Glancing at Ruth, who was absentmindedly looking out my car window, I sighed.
"My mom is gonna love you," I assured her, knowing that she was worrying about going home with me over the break.
I saw her turning her head to me, from the corner of my eye.
"Thank you so much for doing this for me. I wouldn't know where else to go," she said and I smiled.
"A-and I am sorry for being such a worrywart."
I scrunched my nose, "I hate that fucking word..."
She giggled, before asking, "What are we going to tell your mother though?"
"That you're my girlfriend," I told her casually, knowing that Ruth wouldn't react so casually to it.
"But, Cory -"
I was so desperately trying to hide my grin.
"Fiancee?"
She didn't say anything, so I took a quick glance and saw her looking at her lap, playing with the edge of her dress.
"We'll be fine," I said with a small grin.
We had been driving for half an hour, listening to some oldies and some mainstream music, while talking, when both of us started to get hungry.
So we decided to take a quick stop at a fastfood restaurant on the way.
We sat outside as we ate our meal, the sky was starting to turn orange.
There was a toddler sitting on some other table, his face covered in ketchup. He held a toy in his chubby hand, knocking it on the table, while giggling.
I noticed Ruth watching the little munchkin with an adoring smile on her face. I remember thinking to myself that she could look at me like that more often.
"You like kids?" I asked her with a small smile.
She nodded, smiling at me now as well.
And then I thought, that she could have mine in the future, but then I heard Dakota in my mind saying that I shouldn't be such a dog.
Once we had finished our meal, Ruth insisted on paying again, so she did. Little did she know that I slipped the money for the food back into her purse.
It was nearly striking midnight when Ruth and I had finally reached home.
I parked the car in front of our garage and got my suitcase and Ruth's bag out of the trunk. Needless to say that she tried to grab her own bag, but I was a little quicker.
"You're such a gentleman, Cory," she chuckled softly. "You really don't have to do all of this for me."
Honestly, I wasn't. I just liked helping her really. If it was up to me, Ruth wouldn't have to do anything she doesn't feel like doing ever again.
We walked over to the door and I could tell that she was starting to get nervous again, but soon she wouldn't have to be anymore.
"Is that a gnome?" she asked happily, pointing at that hideous creature my mom put right next to the entrance-door. "I love those!"
"Really? I wanna get rid of it," I answered. "This is pretty much what nightmares are made of."
The door finally opened and mom was squeezing me, before I had the chance to even blink.
"Oh, my baby," she cooed, still not letting go. "I missed you so much!"
Then she kissed my cheek, probably like ten times, before finally letting me breathe.
Still, I loved my mom to pieces.
She put a hand on her chest, when she sighted the girl next to me, "And who is this?"
"Oh, this," I said, turning my head briefly to Ruth, who gulped. "Is my girlfriend Ruth."
She gave us both a meaningful look, before breaking out in a smile. "It's so nice to meet you, Ruth. I know that my boy can be a handful sometimes, but deep down he is golden."
"It is a pleasure to -"
Ruth didn't get the chance to finish her sentence, because mom had already crushed her into a bear hug.
"I'm so happy. He must be very serious with you. He never introduced his girlfriends to me," she explained, letting go of Ruth.
"Well," she said, pulling her eyebrows together thoughtfully. "There was one girl, I believe. Her name was Heather. Or was it Hannah?"
"Okay, mom. Can we come in?" I chuckled awkwardly.
She laughed at herself, "Sorry, sweetheart."
We had dinner together. And mom was so astonished about Ruth's cooking skills, when she helped my mom with the meal.
"You know young women these days don't really know how to cook anymore. Especially at your age, honey. I'm impressed."
She was also impressed by her good manners, when she helped my mom with the table after lending her a hand in the kitchen.
"Please marry my son!" she had bursted out at the table.
"Mom!"
Ruth started laughing, but I had rarely felt so embarrassed.
She raised her eyebrows innocently, "What, Cory? I'm making a good deal here. She's a keeper and you can thank me later once you're older."
"I missed your homemade soups. They don't make them as well in college," I said, vaguely trying to hint at her to drop it.
"What are you talking about, sweetheart? You hate soup!" mom said, looking confused.
I glanced nervously at Ruth, who tried to hide her smirk by biting her cheeks.
Once we were finished with dinner, I offered to do the dishes and Ruth offered to help.
"You kids are angels," mom smiled happily. "I'm gonna make your beds upstairs - you must be tired."
"Beds?" I asked, turning around to face her with the wet plate in my hand.
It was my time to mess with her.
"Yes, you're not sharing a bed under my roof, Cory," she said sternly, both hands on her hips.
That woman was small, but still intimidating.
"Kidding," I smirked.
"I really do hope so for you. I don't want you to... get it on, while -"
I busted out laughing, "Mom, it's fine. I was messing with you."
My mom narrowed her eyes playfully in response, "This boy..." she muttured, before walking upstairs.
It was when mom was gone and my laughter died down, that I noticed how quiet Ruth had been.
She was drying off the dishes, but stared absentmindedly at nothing in particular.
"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked, my tone giving away that I was concerned.
"Nothing, it's just... I love your mom."
I smiled sadly at her, as I saw her gloomy expression. She should never look like that.
"Makes me miss my own mother," she mumbled.
I handed her a fork, not really knowing what to say, so I just listened.
"Remember that little boy we saw today?" she asked somewhat happier.
I nodded.
"He reminded me of my younger brother Stewart."
I said nothing. Just watched her, while she was deep in thoughts.
"I hope he got to live a long and merry life," she said, her big eyes glistering in the light.
"He could still be alive," I told her softly.
"If he is, then I hope to heaven that he is very very happy out there."
"Is there a heaven?" I wondered.
"I cannot remember," she shook her head regretfully.
She leaned onto the counter, biting her lip. "Do you believe in heaven and hell, Cory?"
"Honestly I don't," I admitted.
Heaven was here on earth by her side to me.
She gave me a half-hearted smile, before taking the next plate from my hands.
And hell... Hell was anywhere without her.