The Bow Wow Club (19 page)

– Chapter Sixty-Five –

Ruby got off the bus at Clapham Junction station and checked Google Maps. It must be that highrise over there. No wonder he never invited her to his. Bless him. He probably felt a bit embarrassed as it wasn’t in the best area. He obviously didn’t know her well enough as she would not have a cared a jot.
The ornaments in a house are the friends that frequent it
was something that dear old Lucas Steadburton had written in a letter to her - and how true was that. You could have a bigger bath, a comfier bed, a slow-closing toilet lid - but at the end of the day, did any of that really matter? Health and happiness were far more important. And of course, love - never forgetting love.

She had wanted to get him a present, but it was too early for any appropriate shops to be open. She thought a pen that wrote nicely would be the ideal gift for a novelist. She would say he should save it for his first book signing but there would be plenty of time for presents. That was, if he would take her on again. That thought had crossed Ruby’s mind. What if he thought he had given her too many chances to redeem herself? She would have to use all of her womanly charms and convince him, that this time it would be right and she would not go off the rails. She had even put on the favourite white lacy underwear that he loved and the perfume he always used to comment on. In fact, she couldn’t wait to make love to him. Feel her ‘love feeling’ again, tell him just how much she really did care.

She rounded the corner and walked towards the base of the flats. It was then, from a distance, she saw him and her and the black Labrador he had made such a fuss about missing. It had to be Emily, petite, ten years younger, blonde and bloody beautiful, in fact. Ruby watched in shock as Madame Bitch kissed Michael on the lips – yes, on the lips - and then jauntily walked up the road smiling. Damn, she had missed her chance. He had got back with Emily, within minutes of having a go at her for kissing Harry on her doorstep. Ruby felt sick. She began to run in the opposite direction. In her haste she caught her heel in a loose paving stone and went flying on the pavement. She picked herself up and could see blood through her tights. Last time she had done this, big, reliable Michael had picked her up, dusted her down and soothed her back to calmness. This time, a homeless chap just laughed at her and shouted ‘While you’re down there, love…’

She couldn’t face the bus, she needed air. It was only three miles to home so she began to walk, in a sorry state with the ladder in her tights getting bigger and the blood oozing through. She cried as she stomped. Then, as she got to Putney Fire Station she heard her name being called. She looked to her left. It was Nick.

‘Ruby, what on earth has happened?’ He took in her bleeding leg and streaming eyes. ‘Here, wait a second, I’m off shift now. Let me give you a lift. You’re just up West Hill, aren’t you?’

‘Honestly, it’s fine. I don’t want to trouble you.’

‘It may be fine for you, but I’m not leaving you like this.’

***

Once back at her flat, Nick insisted she got out of her bloodied tights. She washed her face and reappeared wearing her dressing-gown. He had brought a first aid kit in from his car and gently bathed her sore knee and put a neat dressing on it.

‘Look at me, wearing this. What must you think?’

‘I’m a fireman, Ruby. The sights I have seen, nothing phases me. Now, does that feel better?’

‘So much better. Thanks, Nick. I really appreciate it.’

‘Dare I ask what’s up? Is it Michael?’

She nodded.

‘You didn’t sort it out after the row the other night then?’

‘No. And, I was so ready to give it a go with him.’

‘So what happened today then to put you in this state?’

‘I feel such a fool. I thought I’d go to his house - you know, make an effort. Show him I really did care. Anyway, I turn up and there he is with his ex, kissing her! Playing happy families with the dog. I honestly thought I was going to be sick. I ran away from the situation and fell over. I always bloody fall over.’

‘Oh.’ Nick couldn’t think of anything positive to say.

‘And the fact it was so early can only mean that she must have stayed at his. She went off to wherever she works, I guess, and kissed him goodbye before leaving their precious pooch with him.’

‘It might not be the case, Ruby. You don’t know the facts.’

‘I saw enough. She is younger than me, skinnier, blonder, prettier.’

