She had talked to Mister Lane about starting divorce proceedings and it got her to thinking deeply and long about unrequited feelings and the like. Ruth was an emotional mess, for divorcing one's husband was scandal. She'd had enough of scandal, enough of men, so much so that she had not gone to visit with Edward. She was starting to feel like her feelings toward the man might never be reciprocated, he was too haunted by his past to see what he had in the present, or so she assumed.

Ruth dared not go out to the garden to weep, for every time she was there, Edward had some contraption or another that he was doing that had helped endear him toward her. She swallowed heavily as she entered the kitchen to get her child after one particularly tough day. She did not complain to the others, and if they asked what was wrong, she simply said that nothing was wrong and would go about her day. She would keep her hurt to herself and grieve for both her sham of a marriage, and for the fact that her son would be from a broken home.

She walked at a slow pace. Jacob snuggled into her sleepily and she rubbed his back as she made her way toward any room that wasn't occupied, not wanting to be found for at least a few minutes. Then and only then did she give herself permission to silently cry.