Chapter 22
Mia was tellingthe book club about how the auction planning was going. Tess was ignoring her because she kept saying how great it was that Tess was going to be auctioned off. Mia not-so-secretly hoped it would have been a bachelor/bachelorette auction and that all the couples would fall in love, all because of Mia. Since Mia was also drunk, she said it out loud to everyone. Everyone laughed, except Tess, who was already signed up to be auctioned off.
“Anyone want more?” Ruth asked from the counter that held all the alcohol. Nobody responded, so she took her glass back over to the table and sat down. The night was winding down.
“How is the great romance going?” Natalie asked. Natalie was currently engaged with a summer wedding and wanted everyone to be in love.
“Great. We met each other's parents in the last few weeks,” Ruth admitted.
“Ohhhh!” Mandy Nordskov said loudly.
“How is it that you only think it happened? It either did, or it didn’t.” Mia finished her drink.
“He drove me out to see my mom one day, and then a few days later, we went and had supper with his parents. Neither meeting was great, but we will move on from there.” Ruth didn’t tell them exactly why it had happened and didn’t go into details. Now that it was over, she was happy to be done with those stressful activities. Meeting each other’s parents should be a happy time and not be overshadowed by a funeral or what had happened in her mom’s kitchen.
“Is he moving in yet?” Tess raised an eyebrow in question.
“We haven’t talked about it.” Ruth smiled at her but secretly hoped it would happen soon. He was there all the time, anyway. He had some stuff at her place already, but she wanted all of his stuff and all of him living with her.
“You should,” Natalie agreed.
“Is he staying here? In Landstad, I mean, because the entire town knows he is staying in this apartment,” Mia asked. It seemed more like she was trying to get gossip from her, but that might’ve been because she was quite drunk.
“Probably not forever.” Ruth knew the answer, though she tried not to think about it. She was sure he would leave one day.
“Will you go with him?” Hazel asked. She was usually the quiet one in the group, and Ruth was happy she was joining the conversation, even if she didn’t want to talk about herself.
“No, I will stay here. I don’t want to leave,” Ruth told everyone.
“Why not? There’s nothing here.” Mia got up to pour herself another glass, though she really didn’t need it.
“I get it, Ruth,” Tess said. “It’s a neat little town, the people are nice, and it sometimes just feels like home.”
“Thank you, Tess.” She smiled at the woman.
“Can’t it feel like home somewhere else with Anderson?” Natalie asked.
“I don’t know. I like it here,” Ruth argued.
“You might have to decide if you like it here more than you like being with Anderson,” Mandy stated. As usual, she was the adult in the room.
“Maybe one day.” Ruth drank her mixed drink.
“Well, tomorrow comes early,” Mia said, standing up as she finished her drink. Mia was usually at the café before six in the morning, no matter how much she drank the night before.
“Good thing you are not driving. I wonder if you are going to make it across the street,” Tess said to their neighbor.
“I will make sure she gets across the street,” Hazel said and followed Mia out of the apartment.
“I have to go too. I’ve got wedding invites to address. It is easier when you are a bit buzzed,” Natalie said as she packed up her computer. Ruth and Tess helped by packing up the headphones to put in the box Natalie brought back and forth.
“I will carry her box out. No need for Natalie to take two trips.” Tess grabbed the box and headed for the door after Natalie.
After saying goodbye as her friends headed out for the evening, she shut the door after them. Ruth glanced at the clock; it was just before eight o’clock. Maybe she should call Anderson to come over.
Ruth forced herself to clean the house first. Quickly, she put the alcohol away, and the pop and juices were then put in the fridge. After putting the glasses in the dishwasher, she grabbed her phone. After snuggling into the couch, she saw she had a text.
Sadly, it wasn’t from Anderson. It was from her rental agency who dealt with her tenants. Opening the text, she read that they had sent her an email. Must be a contract. They always emailed those to her. It was easier to print and file from an email.