Chapter 16
The sleepover happened two weeks later.
Not at the estate.
That surprised Ruby.
“Why?”
Domenico looked toward Daniel.
Daniel looked toward him.
Neither wanted to say the obvious thing.
The estate still carried too much history for Ethan.
So Daniel answered honestly.
“Your aunt Anna invited both of you.”
Ruby frowned.
“I have house.”
“Yes.”
“Ethan has house.”
“Yes.”
“Anna has house.”
“Yes.”
“That’s three.”
Domenico almost smiled.
“Correct.”
“Why hers?”
Because neutral did not mean meaningless.
Because Ethan had already been pushed into Ruby’s chair once inside Domenico’s home.
Because one successful birthday dinner did not automatically make every room safe.
“Because both of you are comfortable there,” Domenico said.
Ruby considered that.
Then:
“Fine.”
The sleepover lasted one night.
Anna regretted it by nine thirty.
Ruby wanted the hallway light on.
Ethan wanted it off.
Ruby wanted the dinosaur game.
Ethan wanted a racing game.
Then Ruby accused Ethan of cheating.
Ethan accused Ruby of not understanding rules.
Anna called Domenico.
“They’re fighting.”
He stood immediately.
“What happened?”
“Children.”
“That is not an answer.”
“It is exactly the answer.”
She hung up.
Domenico stared at the phone.
Daniel received the same call.
Neither man went over.
That was difficult.
At ten fifteen, Ethan announced he wanted to go home.
Ruby burst into tears.
“You don’t want me.”
Ethan looked horrified.
“I want my bed.”
“Same.”
“No.”
Anna sat between them.
“No one decides what another person means for them based on where they sleep.”
Both children stared.
Apparently grown-up language had entered the sleepover.
Ethan called Daniel.
Daniel came.
Before leaving, Ethan stood near the front door.
Ruby remained on the stairs.
“I’m sorry.”
She crossed her arms.
“You always leave.”
Ethan looked confused.
He had lived with Daniel for more than a year.
Of course he left.
Then he understood.
The banquet.
His father arriving.
Ruby watching him go.
Two households becoming separate overnight.
“I come Saturday.”
Ruby looked suspicious.
“Promise?”
Ethan hesitated.
That mattered.
Children had learned adults used promises too easily.
“If Dad says.”
Daniel nodded.
“Saturday works.”
Ruby looked toward Domenico, who had arrived after all because Anna finally asked him to bring forgotten medication.
He did not like being excluded from the decision.
That was probably healthy.
Saturday happened.
No sleepover.
They played for four hours.
Ethan left.
Ruby did not cry.
The week after that, there was no visit.
Then another.
Then bowling.
Then dinner.
The pattern never became perfectly regular.
That also mattered.
Domenico had once believed consistency required structure.
Same chair.
Same household.
Same family definition.
May you like
Ruby and Ethan were building something less organized.
It survived anyway.
