Page 8 of No One's Like You
"I'm sorry," she apologizes, softening her tone. "But I'm worried about you."
"I told you I'm fine," her mother insists.
"Yeah, well..." Ruby clears her throat. "I went to see the director of the volunteer center yesterday."
Adele puts her fork down beside her plate and focuses all her attention on her daughter.
"And why did you do that?"
Ruby doesn't let herself be intimidated by her narrowed gaze.
"He told me they miss you and that they could really use your help again. Next weekend they've organized a collection drive at the soccer field. People can donate unused clothes and small furniture that they'll sell at a charity market the following Sunday. He says he'd love to have you there," Ruby explains.
"I'm not going," her mother cuts her off in a bad mood. "And you shouldn't have gone to talk to him behind my back. I don't need anyone taking care of me."
"I have to do something, Mom. You refuse to leave this place. You've been shut in for months."
"Because I'm not ready!" Adele shouts.
"I wasn't ready either, but I made an effort and moved forward," Ruby says.
"You had Amelia. I had no one."
Her mother's words hit Ruby like a rock to the head.
"And what am I, Mom?" she asks, her throat tight.
Adele looks at her, aware she's gone too far.
"Let's all calm down," Amelia interjects, taking her girlfriend's hand. "Ruby's just worried, Adele. You wouldn't want to see her the way she sees you right now."
"I know, and I'm sorry," says Adele. "I didn't mean it like that."
The woman stands up and positions herself behind her daughter's chair, hugging her tightly from behind to kiss the top of her head.
"I'm sorry, honey. I know you worry, and I'll try harder, but I don't want to go to that collection drive," she says tenderly.
"That's okay," Ruby accepts, reaching up to squeeze her mother's arm.
Adele returns to her seat and decides to change the subject while refilling their half-empty water glasses.
"How's Ellie?"
Adele's question is the most natural thing in the world considering she's known Ellie all her life and loves her like a daughter. Ruby told her that Ellie is divorcing Marcel; the problem is that she hasn't told Amelia. Ruby feels her stomach twist.
"She's fine," her daughter responds, tensing in her chair.
Her mind works quickly to find something to change the subject, but she's blocked and doesn't have time to say anything when her mother continues with the topic because she isn't satisfied with her answer.
"Fine? That's impossible. Nobody can be fine when they're in the middle of a divorce. I don't know what happened between them, but the poor girl must be devastated," Adele comments.
Amelia's eyebrows rise as her abdomen tightens after emptying her lungs. Ruby notices how her expression changes and appreciates that Amelia is such a polite and discreet woman, because she knows this will cost them an argument, and Amelia won't open her mouth until they leave her mother-in-law's house.
"Yeah, well, she's not at her best, but she'll get through it, you know," Ruby says, nervously clearing her throat while avoiding Amelia's gaze.
"Poor thing. None of this girl's relationships ever last," she comments sadly.
"But she has Ruby," Amelia says, staring directly at her girlfriend. "Right, love?"
