"The main thing is, I kept you and Tommy apart...that was the worst thing I did...You and Tommy, you've got to try and get a deferral. If it's you two, there's got to be a chance. A real chance" (232-233). I'm onto part three of the book, when Ruth and Tommy are no longer together, and are both donors. Also, Kathy is a carer for Ruth at this point. Finally. Ruth finally realized that she's been mean and manipulative to both of them. And finally Kathy and Tommy can be together. But now Ruth wants them to get the deferral, and they're going to be really disappointed when they can't get it. I don't know if Ruth is doing this to Tommy and Kathy because she actually cares about them being together, or because she just wants to know if the deferral actually exists. She found Madame's address, so she could have just gone there herself and asked, so maybe she actually cares about Tommy and Kathy...for once.