The Girl Who Fell In Love With An Australian

Chapter 23

     After hugging for what seemed like an eternity, Robert let go of Ruth. They both started to get a bit shy while realizing how long they had been hugging. They stood there in awkward silence, afraid to say anything to each other. Terri broke the silence between them when she said, "Welp, I think we should all get cleaned up and ready for supper."  Terri, Bindi, and Chandler walked into the kitchen to give Ruth and Robert time to go get cleaned up.  Ruth looked at Robert with the same concerned look as before.  Robert noticed her look of concern and said, "I'm really okay."  Ruth asked, "Are you sure you're not hurt?"  Robert nodded.  He then said, "Well, I'm gonna head up to get cleaned up for dinner."  Ruth watched as Robert turned, walked up the stairs and he was out of sight.  She picked up Grace and walked into the kitchen area.  Terri was busy getting dishes out of the cupboard and handing them to Bindi and Chandler was outside turning on the grill on the patio.  Bindi walked toward the table, Terri walked over to the stove to stir some baked beans that were cooking.  Ruth put Grace down next to the dogs and she walked over to help Bindi put the dishes on the table.  "Let me help you Bindi," Ruth said as she took the plates from Bindi.  "Thanks Ruth!" Bindi said as she walked over to get Grace's highchair that was in the corner of the room.  Ruth finished placing the plates on the table and then she walked over to Terri.  "Is there anything you need help with Terri?"  Terri looked over at Ruth and smiled.  "Yes, there is something you can help me with."  Ruth stood ready to jump into action.  "You can get me the brown sugar from the cupboard next the the fridge."  Ruth walked over to the cupboard, found the brown sugar, and got it down.  She walked it over to Terri and Terri said, "Thank you!  Now, could get some silverware from the drawer next to the sink?  We'll need spoons for these beans."  "Yes ma'am!" Ruth said instantly.  She walked over to the drawer next to the sink and took out 5 spoons and 1 fork.  Ruth always ate most of whatever she ate with a fork, except ice cream and soup.  She placed the silverware on the table.  Terri then said, "Ruth?  Could you grab a box of mac n' cheese out of the pantry over there?"  Ruth nodded and walked over to the pantry.  She opened the door, grabbed a box of mac n' cheese, then closed the door, and took it to Terri.  Meanwhile, Robert had gotten a shower, changed his clothes, and had checked to make sure he had no injuries from the accident.  He was just walking out of his room, turned down the hall, and was walking past Ruth's room when he noticed her phone was ringing.  He walked into the room, picked up her phone, looked at it, and seen that Ruth's mother was calling her.  He was about to answer the phone for Ruth but Ruth's mom ended it.  He took Ruth's phone, put it in his pocket, and then walked out of the room, down the rest of the hall toward the stairs.  He walked through the living-room, dining-room, and walked into the kitchen to see Ruth was nowhere in sight.  He looked over at Bindi and Terri getting the beans and mac n' cheese ready.  He looked out the window and seen Chandler standing next to the grill.  He wasn't facing the grill but facing Grace's playset.  Robert opened the door and walked out the door onto the patio.  He looked over to Grace's playset to see Ruth gently pushing Grace on the swing.  Grace was all smiles and giggles.  Robert smiled as he watched Grace enjoying her new playmate.  He looked at Ruth's face and she was smiling the most loving smile he had seen her smile while she was playing with Grace.  Ruth looked over at Robert for a brief moment and their eyes met.  She smiled at him and waved.  He waved and smiled back.  Grace waved at her uncle and smiled wide.  She looked at her uncle Robert and mumbled a "Down, down."  Ruth stopped her swinging, pulled Grace out of the swing, and put her small feet on the ground.  Grace started running over to Robert.  Robert knelt down, she ran into his arms, and she pointed at Ruth.  "Did she push ya, huh?  Did ya like that?  Was it fun Grace?"  Robert asked his niece in a very cheery tone.  Grace nodded her little head and giggled in response.  Ruth watched Robert and Grace together.  He was amazing.  He loved animals, adventure, and kids.  She smiled as he picked up Grace in his arms.  As Ruth watched them, she started walking toward them.  