Actually…I guess she's not a clone of Ruth, is she? I'm going to have to correct my thinking.
Ruth shoves more cake into her mouth, her expression distant, and I know she's thinking about the cloning. About what it means for her future. I'm going to sit on the news of a baby for a while, I decide. See if I can determine how she'd feel about being a mother before I break the news to her.
She's had enough bad news today. With that decided, I push my way into the room and head for my wife. She licks her eating sticks, giving me a little smile before she points the utensils at Ruthie. "I should be the older one, because I'm bossy. You're too sweet." Ruth looks up at me as I sit down next to her. "Our cover story is that we're going to be twins. We just have to get everything aligned so we can answer questions."
"Twins is an excellent idea," I say, sliding closer to her and latching my tail around her leg. I'm feeling utterly possessive of her right now. Maybe it's that she's had a bad day (though she seems to be taking it well) or maybe it's because I know she's pregnant with my child. Either way, I don't think I'm going to be able to keep my hands off of her for a while. "How will you explain the names?"
"Our mother is shockingly unoriginal," my mate announces, and Ruthie giggles.
They both seem to be in a good mood, and I wonder if it's because they have an answer, or if it's because they're on equal ground now? Either way, I'm utterly relieved. I hate seeing Ruth sad. It tears me apart. I rub her back as she tears another chunk of cake free. She has been addicted to sweets lately, more than ever, now that I think about it.
"I don't remember our mother's name," Ruthie confesses. "Do you suppose it was Ruth, too?"
My Ruth snorts so hard that cake comes out her nose, and then both of them dissolve into giggles again.
88
RUTH
Straik hovers over me for the rest of the day. It's sweet and I love him for it. I think his fears are unfounded, though. I feel strangely…good? The worst-case scenario has happened, but I'm not falling apart. I'm fine. I'll manage, and Ruthie is in the same boat as me, which is comforting in a sad way. We're in this together, and it feels like she's my sister.
I didn't realize how much I missed Jade and the others until Ruthie arrived. Having her here with me is wonderful, and I know I'm not the only one that thinks so. Kazex watches her the way I look at cake, and it makes me a little sad for Dopekh and his fruitless crush. Maybe this is for the best, but I imagine it still stings.
"Do you want more cake?" my mate asks as we head to our quarters at the end of the night. "Perhaps a drink of some kind? I could make you a hot cup of tea. Or I could draw you a bath." His tail curls around my waist protectively as we enter the room. "Just tell me what you need, love. I'll make it happen."
I chuckle, shaking my head. "I just need a good night's sleep, I think. We're outside of Risda, you say?"
Straik looks momentarily troubled. "We are, but we can delay for another day or two. Whatever you're the most comfortable with." When I sit on the edge of the bed, he immediately kneels in front of me and tugs off my boots, rubbing my feet. "I want to make sure you're ready for whatever answers we get down there."
While the foot rub is nice (real nice), I'm a little suspicious of how doting he is. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be all right?" He pulls off my other boot and then looks up at me. "You sure I can't get you a snack?"
I frown. He's been kinda obsessively hover-y today now that I think about it. I thought it was because of the whole clone news, but I've reassured him a dozen times that I really am okay with the news, so is it something else? The day has been a long one, and I think back to all the moments that crawled past. Ruthie clenching my hand tight as she found out she was a clone, me learning I'm a clone, the awful truth about what must have happened to the real Ruth (which I'm trying not to think about too hard) and then…Sakkar taking my husband aside to talk about “ship stuff.” "Sakkar say something to you earlier?"
"Would you like a calf rub?" Straik asks, his big hand gliding up my pants leg. "Or a shoulder rub?"