I crossed the room and sat down on Teddy's other side, completing the circle. My tail immediately wound around both of them, pulling them closer. For a long moment, none of us spoke. We just sat there, breathing, being together, letting the silence heal us.
Then Teddy's small voice broke the quiet, fragile as glass.
"Mama got hurt 'cause of me."
Ruby's head snapped toward him, her eyes wide with alarm. "What? No, baby—" Her voice was raspy, but firm.
"It is," Teddy insisted, his voice cracking, tears welling in his eyes. "It's all my fault."
I leaned forward, placing a finger under his chin, tipping his gaze to mine. "Why would you think that, Teddy?"
His bottom lip trembled, his whole body shaking. "Because I ran away."
"Why did you run away?" I asked, keeping my tone even.
Teddy's eyes filled with tears that spilled over, tracking down his cheeks. "That lady... she said... she said you're my father."
The words hung in the air, heavy and dangerous.
Ruby's breath caught, sharp and audible. I felt my chest tighten. We shared a glance, and there was no doubt we both believed the lady to be Charlene. Any ounce of pity I felt for killing her brother evaporated.
"She said you didn't tell me 'cause you didn't want me," Teddy continued, his voice small and broken, each word a knife to my heart.
"Oh, Teddy," Ruby whispered, pulling him closer, her own tears falling freely.
I reached out, placing my hand on Teddy's small shoulder. He looked up at me with those eyes—my eyes—filled with confusion and hurt and a desperate need for answers.
"Teddy," I said, my voice thick with everything I was feeling. "That lady was half right."
Ruby's eyes widened, but I pressed on, knowing this needed to be said.
"I am your father. But the lady was wrong about me not wanting you. And I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner."
Teddy stared at me, his mouth opening slightly, his eyes going wide. "Why didn't you?" The question was so simple, so heartbreaking.
Ruby and I exchanged a look, a whole conversation passing between us in that glance. How did you explain something this complicated to a four-year-old?
Ruby took a shaky breath, gathering herself. "Baby, a long time ago, before you were born, Mama was in trouble. Bad people were after me, and I was very scared."
"What kind of trouble?" Teddy asked, his brow furrowing.
"The kind where I needed help," Ruby said, carefully choosing her words. "And Cristox... your dad... he saved me. He rescued me and kept me safe."
I picked up the thread, my voice soft. "Your mama and I only had one night together, Teddy. Just one night. But it was enough."
"Enough for what?" Teddy's brow furrowed deeper as he tried to comprehend.
"Enough to fall in love," Ruby said softly, her eyes meeting mine, the truth of it shining there like starlight. "And enough to put you in my tummy."
My heart stuttered at her words, at the open honesty in her gaze. She loved me. She'd loved me from that very first night.
Teddy's eyes went wide, processing the revelation. "Really?"
"Really," I confirmed, my gaze never leaving Ruby's.
"But why didn't you stay?" Teddy asked me, his voice breaking, the question he'd been holding inside for so long finally emerging. "Why did you leave?"
This was the hard part. I pulled him onto my lap, his small body fitting perfectly against mine. My tail wrapped protectively around his waist, holding him securely.
