A Rare Ruby (47 page)

‘I saw your father pushing the boy the other day. I must say he’s a credit to you. Always nicely turned out. I don’t know how you do it. His mother would be very proud of him.’

‘Thank you,’ said Ruby.

‘Must be off, can’t stand about all day chatting. Bye for now.’

‘Bye,’ said Ruby and Milly together.

‘So, young Ruby, what can I get you?’ asked Milly.

‘I don’t know.’

‘Are you all right?’

Ruby shook her head. ‘Alfie Anderson’s taken Danny.’

‘
What?
’ It was more of an explosion than a statement.

‘I was in the park yesterday—’

‘He took him
yesterday
?’ interrupted Milly.

‘Yes.’

‘And he ain’t brought him back?’

‘No. His mum took him to Brighton.’

‘Brighton? What’s down there?’

‘Her sister.’

‘Bloody hell. How did she get all the way down there?’

Ruby shrugged.

‘What’s Mr Thompson doing about it?’

‘He’s gonner get the police on to her.’

‘Can he do that?’

‘He says they can’t prove Beth was an Anderson.’

‘I’ll tell you what, you never have a dull moment in your house, do you?’

‘No. And a lot we could do without. I need to get something for tea.’

‘What d’you fancy?’

‘Don’t know. Don’t really feel like eating.’

‘Don’t suppose you do. Don’t worry, it’ll be all right.’

‘I hope so.’

‘Now, what’s for tea?’

‘I’ll have a bit of bacon, we can have that with an egg.’

Milly went to the bacon slicer and began turning the handle. ‘You know what keeps going through me mind?’

‘No.’

‘What will you do if they put him in an orphanage?’

‘Oh Milly. Don’t say things like that.’

‘Well, I suppose it could happen.’

‘No. I wouldn’t let it.’

‘You love that little lad, don’t you?’

‘Yes I do. I can’t think of life without him now.’

‘Well, d’you know what I reckon? You ought to think about getting married and then he could be yours.’

Ruby gave a silly laugh. ‘And who would have me?’

‘What about the boss’s son? He must be worth a bob or two. If you play your cards right I reckon you could have him down the aisle before he knew what hit him.’

‘He’s me boss. I don’t think of him like that.’

‘You told me you like him.’

Ruby had told Milly about the two times she had been out with Ben Stone. ‘I know, that’s cos he took me out, but not enough to marry him.’

‘Well, I reckon it could work out just fine.’ Milly slapped the bacon onto the greaseproof paper and put it on the scales. ‘Tuppence, that all right?’

‘Yes thanks.’ Ruby picked up the bacon. ‘I’ll let you know what happens.’

‘You’d better.’

As Ruby crossed the road, what Milly had said was going over and over in her mind. She gave a little smile and said to herself: I can just see brother Frank accepting me as part of the family. No, it was Ernie who held her heart strings, even if she could never have him.

Ruby knew she wouldn’t be able to eat anything till she knew Danny was safe. As soon as she’d given Tom his tea she hurried to the Royal Albert. She had to find out what was happening.

It was getting late and the pub was almost empty when she walked in. She could see her father busy wiping the shelves down behind the bar.

‘Hello, Dad.’

‘Hello, love.’

‘Where’s Mr Thompson?’ she asked, looking round.

‘He’s gone to get the boy.’

‘She’s brought him back then?’

‘We don’t know. If she ain’t he’s going to get the police. Don’t forget he knows a lot of the right people.’

Ruby was at a loss for words. ‘I’ve given Tom his tea.’

‘That’s good.’

‘Dad, I’m really worried. I hope they’re looking after him.’

‘I think he’ll be all right. They know they’ll have to face Len if not.’

Ruby knew this was a useless conversation, but she didn’t want to leave till she was sure Danny was well. ‘Can I do anything?’

‘Nothing to do. Monday nights is always slow.’

‘Has he been gone long?’

‘He went at opening time.’

Ruby was filled with alarm. ‘That was hours ago. You don’t think anything’s happened to him?’

Her father smiled. ‘I think Len is big enough to look after himself, don’t you?’

