Ruby (11 page)

‘And you’re wearing my favourite coat!’

‘Maybe this time I’ll let you take it with you, now you’re just a little older.’

‘But not the hat.’

As they laughed Johnnie stepped up beside them both and held his hand out.

‘Aunty Babs, this is Johnnie Riordan. He’s the friend you spoke to on the phone when I was so upset. He helped me arrange the visit.’

Johnnie smiled confidently and tipped his hat. ‘Very nice to meet you, Mrs Wheaton. I’ve heard a lot about you from Red here.’

‘Red?’ Babs raised an eyebrow and looked at Ruby before taking Johnnie’s proffered hand. ‘Nice to meet you, Mr Riordan. It was kind of you to go to the trouble of helping Ruby. Dr Wheaton and I appreciate it.’

Babs smiled and briefly shook the young man’s hand, but it wasn’t quite the friendly smile Ruby was used to. Her mouth smiled politely but her eyes were narrowed with querying disapproval. As she took her hand away and looked back at Ruby her natural smile returned.

‘Let’s go, Ruby dear. Yardley’s waiting for us outside. He’s looking forward to seeing you again, and so is Uncle George, of course. He’s in surgery but he’ll be with us for lunch, emergencies permitting, and Marian and Keith are going to drop by after lunch …’

Johnnie stepped back as they walked to the car and stood politely to one side when Ruby briefly greeted Derek Yardley with a curt nod before she and Babs climbed into the rear of the car. Only when they were settled did he then get into the front passenger seat. His manners were impeccable and Ruby was both impressed and relieved, especially after the way Ray had embarrassed her when he’d visited, but she felt that Babs Wheaton, the woman she viewed as a second mother, wasn’t equally impressed.

During the drive back to the village Babs gave Ruby a brief outline of everything that had gone on in the months she’d been away, while Johnnie asked Derek Yardley all about the car. Both conversations were stilted and superficial, and there was a distinct atmosphere that Ruby didn’t understand but which made her feel uncomfortable. She sighed with relief when the car finally turned off the road.

‘Beautiful house, Mrs Wheaton. I’ve heard so much about it,’ Johnnie said as they pulled up outside the house Ruby knew she would always think of as home.

‘Thank you. It’s my husband’s family home. He was brought up here; his father was the village doctor before him.’

‘The war didn’t affect you out here in the sticks then? No offence, of course. I say that ’cos Red was evacuated here so it must have been safer than London.’

Ruby stiffened at his words; she knew what Johnnie meant by ‘out here in the sticks’, but the way he said it made it sound like a criticism of this place she loved.

‘We weren’t directly affected by the Blitz, no, and we fared better than London and many other cities and towns, but like everywhere else we lost family and friends. It’s a blessing it’s all over, though, and we can start to get back to some normality.’ Babs’ tone was polite as she turned back to Ruby. ‘Come along, dear; let’s go in.’

As Ruby walked along the path beside Babs she glanced back and noticed Johnnie had stayed back by the car and he and Derek Yardley were standing almost head to head in deep conversation. A wave of panic swept over her. The last thing she wanted was for Yardley to have an opportunity to talk to Johnnie Riordan.

‘Johnnie, come on, catch up …’

The two men shook hands and Johnnie walked quickly, catching them up as they turned the corner leading to the back door.

‘What were you talking about?’ Ruby asked.

‘Sorry about that. I’m interested in cars and motorbikes, and we were comparing notes. He knows his stuff, that man; we’ve got a lot in common.’

‘No, you haven’t, you’ve got nothing in common with him,’ she snapped, but then countered her comment with a smile.

She tried not to be irritated at the way Johnnie was seeing the visit. She wanted him to stay in the background and let her have a brief sample of her old life; instead he was involving himself in it and she felt unreasonably territorial. She turned away sharply.

‘Can I go and say hello to Uncle George?’

‘He’ll be coming through for lunch providing there are no emergencies, so best wait until then,’ Babs replied.

Although she knew that what Babs was saying made sense, Ruby still found it hard to hide her disappointment.

‘I’ll wait until lunch then. Do you need any help?’

‘You could lay the table. You know where everything is.’

The general awkwardness continued as they made superficial conversation and Ruby quickly regretted bringing Johnnie Riordan with her. They all carried on through the motions until after lunch, when Babs stood up.

