Mira and Martin exchanged the briefest glance from their places, but neither said a word. Ruby gave herself credit for keeping her cool, though her palms were damp beneath the table.
She turned to Stefan and smiled. "Next time I go, I'll take you with me."
"To the shelter?" he asked, surprised.
"Yeah," she said, nodding. "You might not be able to see the place, but I think you'd like meeting some of the people there. You could talk to them. Maybe even do something special for the kids."
Stefan gave a soft laugh. "So now you're pulling me into your new project too?"
"I told you," Ruby teased. "You married the better version of me."
He smiled at that, a slow, genuine smile that made her chest ache again.
Martin quietly stepped forward to offer another slice of meat, and Mira was already clearing some of the empty plates. The staff worked quietly, but Ruby felt their presence like a spotlight.