She nodded. ‘I know, but there’s a lot of them and I don’t think they’ve much time for the law.’

‘Don’t worry, he’ll be all right. He should be back soon.’

‘He must have loved Beth a lot to worry about her son like this.’

‘He did, and Danny is the son he’s always wanted.’

She sat at the bar and watched her father. All of their lives had been turned upside down over these past three years. Who would have thought that her father would be working? And who would have thought he would be willing to look after someone else’s son? And what about Mr Thompson? He was helping them too. Most men would have walked away from these problems, but he was different.

When the pub door opened and a pram was pushed in Ruby thought she would burst with happiness. ‘Is he all right?’ she asked, rushing over to them.

‘He’s fine. He’s fast asleep.’ Len Thompson looked lovingly in the pram. ‘Ruby, I’m gonner let Mrs Anderson here . . .’ He stood to one side and Mrs Anderson walked in.

‘You can’t let her have him,’ she cried out, interrupting him. ‘I won’t let you. Where’s he been?’ Tears filled her eyes.

‘No, listen. She’s not going to take him away. She’s coming here to help.’

‘I don’t want her to. I’m gonner look after him.’

‘Don’t worry, love, he’ll be all right with me.’

‘We’ve had a long talk. I’ve been to the house and seen the rest of the family and they love him.’

‘So do I.’

‘Ruby, I think you’d better go through to the back.’ Her father’s voice was strong and stern.

Reluctantly she pushed the pram behind the bar and, leaving it in the passage, went along to the parlour.

‘Now sit down, both of you.’

Ruby and Mrs Anderson did as they were told.

‘What I’m going to say affects us all.’

Mrs Anderson’s worried eyes said it all as she looked from one to the other. She looked frightened and confused.

‘Where’s that bullying son of yours then? Why ain’t he here throwing his weight about?’ asked Ruby.

‘Ruby, this attitude isn’t gonner help,’ said Mr Thompson.

‘I don’t care. I love Danny and I’m gonner get married and look after him.’

Both Mrs Anderson and Len Thompson looked at her with amazement.

‘Does your father know you’re getting married?’

Ruby shook her head.

‘And may I ask who you’re marrying?’

Again she shook her head.

‘Ruby, I know you’ve been upset, but you mustn’t be so childish,’ said Len Thompson.

Ruby hung her head. She felt silly as well as angry.

‘Ruby, I ain’t gonner take him away from you. It’s just that I think he should know who his grandmother is, and that he’s got some sort of family. He ain’t all alone.’

‘He won’t ever be alone.’

‘Now, Ruby, listen to what I’ve got to say. I’ve had a long hard think about all this. I don’t want to lose the boy, you know that, but we’ve got to start to be practical. As you know your dad brings him up here through the day when we bottle up and at lunchtime when the pub’s open. I know Mrs Moss sometimes keeps an eye on him, but she can’t be in two places at once, and I don’t expect her to, she’s here to clean my place and do me bit of washing. Now that Tom is at school it’s getting harder for us to keep an eye on the lad. He wants to toddle about and I’m worried that he might get into some sort of trouble. There’s a lot of things that are dangerous round here.’

‘But she took him away without telling us. What if she takes him away again?’

‘She won’t. You have my word on that.’

Although Ruby could see there would be problems as he got older and into mischief she still wouldn’t admit to it.

‘I think you’ve done a lovely job looking after the boy. He’s a lovely little lad and a credit to you. My sister loved him. She always liked Lizzie, she ain’t ever had a lot of time for the others.’

‘How could you afford to take him to Brighton?’

‘Me sister’s husband works for the railway and a long while ago she sent me a pass to go and see her. I never had cause to use it. Didn’t want to go on me own and I wouldn’t take any of my lot, so I thought this was a good time to use it. I’m sorry my Alfie never told you. He said he did. But then he can be a lying little bleeder.’

‘See? That’s why I don’t want her to look after him. I don’t want him learning to swear. We never swear in front of him. How could you let Beth down? She ran away from them, remember.’

‘Now calm down, Ruby.’

Ruby could see the pain in his eyes and felt sorry for what she’d said.