‘That’s enough of that, Ruby. Don’t you dare put yourself down. You are beautiful. You are far from fat and all I know is that I think you are amazing company.’

She smiled as she remembered back to the incident at his flat. She then took all of her sexy companion in. The fact he was a fireman was a turn-on in itself. Noticing his dark trendy hair, good looks and pecs to die for, just sealed the deal.

There was no going back to Michael on any account, so what the hell. Fuck him and that young blonde slut, he was welcome to her. How dare it take only seconds to get over her.

Dear old Lucas has told her to only regret the things she didn’t do, so she got up, walked to the kitchen and let her dressing-gown gape open long enough for Nick to get a glimpse of her sexy white underwear.

He walked up behind her and began kissing her neck. She didn’t resist.

‘Are you sure?’ he asked softly.

She led him to the front room, lay back on the sofa and placed her hand on her white panties.

‘Fireman Redwood, I think there is a fire down here that needs seeing to.’

Nick laughed. ‘Oh, really, Mrs Stevens. I best get my hose out ready then.’

He began to kiss her gently, then more hungrily. But on feeling a wetness on his nose, he stopped immediately.

‘Oh, Ruby.’ He held her tightly as she began to sob. ‘It’s OK. I did ask if you were sure.’

‘I know,’ she blubbed. ‘I’m just so cross with Michael. How dare he?’

‘Maybe it’s just the wrong time for you now, that’s all. You’re doing so well, but emotions are so unpredictable; love is so powerful and grief is so overwhelming.’

‘It’s got nothing to do with grief.’

‘Really?’

‘Oh, I don’t know. It’s just so unfair, Nick. If your Milly and my George were here still, we wouldn’t have to be feeling like this.’

‘But they’re not, are they. So we’ve got to get on with it the best we can.’

‘I’m sorry.’ Ruby sniffed.

‘For what?’

‘Just then.’

‘I got to see you in your underwear, so hello, no apology required. And just look at you.’ He glanced down at her. ‘You’re beautiful, Ruby. Inside and out. Don’t forget that. Never sell yourself short.’

She snuggled into the crook of his muscly arm.

‘You’re not so bad yourself, Mr Fireman, and thank you for understanding.’

‘I’d be some sort of dick if I didn’t, you silly mare.’ He kissed her tenderly on the forehead. ‘Now, why don’t you run yourself a nice hot bath. I’ll leave a clean dressing on the side in case that one gets too wet.’

***

Ruby lay back in a deep bubble bath and sighed. What a good man Nick was. He had lost not only his wife but his adored baby daughter too. His strength amazed her. She would be strong now too. If Michael wanted a cheating blonde bimbette with no morals, he could have her. No more stress. She would throw her heart into helping others at The Bow Wow Club. Bloody men, they could wait for now.

– Chapter Sixty-Six –

‘You got nigh on naked with The Fireman? You lucky cow.’

‘Ssh, we don’t want the whole of Piaf’s to know.’ Daphne blew them a big kiss from behind a plume of steam from the coffee machine. ‘What am I like though, Fi? I’m returning to my pre-George serial-shagger status. I’ve slept with two men and got naked with a third.’

‘You’re a single girl, in her mid-thirties,’ Fi said stoutly. ‘And Harry doesn’t count anyway because he was a bastard.’

Ruby laughed. ‘How are you anyway?’

‘So much better. I’m over the three-month mark now and the sickness is definitely waning. Look, here’s the scan.’

‘Aw, bless. I want one!’

‘Let’s get you in a stable relationship first, shall we. And look, if that’s not a boy, then I am Mother Fecking Teresa. That’s got to be his willy.’ Fi pointed to the grainy scan picture.

Ruby laughed out loud. ‘Hilarious, he’s Simon’s boy for sure. You’re not supposed to see it until twenty weeks either, are you?’

‘No, and he’s three centimetres bigger than the average baby already. He’s going to be a monster. It’ll be like shitting a football.’

Ruby screwed her face up. ‘You are so vile.’

‘Any word from Michael?’

