#ConcernedBigBrotherMode activated

[drrutherford]

yvonne-rutherford​:

Yvonne leaned forward as much as her belly would let her and took the first deep breath in months. Despite her resolve to keep her mask in place, tears started welling up in her eyes and she kept her gaze focused down on her hands and away from Gideon. “I’m trying to prove to everyone that I can do this, that I’m not stupid or disloyal or a liability. But it is so hard to believe it.”

Sniffling, she sat back up. One hand came up to wipe at her eyes while her gaze settled back on her brother, though she still avoided making eye contact. “I know that Damon wouldn’t have bought this house if he didn’t see Maddie as a Rutherford and that you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t care, but when every compliment comes with a backhand and nine months later I’m still being watched like a hawk for any toe out of line, it gets hard to believe. It’s always "this is the best idea you’ve had in months” instead of “that’s a good idea”. Or “maybe we underestimated you, but only a little” instead of “good job, Yvonne. You’re going to make a good mother.” She ran a hand through her hair and leaned back in the chair. “Shit, sorry. That was unfair and you didn’t come here to listen to me bitch about this.”

.

He’s on the sofa less than a minute before he’s up again, mobilized by the sight of his little sister’s tears. There are few Trojan arrows that can strike him in the heel as effectively as a sobbing sibling, so Gideon walks behind Yvonne’s rocking chair and drops his palms to her shoulders; squeezing them with gentle, comforting pressure.

He doesn’t respond immediately but lets her speak her piece. Inwardly he kicks himself for being too quick to assume that they were over this particular stumbling block. Finally, when the girl’s switched to unhappy contrition, Gideon leans down to kiss the crown of her head before moving back to the sofa. “You needn’t apologize for sharing your feelings with me. I didn’t just come over to check out the baby’s room, Yvi, I came over for you... Whatever that means. Even if that means a little bit of well-deserved bitching.” His mouth tips up for a moment, just short of a wry smile. 

But the eldest brother chooses his next words with care.

“It was insensitive to make a joke like that, and I’m sorry for it. And you have done well — a great job, not just a good one.” His gaze is solemn, and he sits forward on the sofa to give her his full attention. “I’m thrilled to meet your little girl, even Fe’s curious to have a cousin — But is this how I wanted it to happen for you?... I’d be lying if I said yes, Yvi.” Single parenthood was no joke, especially at her age. All the more so in the spotlight, which Yvonne had no choice in avoiding, given their family name. “I know it’s not up to me, not up to any of us, but can you really fault us for worrying over the last year? Maybe you proved us all wrong, maybe you’ll go on doing just that... But if we didn’t worry, it’d mean we didn’t care. Yes, maybe we could’ve expressed it differently at times, but would you really have preferred indifference?”

A beat. “If you had a little sibling who’d made the same choices, can you honestly tell me that it wouldn’t worry you?... That you’d pat them on the back with a ‘well-done’ even if they’d gotten themselves into life-changing circumstances that may well have turned out to be dangerous?” Theo’s ties made him an inarguable threat, regardless of whatever romantic conviction had compelled Yvonne to sleep with him in the first place. No one was going to congratulate her for taking that risk. Although Gideon’s heart bled for her, he wasn’t going to bullshit her about that either.