Chapter Forty-Six
Ruby
The lump in my throat won’t go away even as I swallow chunks of Christmas dinner. It probably tastes heavenly to everyone else at the table. I glance up and find everyone except Flora sending me daggers. She’s too busy sliding little bits of food under the table for Cookie.
“What?” I say to the table. “Why are you all glaring at me? He was the one who lied, yet you’re all on his side.”
“Because you told him how important the competition was to you,” Amber replies. “Because you made out that you needed to do this competition no matter what.”
“And he’s helped you by teaching you techniques every night when he should have earned more money, but he didn’t.” I’m taken aback by Kath, who delivers the explanation so softly that I question what I’ve heard. When I left the family for Neil and only came back briefly for my grandparents’ funeral, she never told me I was wrong. “He knew that whatever he taught you could be stolen, but he did it because he wanted you to win.”
“For Amber. Yes, I was doing it to start my own business one day, but Amber and Kalen need the money for the twins.” I’m doubling down and not accepting responsibility like a petulant child.
“No, we don’t,” Kalen replies. He turns to Amber. “We don’t need it for the twins, do we? You know I’ve got enough, baby.”
“Of course I know that. I’m the one who manages our finances. You’ve earned enough, and the cookery school is booming, thanks to Garett, Ruby, and Kath,” she replies. Wicksy clears his throat noisily. “Sure, you too, Wicksy. We’re good for money.”
“But I heard you talking about needing money,” I say.
“That’s not what you think. That’s—”
“Shit,” Mum says.
Amber rounds on Mum. “Why are you swearing? This was my secret. You don’t know—”
“You’d best tell them our secret, Liz,” Dad says with the longest sigh ever.
I stand again. “Is everyone lying to me at the moment?”
“Such a drama queen,” Jem murmurs.
I point my wobbling finger at him. My adrenaline spikes. “Do not mess with me, Jem. Garett is leaving because of you. Okay, because of me, but you didn’t help.”
“What did I do?”
“You told me I couldn’t date him because I tore apart the family when I was with Neil. Fine. It’s all my fault, but I’m still annoyed with you.”
“Well, you did,” Jem snaps back.
“But I didn’t mean to. I was young and doing stupid shit—”
“Nothing new there, then,” Jem replies, wagging his face.
Kalen helps Amber to her feet, and I’m pretty sure I can see Cookie’s paws on the table near the turkey.
“Since when are you, Mr. Perfect?” My blood boils, and my jaw hurts from clenching it Garett-style.
CLANG. CLANG.
My mum bashes a saucepan with a wooden spoon as she marches around the table. Kath takes Flora and Cookie to the side of the room, and they watch us all like we’re in a Greek tragedy.
“That’s it!” Mum shouts. “Cloud children, sit your asses down. We’re getting to the bottom of this right now.” She hands her pan and spoon to Kalen. “Sailor, you bash that if any of them start arguing again. You’ve got your orders.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Kalen replies, saluting Mum using the wooden spoon.
“Hey, you’re meant to be on my side,” Amber whines.
Kalen bashes the pan until Amber stops whining and receives a nod from Mum.
“Good lad. Never mess with your wife’s mum, especially as you’ll need me for nappy changing and babysitting duties in the future.”
“Yes, Mumma Cloud. Exactly,” Kalen replies.
“Right.” Mum stands and points at me. In that second, she displays precisely how she built a successful business, even with my grandparents arguing. I adore her. “Ruby, you first. Were you dating Garett?”
“No.” She continues to eyeball me until I speak. “We were hooking up.”
Kath raises her hand. My mum points at her. “Yes, Kath.”
“He loves her.”
“He does not!” I stand and splutter. My reward is Kalen bashing the pan near my ear until I sit down.
“That explains all those secret looks he gives her when he thinks she can’t see. I know love when I see it,” Mum replies with a wink at my dad. “And does she love him, Kath?”
I want to shout that I’m right here, but Kalen hovers over me with that damn pan. He’s eyeballing me, desperate to use it. I fold my arms and glare at him.
“The jury is out,” Kath replies. “I think she does, but she’s not ready to fully admit it to herself yet.”
I open my mouth, and Kalen bashes the pan. “Hey, I didn’t say anything.”
“You wanted to, though. Well done, Kalen,” Mum says.
I scowl at Kalen first, then Mum with all the force I can muster. She smiles sassily. I really am like my mum and grandma.
“Now to Jem. Son, did you tell your sister she couldn’t date the delectable and lovely Garett because she ‘tore the family apart’ when she was with Neil?”
Jem rolls his eyes, and Kalen walks over and bangs his pan. “Fine! Yes. I told her that because she did. When I was fifteen, all you two did was row.”
“Because you were a punk-ass teenager causing them problems by bunking off school and being a lazy bastard,” Amber says. Instead of a banged pan, Kalen kisses her cheek.
“Why does she get a kiss?” Jem moans.
“Do you want a kiss from your brother-in-law, Jem?” Mum asks with her hands in the air.
“No,” he replies, sliding down in his chair. “Just saying it’s not fair.”
“Let’s straighten this out. Your sister is in love with someone who foolishly lied, thinking he was protecting her, but couldn’t date her because her ass of a brother said it would break up the family when some days we like him more than you, Jem.”
“And now he’s leaving,” I say. Kalen steps closer, but Mum waves him off. “He’s moving to Ireland to run a restaurant because he misses being in charge of a kitchen and using his creativity and skills that way. It’s what he was born to do.”
Flora’s hand shoots up.
“Yes, Flora?”
“He’s also leaving because he’s in love with Ruby and can’t be near her without being with her. And while we’re telling secrets,” Flora adds. Cookie sits patiently at her feet. “Jem dropped out of university several months ago.”
Dad turns to Jem.
“Flora, seriously?” Jem shouts. “Why are you selling me out?”
“Because you called my cookies ridiculous.”
Jem shakes his head and glares.
“But Jem is working in a café,” Flora says before looking at Jem. “You should have told your mum sooner.”
“We went there the other day, and he was a brilliant waiter,” Kath comments, and she and Flora nod at each other.
That makes Jem sit up and smile until Mum turns back to him. “I’ll deal with you later.”
“He also needs somewhere to live, but I’m going to rent a house, and both he and Wicksy, as well as Wicksy’s chickens, are moving in with me,” Flora adds.
Everyone stares at Flora until my mum cuts in. “So let’s establish some facts. Firstly, Jem was a difficult teenager, but hopefully, he’ll be a better adult, and this family’s survived a lot worse than Neil. You can date who you like, Ruby, as long as they make you happy. Secondly, Garett and Ruby love each other and should be together.”
I open my mouth to speak, but my mum holds up my hand. “I’m not done yet. Thirdly, your dad and I need to take some responsibility for the mess of this situation. Not the love bit, that’s all on you. But we should have mentioned our surprise present for Ruby and Jem and what we’re looking forward to next year.”
Jem and I lock eyes and shrug.
“Right, everyone, follow your dad and me.”