Chapter 13 - Evelyn Asked Ruby for the Flower She Had Destroyed
Evelyn was not allowed back around Ruby immediately.
Weeks passed.
Then months.
Her parents’ legal problems were being handled separately from her.
A relative took temporary responsibility for her while Claudia and Marco dealt with court restrictions and the collapse of their landscaping business contracts.
Eventually, through both children’s counselors, Evelyn asked whether she could send Ruby something.
Not a letter first.
A plant.
The same variety of flower she had swung across Ruby’s face.
Ruby stared at it when it arrived.
Then asked Alessio:
“Did Evelyn pick this from Mommy’s garden?”
“No.”
“Where did she get it?”
“A nursery.”
Ruby considered that.
Then she found the small card.
I’m sorry I took your mom’s flower. Mom told me it didn’t matter because she was dead. I knew that hurt you and I did it anyway.
Ruby read it twice.
She did not suddenly forgive everything.
But she asked:
“Can we plant it?”
Alessio asked where.
Ruby pointed toward a new section beside Isabella’s restored bed.
“Not in Mommy’s exact spot.”
That answer made him proud.
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Ruby did not have to erase what happened in order to grow something beside it.
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