of thing I'm worried about. You're going to accidentally get caught up with the wrong crowd."
"I went out there with Peaches. She works at the bar. She wouldn't get me into any trouble."
“So you did go there? Gosh, Lydia, what were you thinking?”
I frown, knowing I’m no good at lying, and besides, I don’t want to hide things from my sister. Not after all she has done for me.
“I’m sorry. It was just supposed to be a bit of fun. I'm starting college in a few weeks. Can't you just give me a little bit of breathing room, Ruby, after all we've been through?"
“Well, I know good and well that Peaches doesn’t have a motorcycle, so who brought you home?” Ruby sets down her coffee before even taking a sip and instead takes a bite of her eggs. Immediately, she looks queasy. "Oh God, just a sec." She runs to the bathroom and I hear her throwing up.
"Are you okay?" I ask, one eye on the twins, the other one on the bathroom door. She comes out cringing.
"I'm sick."
"Well, yeah, I just heard, but are you maybe more than sick?" I ask, biting my bottom lip.
She sighs. "Yes. We were going to tell you last night, but then you decided to go off to some freaking drug party so we couldn't."
"Tell me what?"
"We're pregnant," she says, smiling, her hand on her belly. "We're having another baby."
"Oh my God, Ruby," I say, flinging my arms around my big sister. "I'm so happy for you."
Tears are in her eyes. "I know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be yelling at you. I just got all stressed out last night. Ranger and I had this whole thing planned. I made cupcakes and dinner and we were going to tell you, and then you didn't come home. And then you were out so late. I was so mad and also so tired. I fell asleep by nine o'clock, so I didn't even hear you come in. And Ranger was pissed when he heard the motorcycle. And then I heard all about it this morning. He and Conley were on the phone at dawn. Apparently, he's going to lay down the law at the next club meeting and well..." Ruby exhales. "I'm sorry. I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed and I'm taking it out on you, which isn't fair. I shouldn't have expected you to be home for dinner when I didn't even tell you we were having a big family announcement."
I smile. "It's okay, sis. And I wish I would have been home to hear the news, but..."
"But," Ruby repeats. "But what?"
"But I was having such a good time.”
"What do you mean, good time?” she asks. "You didn't do any drugs, did you?"
I drop open my mouth, shocked. "No," I say. "God, who do you think I am?"
"I don't know. You are an adult, who's almost off to college. A real grownup," Ruby says, repeating my words. "Sorry," she says, grimacing. "That's not fair. Tell me, who were you with? Please, please, please tell me it's a nice guy. Was it Grant?"
I laugh. "You think Grant has a motorcycle?"
Ruby laughs. "Okay. Fair." She runs a hand over her baby's hair and sits back down at the table, pushing the cup of coffee away but taking a bite of her toast. " You're right. I did run away and fall in love with the first man I ever met. And now I'm having another baby of his." She smiles. "I get it. Things can move quickly. But Lydia, you don't have a lot of experience with—"
I hold up a hand. "And you did? We were basically raised in a cult by our psychotic father, who was willing to sell us off to the highest bidder. We didn't exactly have a normal upbringing or much experience. But I'm a virgin, Ruby, and I don't plan on having sex with just anybody."
Her shoulders fall and I can tell she's visibly relieved. "Oh, thank God. I thought you might've done something dumb last night. Something you'd regret."
"Even if I had slept with someone," I say, "it doesn't mean I would regret it. You didn't regret being with Ranger."
"I know, but Ranger and I were lucky."
"But lots of people are lucky," I say. "You're not the exception."
"We're also not the rule," she says. "Who's the guy, if it isn't Grant? Which by the way, I'm still on Team Grant."
"Really? I say. "Because he's about as opposite of Ranger as you can