‘Johnnie, do you mind if I take Ruby off for a few minutes? I really want her to meet the new nurse and I’m sure you’d sooner sit here and chat with Dr Wheaton.’ She looked at her husband. ‘Is that OK with you, George?’

‘Sounds like a good idea to me, darling,’ George Wheaton said, ‘Don’t forget I’ve got a call this afternoon, but there’ll be plenty of time for Yardley to drive Ruby and Johnnie to the station for the London train.’

George Wheaton was a kindly man and his face reflected that. His brown eyes twinkled when he smiled, which was often, and Ruby had rarely seen him angry. Because of using a wheelchair his upper torso was extraordinarily broad and strong, but it was a gentle strength that he never used in the wrong way. Ruby loved watching him spread his long graceful fingers across the piano keys as he taught her how to play. She loved him as a father but she also admired him for achieving everything he had, despite his disability.

Smiling first at George and then at Johnnie, Ruby stood up. She was surprised when Babs headed to the front door instead of one of the interconnecting ones, but she didn’t comment as she followed her out into the garden. Together they walked slowly around to the surgery door, but instead of going inside Babs beckoned for them to sit on the bench under the covered porch just outside.

‘I wanted to spend a few minutes with you alone. It’s hard to talk properly in front of a stranger …’

‘But Johnnie isn’t a stranger – well, not to me. He’s been a good friend from the day I went back to Walthamstow and he carried my cases along the road. He lives just further down with his family. We’re neighbours.’

‘I know, dear, you said that, but George and I don’t know anything about him so to us he is a stranger.’

‘You make that sound bad, but he’s the only friend I have there. I really miss having Keith and Marian, and Johnnie is nice to me …’ She could feel her throat starting to tighten so she swallowed hard. The last thing she wanted to do was cry.

‘Tell me about him then.’ Babs said. ‘What does your mother think of him?’

‘She doesn’t know him and she doesn’t know we’re friends. Ray and Bobbie hate him so she’d just side with them. It’s easier to say nothing.’

‘Do you know why they don’t like him?’

‘Because they’re jealous of him.’

‘Why are they jealous? What does he do for a job?’ Babs asked gently but curiously.

‘He’s a businessman,’ Ruby said quickly and defensively.

‘Ah, right … But what sort of businessman?’

Ruby frowned, unsure how to answer. ‘I don’t know, but he works in a public house in Wanstead to earn extra. He helps support his sister and her family – her husband was crippled when he was in the army. That’s good, isn’t it?’

‘Of course it is. I just wondered what his business is—’

With her naturally quick temper rising in defence Ruby interrupted her, ‘Why are you asking me all these questions? Why don’t you ask him?’

‘It’s not really my place to question him, Ruby, but it is my place to worry about you because we care about you.’ Babs touched her arm but Ruby pulled away. ‘I’m just not sure if you should be hanging around with someone older than you, and I also don’t feel comfortable helping you deceive your mother.’

‘But she deceived me,’ Ruby snapped. ‘She said you hadn’t written when all the time Ray had been stealing my letters and she knew. How can that be right? Is that what mothers do?’

‘It’s not right, but then again two wrongs don’t make a right, and she is your mother. I love you dearly, Ruby, and I so wanted you to stay with us; but now you are back with your mother, she is responsible for you and I feel very guilty that you’re here and she doesn’t know.’

Ruby was startled. It was the last thing she had expected when she and Johnnie had set out that morning to make the journey to Melton. She’d chattered excitedly all the way, telling him what to expect, but now it was all going wrong.

‘I thought you were going to be pleased to see me, like I was to see you.’ She knew she sounded sulky but she didn’t care. Her disappointment was overwhelming.

‘Oh, we are! But I’d be happier if your mother knew you were here, especially as you’re with a young man. It makes me feel quite uncomfortable.’ Then Babs smiled. ‘But now I’ve said my piece and we can get back to where we were. Shall we go back in? We need to enjoy the little time we have before you go home, and don’t leave it so long next time. Maybe I’ll write to your mother and formally invite you to come for a holiday, all above board.’

‘She won’t let me.’

Ruby looked down and tried not to show her disappointment. It was all going wrong and she couldn’t think of anything to say. It shouldn’t have been like this. Babs and George Wheaton should have been thrilled to see her, whatever the circumstances.

