down the hall and chuckles. "Apparently so.”
"I'll go get your bags," I say with a smile. I take a step, then turn back to Ruben. “Ruben, thank you.”
"For what?"
"For forgiving me."
He smiles at me. "That's what families do."
