A Rare Ruby (45 page)

Ruby smiled. ‘I was very flattered that you wanted to take me out when you have the whole of the laundry to choose from.’

‘Some of them are too old for me and some, well, some are definitely not my type. This is our stop, I believe.’

When they got off the tram Ruby insisted on going home alone.

‘Will you be safe?’

‘When you’ve walked these streets pushing a pram full of washing, you feel more than safe. Just as long as I don’t have to go near the docks or the buildings.’

‘Thank you, Miss Jenkins, for your company tonight,’ he said formally, but with a smile in his voice. ‘I’ll see you at work tomorrow. And, Ruby, I don’t think it would be very wise to let any of the others know.’

‘I won’t do that. I only told Mrs Watson. Was that all right?’

‘I know, she did tell me.’

Ruby stood waiting for him to kiss her, but it never happened. Was he being polite, or was it because he was her boss?

‘Good night and thank you.’

He took hold of her hand and her heart gave a little flutter. Was he going to kiss her now?

Ben kissed her hand. ‘Goodnight, Ruby Jenkins.’

Ruby stood and watched him walk away.

Did he like her? Really like her? He was nice, but it was still Ernie who filled her heart.

It was April when Len Thompson came with wonderful news. He had been to see a friend of his about the house. The solicitor had put a notice in the paper saying that if anyone knew of a Mr William Carlton or a Mr Harry Cox, they had to contact him, but it appeared no one had come forward, so it was theirs. It had to go through some legal formalities, but Len was seeing to all that. No more rent. They could do as they liked.

When Len came with the good news he brought a bottle of beer with him. Ruby went over for Milly. She had to share their good fortune as she was always there for them. They danced round the kitchen unable to believe they would never be thrown out of the property again. Then Ruby sat and cried with happiness. She couldn’t believe this was really happening to them.

Milly put her arm round Ruby. ‘Come on, wipe those lovely big brown eyes. It’s about time you had your share of good luck.’

‘Yes, but it’s only because of Beth dying that this has happened.’

‘You mustn’t think about that. Beth would be happy for you, and after all it’s a home for Danny as well now.’

Ruby dried her eyes. She looked across at Tom. He had been very quiet. It would take him a long time to come to terms with all this.

 

Life for Ruby was definitely better. She was now getting a little more money and her working conditions were much improved. Mrs Watson always had a smile for her and Ben Stone wasn’t mentioned. Ruby was always willing to stay and finish any order that had to be out, so she regularly earned extra. But she was increasingly worried about Tom. He had become very withdrawn. He was always eager to go to school and appeared to be doing well. Night after night he would read his books and do his sums without any prompting. Was this his way of coping with all the tragedies that had befallen him in his young years?

Weeks had gone past before Ben asked Ruby out again. This time they went to the picture house. It was better than when she went with Elsie, as this time they sat in more expensive seats. She was thrilled at Rudolph Valentino in
The Sheikh
. His flowing Arab robes and dark smouldering eyes captured her heart. Ben thought he was daft and couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. However, although Ruby liked Ben she knew she could never get fond of him,
really
fond of him, as they were worlds apart and he was her boss. Oh, where was Ernie? Why hadn’t he got in touch? Was this his way of bowing out of her life? What would Frank say if he found out Ben had taken her out again? Ruby knew Ben hadn’t told his brother: why was that? Was he worried about being seen with her?

 

Much to Ruby’s surprise her father was continuing to work hard. He was now working for Len most mornings as well as every week night, but he still went to the Green Man on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays he spent the morning at the Royal Albert bottling up and behind the bar in the evenings. He told Ruby he enjoyed being with Len, and Len liked Danny running around, but he was getting to be a handful and into everything. Thomas never let on the real reason why he still preferred to go to the Green Man. It was because he was desperate to see Mrs Bell, despite what she did for a living. He wanted to get her alone to tell her he needed a woman but would she want him to pay? He didn’t want to be a customer. He knew he was being silly, but he always felt hurt when she left with a punter.

It was the middle of April when Rita Bell, looking radiant, walked into the pub with a huge grin on her face and an old man on her arm. He was shorter than Rita, and fat. His long camel-hair overcoat almost reached the ground and a black trilby hat sat squarely on top of his head. Rita came up to the bar and, leaning over, said very softly, ‘Thomas, I’ll have my usual, and get my lover boy here a brandy and yourself and George a drink too.’

‘Got something to celebrate then, Rita?’ asked George.

‘I should say so. I’m getting married.’

George almost choked on his drink. ‘Blimey. What for? You up the duff?’

‘No I ain’t. Christ, that’d be a laugh and a bloody miracle at my age. It’s young Charles here.’ She smiled at her man friend and tenderly touched his flabby cheek. ‘He’s decided to make an honest woman of me. We’re going to go to Holly-wood, that’s in America. Charles is in the picture business. It’s all very new and exciting.’

Thomas was standing with his mouth open. This news had quashed his ardour for ever.

‘Ain’t you gonner congratulate me, Thomas?’

‘Yes. Yes of course.’ He raised his glass. ‘I wish you all the best. I hope it all works out well for you.’

‘Thank you. I’m sure it will.’

Charles was looking round the bar grinning. ‘I love the way you Limeys talk. I can see my lovely Rita in pictures yet. I have a lot of influence over there.’

‘What d’you want our Rita for?’ asked George.

‘Now talking pictures are taking off, you Brits with your la-di-da accents are all the rage in the good old US of A.’

‘La-di-da!’ laughed George. ‘Blimey, there ain’t nothing la-di-da about our Rita.’

‘Just you watch it, George. I ain’t going all that way without a ring on me finger,’ said Rita, grinning.

‘Good for you, gel,’ replied George with an equally broad smile.

