In another house, Ruby brought over some cut-up fruit and plopped it down next to Alexander. She slid into the chair beside him, poured him some tea, and said, "My grandpa''s gonna be here soon. Have some tea first." As she talked, she kept sneaking peeks at Alexander.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    He was lounging around, not all buttoned-up like before. His suit jacket was hanging open, and his shirt cor was undone. She could even see a bit of his corbone peeking out. He looked way more chill, not like some guest in someone else''s crib.


    Alexander nced at her, all casual-like, and said, "So, should I call you Ruby Anderson, Ruby Kennedy, or Ruby Dixon now?"


    Ruby was a bit thrown off but then smiled, "Anything but Ruby Kennedy. Anderson''s my mom''sst name, so Ruby Anderson works too."


    She handed him the tea.


    Alexander took the cup but didn''t drink. He just rubbed it with his thumb, staring at Ruby. "Yeah, the Kennedys are pretty much done for. The Dixon family seems like the better pick." Ruby rified, "That''s not the whole story. I don''t have any ties or feelings for the Kennedys. I''ve been with the Dixons for thirty years. Makes sense, right?"


    Alexander put the cup back on the table and leaned back in his chair, his eyes roaming the living room. "Yeah, blood ties are kinda overrated."


    Ruby frowned a bit, not really getting what he meant.


    Not wanting to guess, she switched topics, "Mr. Kennedy, got any ce to go now?"


    "Feeling sorry for me and wanna take me in?" Alexander asked, all casual.


    Ruby felt a bit awkward, like he saw right through her. "Don''t joke. How could you be pitiful? I meant, is there anywhere you wanna go?"


    He was alone now. To put it nicely, he was free. To put it bluntly, he was a loner with no family ties.


    He had money and could buy a house anywhere, but no matter where he went, he couldn''t escape being lonely.


    So Ruby thought of keeping him around. The Dixon family had plenty of space.


    "Somewhere I wanna go?" Alexander asked, a hint of sadness in his eyes. He didn''t answer Ruby''s question.


    Ruby was about to say more, but Larry Dixon walked in. Ruby quickly stood up, "Grandpa."


    Larry nodded and said, "You can go out now."


    After Ruby left, Larry walked over to Alexander with a cane. "Sorry, got held up."


    Alexander stayed put, not even changing his posture. Larry didn''t mind and sat down beside him.


    "Why''d you call me here?" Alexander asked.


    Larry smiled kindly, "I''ve always wanted to invite you over but never got the chance. When I heard you were in Sylvadora, I jumped at the chance to chat." "You got good sources. I just got here, and you already knew," Alexander remarked.


    Larry, unfazed, kept smiling, "Seems like you got some beef with the Dixon family."


    Alexander chuckled. "Be confident. Drop the ''some"."


    Larryughed.


    Alexander said, getting impatient, "If you got something to say, just spit it out. Stop beating around the bush."