You Looked Down on Me Once, Now You Look Up. novel Chapter 489

The silence between them was thick enough to choke on.

Minutes ticked by before anyone finally dared to speak.

“So… what do we do now?”

What could they do? There was no easy answer.

Tina pulled out a chair and sat down, folding her hands, pressing her forehead against her knuckles. She looked absolutely defeated, her whole body radiating exhaustion and disappointment. She’d suspected this for a while, but having it confirmed still stung in a way she couldn’t prepare for.

Thirty years of marriage. Thirty years, and this was where it had brought her.

After a long pause, Tina finally lifted her head. “I don’t know if your grandma came home to cover for your dad.”

Ruby’s mind went blank, her thin shoulders tensing as if she’d been jabbed with something sharp. She parted her lips, wanting to protest, but the words just wouldn’t come. Because honestly, this did sound exactly like something Grandma would do.

“I’ll go downstairs and feel her out?”

Tina nodded. “Yeah. Try calling your dad while Grandma’s there and see how she reacts. Maybe ask him to come home. Watch her face.”

“I’ll go now.”

Downstairs, Grandma was watching the news, totally absorbed. Ruby plopped down on the couch next to her. Before Grandma could say anything, Ruby already had her phone out, sending a voice message.

“Dad, why didn’t you come home for dinner tonight?”

Grandma shifted a little, straightening her back. “Maybe your dad’s got some work thing tonight. Probably just a business dinner.”

Ruby glanced at her. “That’s exactly what I’m worried about, Grandma. You haven’t heard—Dad’s last checkup was really bad. We’re all worried he’s going to overdo it at some dinner and make it worse.”

As she finished talking, her phone screen lit up. Emerson replied: he was eating dinner, and he sent a picture too.

Ruby opened the photo and frowned. “This doesn’t look like a restaurant… is he at someone’s house?”

She shook her head, determination flaring in her eyes. “No way. I’m calling him. If he’s at someone’s house, he’s definitely drinking.”

Before she could do anything, Grandma grabbed her arm, a little too hard. “If there are other people at the table, calling him to come home will just embarrass him. Leave it for now, okay?”

Ruby had been watching Grandma the whole time—her face, her hands, every little detail. She didn’t want to miss anything.

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