Charles was loud and brash and all evening everybody was drinking Rita’s good health and making crude comments.

It was almost closing time and Thomas was clearing the tables when Rita came up to speak to him.

‘Why are you doing this?’ he asked.

She stubbed her cigarette out in the ashtray. ‘I’m sick to death of where I live and the life I’ve got, so when this golden opportunity came along I grabbed it with both hands.’

‘But I like you, I was hoping . . .’

Rita Bell looked shocked. ‘I’m sorry, Thomas. I didn’t realise, and I seem to remember you spurned me once when I offered you comfort.’

Thomas quickly looked about him and continued wiping down the tables. ‘Yes, that was a big mistake. I wasn’t ready for the love of a woman then.’

‘You’re a nice-looking man. One of these days you’ll find someone who will love you and take care of you.’

‘I don’t want another woman. I’m very fond of you. I could have taken you away from where you live. You could have lived with me.’

‘What? I can just see your Ruby letting me move in with you.’

‘She would have got used to the idea.’

She laughed. ‘And what about me punters?’

‘We could have managed.’

‘I’m sorry, Thomas. I want more out of life than anything you could offer me.’

‘Thomas, you’ll be wearing that bloody table out before long,’ shouted George. ‘Hurry up and finish! I want me bed and Charles here wants to get his little Rita home.’

‘When are you going to America?’ asked Thomas as they both moved towards the bar.

‘Next week. We’re getting married on Monday and we sail on Tuesday,’ said Charles. ‘Can’t wait.’

‘That’s a bit quick, ain’t it?’ asked George.

‘Ain’t no point in staying round here,’ said Rita.

‘No, s’pose not,’ said George.

‘What about your place and all your lovely things?’

George looked at Thomas. ‘How d’you know what she’s got? Here, you old dark horse, you been to her place?’

‘Course he ain’t,’ said Rita quickly. ‘I expect his daughter told him.’

‘Yes. Yes she did,’ said Thomas, speedily recovering.

‘I don’t own that much, and I’ll be taking all I need. Charles has arranged a carrier to collect me stuff.’

‘We’re gonner miss you, gel, ain’t we, Thomas?’ said George.

Thomas nodded. ‘Yes, we are.’

As Thomas Jenkins walked home that night he knew that he would be leaving the Green Man next week and working solely for Len. He knew Ruby would be pleased about that. He would never tell her the real reason he was leaving, but he knew George would guess.

The knock on the door sent Ruby scurrying along the passage. She was surprised to find a postman standing on her doorstep.

‘Got a letter for you, girl. Couldn’t slip it under the door, the mat’s in the way. I reckon it won’t be long before everybody will have to have these letter boxes fitted, the way everybody’s sending letters and cards these days.’

Ruby took the letter. It was addressed to her but she didn’t recognise the stamp: it was foreign. Carefully Ruby opened it. It was from Scotland.

 

My dear Ruby,

I feel I should write to you to tell you why I suddenly upped and come here with me mum and sisters. It was cos I didn’t have anything to offer you. I’ve always liked you but it ain’t fair if I ain’t got a job and can’t give you a home. I hope you will write and tell me how you’re getting on. Did old man Cox get what he deserved? How’s the boy? Remember me to your dad and brother. Hope we meet up again one of these days. It’s ever so cold up here and there’s a lot of snow so I can’t help me uncle that much just yet. Mum and the girls like it.

Take care,

Your friend,

Ernest Wallis

 

He had remembered her. But he wasn’t coming back. She carefully folded the letter and put it in her pocket.

 

As April moved on so the weather became warm. Her father had left the Green Man and now worked at the Royal Albert. Even when he wasn’t working he spent a lot of time with Len, taking Danny with him.

One Sunday morning after her father had gone to work she asked Tom if he’d like to go to the park with her.

‘I can’t, I’ve got to finish this.’

‘What is it?’

‘Miss Tinsley asked me to write this story.’

‘What’s it about?’ Ruby went to move closer but Tom quickly shut the book.

‘Is it that much of a secret?’

‘Not exactly.’

‘Well, why can’t I see it?’

‘Cos I don’t want you to.’

‘I’m going to the cemetery first.’ It was a year ago their mother had died and as soon as her father had felt fit enough he had made a small wooden cross to mark the place where she was buried. They had stood quietly together that day, all deep in thought. Beth was in the same cemetery, but she had a lovely headstone with the name everybody knew her by, Beth Norton, engraved on it.

‘That what you got those flowers for yesterday?’

‘Yes. I’ll be going to the park after. Do you want to come?’

‘No. I get upset to think Mum’s under that pile of earth.’

‘I know.’

‘D’you think she’ll mind?’

‘Course not. I won’t be that long.’

As she walked along she reflected on how their lives had changed this past year. No more pushing a pram with dirty washing. No more washing drying round the fire. No more cleaning Mr Cox’s rooms. She had now moved upstairs into Mr Cox’s room. She had been scared at first and had wanted Tom to go, but when he’d refused she’d taken her courage in her hands, and set about making it nicer. She washed the curtains and crocheted a doily to go on the bedside table. It was a bigger room so there was lots of room for Danny’s cot. Tom had moved back into her old bedroom. Ruby couldn’t believe they now had a bedroom each.

Today, in many ways Ruby felt content. She had one of the best jobs in the laundry and the sun was shining.

When they reached the park Ruby took Danny out of his pram and sat on the bench she used to sit on with Ernie. She enjoyed watching Danny trotting about, exploring everything that was new and exciting for him. Her thoughts always went to Ernie when she had time to muse: she still missed him so. Ruby felt in her coat pocket and her fingers curled round the letter that was always close to her. Although she had replied to his letter he hadn’t sent any more. Had that been just a one-off? She knew every word that was written on the page but she just had to read it again.