Just then, Terri opened the door and asked Chandler, "Are the burgers and hotdogs ready Chandler?"  He replied, "Yep, I'm ready to take them off now."  Terri handed him a plate and said, "Okay, Robert, Ruth, Grace come on in and take your seats."  Ruth quickened her steps and she was next to Robert in no time.  Grace held her arms out for Ruth to take her and Ruth did.  Ruth snatched Grace out of Robert's arms, walked in the door, was about to sit down by the time Robert realized what happened.  Chandler and Robert walked in, sat down in their spots.  Robert sat in his spot next to his mom, Bindi next to Terri, Grace in between her mom and Grandma, Chandler next to Bindi, and Ruth sat between Chandler and Robert.  Chandler said a blessing over their food and they all dug in.  Robert, Chandler, Bindi, and Terri were a little curious as to why Ruth was eating beans with a fork instead of a spoon, but they didn't ask why she was.  After they all ate, Bindi said, "I'm gonna take Grace up to bed."  They all nodded at Bindi as she picked up Grace.  Ruth and Terri had started to clear the table.  Robert smiled as Ruth took his plate from in front of him.  She smiled back and headed to the kitchen with the dinner plates in hand.  Chandler looked at Robert and asked, "Hey Robert, Do you want to go out and do some axe throwing tomorrow since we're taking the day off."  Robert looked at Chandler, and smiled.  Then he replied, "Ya bet!"  They planned to leave after breakfast the next day to go out and do some axe throwing.  Ruth walked back into the dining area to get the leftovers while Terri was doing the dishes.  Terri started talking to Ruth as they stood at the sink doing dishes.  "So, have you enjoyed your time in Australia?"  Ruth nodded and said, "Yes, I've loved it here, I wish I didn't have to leave in a week."  Terri nodded and then asked, "What are you gonna do when you go home?  Do you have a job to go back to or do you have someone to go back to?"  Ruth answered, "I have my family, Church, cleaning jobs and work with my dad to get back to.  I'm looking forward to going back to Church."  Terri nodded in understanding and then asked Ruth, "Do you have a boyfriend to get back to?"  Ruth shook her head 'no' in response.  Terri smiled without Ruth noticing.  Robert and Chandler were sitting on the front porch watching the daylight as it faded into darkness.  Bindi walked out the screen door and sat next to Chandler.  Terri came out, Robert stood up and let his mom sit in her chair.  Then Ruth opened the door and came out on the porch.  She walked over to the railing and braced herself on it as she looked at the stars coming into view.  She let out a sigh, walked over to the steps, walked down the two steps, and walked out into the front yard.  The family watched her as she walked.  Ruth sat down in the grass and then laid down.  Robert followed after her and came over to her laying in the grass.  She was looking at the stars as they became brighter and brighter.  Robert laid down beside her and looked at the stars with her.  Terri, Bindi, and Chandler watched as the two laid in the green grass looking at the stars.  Bindi and Chandler walked in to go to bed.  Terri watched Robert and Ruth as they laid in the grass.  She smiled but knew that when Ruth left, a piece of Robert would go with her.  Robert wouldn't be the same without Ruth with him.  Terri knew her son well.  He would change back to be off away from any and all girls.  Terri had sensed the two were falling for each other, there was no doubt about it.  Terri knew because she had fallen for Robert's father, Steve, in no time.  Just like Terri had fallen in love with her husband, Steve, Ruth was falling in love with Robert each day she was in Australia.  

*Hey everyone,  Thank you so much for over 4,000 reads!  It means the world to me that so many people like reading this story.  I've been busy with work and haven't had time to do much writing.  I have had lots of ideas for chapters and for other stories.  I am considering doing stories about Bryton Myler, Ethan Fineshriber, Boston Mikesell, Benji Krol, Nic Kaufmann, Nils Kuesel, and Stuart Mackey.  There might be joint stories and there might be seperate ones too.  I haven't fully made up my mind yet.  I would like it if ya'll could let me know, in my conversation tab on my profile, what ya'll think about these ideas.  I'm hoping to write more during the week when I don't work but we'll see how Life goes.

Thanks for Reading! - GodLover