Logan murmured. “The only reason she got the job at all is because of her father.”
“Doesn’t change the fact that you’re responsible for her now,” I pointed out.
“Who knows, maybe they’ll have you train her just so she can take your place as the lead tour guide,” Jordan chimed in.
Logan paled at that, mouth gaping like a fish as he looked at Mom first, then at me and Ruby Grace, and finally back at Jordan. “Don’t even joke about that.”
We all chuckled, but I knew there was a part of Logan that might actually be scared that could happen. After all, Mallory Scooter was the black sheep of the Scooter family. She had tattoos and piercings and purple hair and a bad attitude that had tainted her family’s image for years. It seemed her father had finally put his foot down, forcing her to be the distillery’s latest tour guide addition. It was an extremely valued job, and one that other employees fought hard for. No one was happy she’d been the one to be hired — least of all her.
Her first day was Monday, and Logan had just found out he would be her trainer.
“You’ll be alright, little bro,” I assured him, clapping him hard on the shoulder.
Mom stepped up next, her eyes glossy as she folded her arms around Ruby Grace. She held her tight, swaying a little. “I know I said it before, but we are all so proud of you,” she said, pulling back and holding Ruby Grace’s arms in her hands. “I know you’ll call Noah, but don’t forget to call me from time to time, too. Okay?”
“Of course. And you promise to check in on Betty from time to time?”
Mom waved her off with a smile. “Are you kidding? Visiting that wild old woman is the highlight of my week, now.”
We all laughed at that. Mom had started volunteering at the nursing home with Ruby Grace to get to know her better, and in the process, she’d fallen under the same magical spell Betty weaved on all of us. Now that Ruby Grace was leaving, I had a feeling they’d become even closer.
“Alright,” Mom said, dabbing at the corner of her eyes. “Come on, boys. Let’s leave these two alone. Drive safe, dear, and let us know when you make it. Okay?”
“Will do,” Ruby Grace assured her, and with one last wave from each of them, my Mom and brothers went back inside, leaving just the two of us on the porch.
Ruby Grace turned to me with a sad smile. “I guess this is it, huh?”
“I guess so.”
My heart squeezed violently in my chest as I reached for her hand, walking with her in silence off the porch and out to her car. It was loaded up with boxes and piles of clothes still on the hanger. I didn’t think she’d be able to fit everything she wanted in that little convertible, but she’d surprised me.
We both stopped next to her driver side door, and tears flooded Ruby Grace’s eyes as soon as she faced me.
“Hey,” I said, pretending like I wasn’t on the verge of crying myself as I pulled her into me. I wrapped my arms around her tight, resting my chin on her head as I felt her tears dampen my long-sleeve shirt. “None of that now. It’s not permanent, okay? Plus, this is your dream, this is what you’ve wanted for so long. You’re doing it, Ruby Grace,” I said, pulling back to look into her shining eyes. “You’re going to AmeriCorps.”
“I know,” she whispered, sniffing back more tears. “But, I’m leaving you in the process.”
“Just for a little while,” I reminded her. “I’ll come visit for Christmas, and every other chance I get.”
“And I’ll be back after the summer.”
“Exactly.”
“And then?”
I smiled. “And then, we find some poor sucker willing to let us on their sailboat for a month.”
Ruby Grace laughed through her tears, burying her face in my chest again with a little whimper. “I’m going to miss you so much, Noah.” She lifted her head again. “I love you. You know that?”
I chucked her chin. “I do. And I love you. You know that?”
“I do.”
Silence fell over us, and for a while, I just held her there in that quiet space, the sun above breaking through the crisp fall air.
“So, any other stops on your way out of town?”
She shook her head. “Nope. My family did our dinner last night, and I can’t go through Mom holding me