‘I’m not letting Beth down. I would never do anything to hurt her or Danny, you know that.’

‘She did give me money sometimes, to help me out,’ said Mrs Anderson.

‘You mean your son used to waylay her and ask for money.’

‘No. No. It wasn’t like that. She didn’t want to see her father.’

‘And what if he harms Danny?’

‘He won’t. He’s full of remorse over our Lizzie, and if that bloke hadn’t dropped dead, then my old man was gonner see to him. So you’ve no worries there, ducks.’

‘Ruby, Mrs Anderson is coming here to cook me and your father a bit of dinner and she can make enough so you don’t have to worry about it when you get home from work, and she can look after Danny at the same time.’

Ruby sat and looked at them. Although she knew it made sense she didn’t want to admit it and agree with the arrangements.

‘I told you a while ago I was going to get help, and this is a good way for all of us. Mrs Anderson can work for me and you’ll have Danny when you get home from work. I think it’ll work out just fine.’

‘I suppose so. But I didn’t think you’d let her do it.’

‘We had a long talk and it seems the right thing to do.’

‘I’ll look after him proper. I promise.’

‘You’d better.’ Ruby couldn’t believe how nasty she was being to this woman. ‘You won’t let her take him out, will you?’

‘You can trust me.’

‘Ruby, you mustn’t be so suspicious. You have to trust people sometimes. Now, while I go and tell your father what the arrangements are, perhaps you could make us all a nice cup of tea?’

Although Ruby wasn’t happy, there wasn’t a lot she could do about it. Why was Mr Thompson letting this woman into their lives? And what about Alfie? He wasn’t nice and he might cause trouble.

‘You’ll have to show me where the things are and, Ruby, I promise no one will hurt that little lad,’ she said, as if reading Ruby’s thoughts.

‘What about Alfie?’

‘He won’t get near him.’

If only Ernie were around. She could talk to him. With a heavy heart, Ruby filled the kettle.

 

As the weeks went on Ruby had to admit that the new arrangement was working. She would come home to a meal that Mrs Anderson had prepared warming in the oven, and with Len Thompson paying for the food, no rent to find and her father working, their lives were transformed.

Ruby had written to Ernie telling him all that had happened; she had also asked him what was Scotland like, and had he met a girl yet? But she hadn’t had a reply. Was she wasting her time?

Tom had brought a letter home from his teacher saying how clever he was and his talent shouldn’t be wasted. They sat and had a long talk about letting him go to high school if he passed the exam.

‘I think we should try,’ said her father. ‘Your mum would be that proud of you, son.’

Ruby wished with all her heart that her mum were here. She touched the locket she always wore under her frock. She would have liked something of her mother to be near her: if only she had a photo, or a lock of her hair to put inside. But nothing like that existed.

 

Tom worked hard and every night he would pore over books Miss Tinsley gave him. On the day of the exam Ruby was more nervous than he was. All day at work she worried and wondered how he was getting on.

It was well into the summer when his results came through and the excitement when they discovered he had passed was shared by all. All that studying and worry was over. Milly had made a cake for him and Mr Thompson had given him five pounds. It was a fortune and Tom insisted they use some of it to help with his uniform.

It was with great pride that with their dad and Danny they went shopping for his uniform. It was a lot of money, but they were determined he would look the same as all the other boys. They had come a long way from when he wore his father’s cut-downs. He looked so smart.

‘Don’t you dare get that in a mess,’ said Ruby, trying to hide her true feelings.

Tom put his arms round his sister and held her tight. ‘I promise I won’t ever let you down again.’

A few days later Ben asked Ruby to go out with him again. Although she’d heard from her father that Mrs Anderson was making a good job of looking after Danny, she still worried about it. She thought of what Milly had said about marriage. Ruby gave a little giggle. She saw very little of Elsie these days, she was so busy with her own life, but Elsie would have told her how to use her womanly wiles to trap a man.

Ruby found herself laughing as she left the laundry with Ben. They were going to the picture house again. ‘I wonder if we’ll ever see Mrs Bell in a film?’ Her father had told her about Mrs Bell going to America and hoping to be in pictures, and Ruby had passed it on to Ben.