‘Ruby darling, I don’t want you to take any of this the wrong way. Uncle George and I want to see you and to be part of your life – we love you – but I’d like it to be done properly, and properly isn’t you sneaking away with a young man no one knows anything about. I know you’re upset, and I’m sorry, but I had to tell you. You’re only just sixteen, after all.’

Ruby looked down at her watch. ‘Can we go for a walk through the village? I want to show Johnnie around.’

‘Of course, we’ll go together. Hopefully we’ll bump into Keith and Marian. They both miss you as much as you miss them.’ She took both Ruby’s hands in hers. ‘Friends?’

Ruby didn’t answer but as they stood up Babs Wheaton put an arm around her waist and, ignoring the resistance, pulled her in towards her for a few seconds.

‘I shall try hard to get to know your friend.’

Once they were on the train heading back to London, Ruby was close to tears.

‘They’re not usually like that,’ she said. ‘I don’t understand it. I thought they cared for me, but maybe Mum and Ray were right, I was just the stupid little evacuee …’

‘Ray is never right. Even I could see how much the doc and his wife love you. They were just being protective,’ Johnnie laughed. ‘Ray is an idiot who thinks he’s brighter than he is, but he’ll get his comeuppance, and when he does you’ll enjoy it.’

Ruby looked at Johnnie Riordan curiously.

‘It’s just not right, is it? How can he dictate my life to me? And it’s not right that Mum lets him.’

‘Ray thinks he’s a big man but he isn’t. He upsets people, the wrong people, but he’ll learn otherwise.’

‘No he won’t. He’s always been a bully; he’s not going to change now, unless …’ she paused and looked at him, ‘unless he did something wrong, unless the police were to know he’s doing things he shouldn’t be doing.’

‘Hang on there, Red. If you mean what I think you mean that’s a serious road to take, involving the Old Bill. That’s not the way we do things where we come from.’

‘I just want him to leave me alone.’

‘Oh, he will. As soon as he’s got something else to think about.’ Johnnie smiled. ‘Someone’ll sort him out good and proper one day.’

‘I hope so, I hate him. He makes my life misery and enjoys it. He deserves a taste of his own medicine.’

‘And Bobbie as well?’

‘I hate him for doing everything Ray says. Monkey see, monkey do. But I know he wouldn’t be like that without Ray.’ Ruby looked at him, waiting for a reply, but he simply shrugged; he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her towards him very slightly. Instinctively she stiffened and pulled away just enough for him to loosen his hand and move it onto the back of the seat.

‘They’re good at upsetting the wrong people so they’ll both be in real trouble soon enough.’

‘I hope Mum hasn’t found out I wasn’t where I said I was today,’ she said, changing the subject. ‘They’ll all go bananas and I’ll never get out of the house again!’

‘She won’t find out.’ Johnnie looked at her and smiled.

‘Hope not …’ Ruby smiled back shyly.

‘I tell you what, it’s been a nice day even if we spent hours getting there and back, and you’re right about the doc and his wife – they’re OK – and that Yardley, the chauffeur, me and him are cut from the same cloth, I reckon. He’s a bit of a card, isn’t he?’

‘Hardly a bit of a card and you’re not cut from the same cloth. Yardley is bad.’

‘I bet he’s a bit of a duck-and-dive merchant in his spare time. Perfect set-up there, car to get him around, a garage to store stuff and the respectability of working for the doc. He’s got it made.’

Ruby shook her head and pulled a face. ‘Well, I wouldn’t know that, would I? Uncle George helped him out by giving him a job because of his bad lungs, and they think of him as family and they trust him.’ She paused for a second. ‘More fool them. He’s bad.’

‘Why do you say that? Seemed OK to me.’

‘I don’t want to talk about Yardley.’

‘Not too keen on him, then?’

‘I just said, I don’t want to talk about bloody Derek bloody Yardley, OK?’

‘OK.’ Johnnie looked at her sideways but she just focused on the steamed-up window. There were some things she didn’t want to talk about and she wasn’t going to let Johnnie push her into it.

‘Interesting view, that. Well, I think it might be, if we could see it.’

She turned towards him and, despite herself, she laughed. ‘You’re a nitwit, you know that, don’t you?’

‘Maybe, but my sis says I’m a nice nitwit.’

This time when he gripped her shoulder Ruby let him pull her close. Leaning her head on his shoulder she suddenly felt really grown up. Especially when he softly kissed the top of her head and touched her neck with his fingertips; she felt goose bumps rising on her skin and she reddened, aware that he could probably feel them as well.