‘No, why would there be?’

‘I still don’t think he’d go back to her after what you said.’

‘I do. Men are strange. They don’t like being on their own and I really do think some of them compromise because of this fact. There is no doubt she’s a very pretty girl and she’s got youth on her side.’

‘She’s not that young and I bet she’s shit in bed. Probably doesn’t like to mess her hair up or her vajazzle.’

‘Vajazzle? What eez that?’

‘Norbert, you really don’t want to know.’

‘Girl talk. I see. Would you like some more drinks and cakes on the house from my angel.’ Norbert glided back to the counter and Daphne got their order ready.

‘I would, you know,’ whispered Fi.

‘What - Norbert?’

‘Yeah, too right.’

‘Fi, I think you need to marry James and get this baby out of you before you even have one unchaste thought about another man.’

‘Darling Rubes, the day I stop having unchaste thoughts about men is the day I die. Anyway spill, what about you and Nick then? Are you seeing him again?’

‘We’re just friends.’

‘What’s his cock like?’

Ruby shook her head in mock disbelief. ‘He kept his jeans on.’ Then, smugly: ‘But I could tell that he’s hung like a horse – or should I say fireman’s hose.’

– Chapter Sixty-Seven –

Rita Stevens whistled as she walked down the churchyard path. She stopped first at her husband’s grave and tidied the flowers she had arranged in the vase just yesterday. It was her little boy’s turn today. As spring had well and truly sprung it was time for one thing - to put the daffodils on his grave that she had lovingly grown herself. The idea was to actually plant them this year so every year there would be an abundance of the bright yellow, cheery flowers.

Oh, how excited George used to get when he told her about the amazing times he had at
Daffodils
, Ruby’s idyllic inherited cottage in the Lakes. His love for Ruby had been so great that when he found out at his own wedding that his wife-to-be, Candice, had been after him for his money, he literally flew up to the Lakes, wedding suit still on, to convey how he really did feel and how sorry he was. It had been a real love story, that Rita would proudly tell to anyone who would listen.

She got to the grave and screwed up her face. Who had put a bouquet on there? She hated it when the flowers died and just the old wrapper was left. It looked so forlorn and untidy. She knew it couldn’t have been Ruby as the girl hated that too.

Rita shook the water off the plastic and took it with the dead flowers up to the rubbish bin to the side of the graves. Filling a watering can, she wandered back down to commence the planting.

Just as she was about to start digging a hole, she saw something glint against the sun and leaned forward to get a better look. When she realised what it was, a tear slowly rolled down her cheek. ‘Aw,’ she said aloud. ‘Bless her heart, look what young Ruby ’as done.’

She remembered the day George had come running into her kitchen asking her if she knew any good engravers. He wanted to get the job turned around in a day, so that whilst Ruby was out he could slip the ring back in his box and it would be a surprise for her on their wedding day: to see engraved inside the words
Rubes & George forever X
.

She was surprised that Ruby had wanted it away from her, but guessed it brought her closer to her husband if it was on the grave. Rita wondered why on earth she hadn’t put it in the actual coffin, but she knew only too well that grief was an insurmountable hurdle and you didn’t think rationally during the first stages of loss.

It was such a private thing she wouldn’t mention it; she would just make sure that the ring wouldn’t be disturbed again. So when the daffodils were proudly singing their bright song on top of George, the grieving mother carefully placed the ring just under the top layer of earth so that nobody ever need find it. The two of them could be together again in their own private
Daffodils
now.

Rita finished what she was doing and packed her garden tools back in the carrier bag she had brought them in. Sitting for a quick rest on the bench near to George, she suddenly felt a peace she had not experienced for quite some time.

After wondering and questioning for twenty-nine and a half years, she could now let it all go. For at last, she knew that her other son was happy and successful.

A white feather floated down, gently rested on her cheek and then with a slight puff of breeze, drifted back up into the sky.

Both her beautiful twin boys had gone forever, but her memories of them, however fleeting, would never fade.