A Promise Between Friends (31 page)

‘Thanks.’

Ruby waited until she was alone. She wanted to think about her mum. She said softly, ‘I know you’re with Pete, Mum. I know you’re safe now. But I miss you.’ She held back
the tears. ‘I know you’re there and always will be. But Dad don’t. So look out for him, won’t you?’

It was a while later when Ruby heard a knock on the door and went to open it. ‘Kath, Bernie, what are you doing here?’ she said as she embraced them.

‘I was worried when your money ran out,’ Kath said.

‘I wanted to let you know what happened.’

‘Sorry to hear about your mum,’ Bernie said as they stepped in.

When they were all seated, Ruby looked at her two friends and remembered what her dad had said that morning. The four of them had been evacuated together, had looked out for each other and
eventually come home together. She hadn’t realized before just how much she valued Kath and Bernie. Even if Bernie drove her to distraction and Kath had been so clingy, they were still here
for her, and she loved them for it.

‘Have they taken your mum away?’ Kath asked, tears brimming in her eyes.

‘Yes. The funeral will be on Monday week.’

‘Is she going to be buried with Pete?’

‘Dad and me didn’t want him disturbed. So we asked for a place close by.’

‘Did the doctor say what was wrong with her?’ Bernie asked.

‘She did have a cold and she hadn’t been eating. It was as if she just drifted away.’

‘Is there anything we can do?’

Ruby shrugged. ‘Don’t think so. But you could go out and have a word with Dad, Bernie. He’s in the yard, clearing up the mess.’

‘What’s he doing that for?’ said Kath.

‘To keep busy,’ Ruby replied. ‘He was very upset and tearful, so I told him to go out in the fresh air. It is, after all, a fine day.’

‘I’ll see if he wants a smoke,’ Bernie said, getting to his feet.

‘What happened to your face?’ Ruby asked.

‘Cut meself shaving.’ Bernie was gone before she could ask more.

‘Now tell me what happened,’ Kath said, reaching out to touch Ruby’s hand. The small gesture brought tears to Ruby’s eyes. She held them back.

‘Mum just went in her sleep.’ The flames of the fire sparkled and crackled, the only noise in the room. ‘There was no time to say goodbye. That’s what hurts the
most.’

‘There’s never a good time to say goodbye, not when you love someone.’

‘Mum told me she’d seen Pete by her bed.’

‘Did she have a fever?’

‘Don’t think so.’ Ruby suddenly gave a sob. ‘I don’t want to start crying. I might never stop.’

Kath took her in her arms. ‘There, there. There’s nothing wrong in shedding tears,’ she whispered, sniffing back her own. ‘We’ve shed enough between us, ain’t
we?’

Ruby nodded, holding tightly to her friend.

It was much later when Bernie and her dad came in. Ruby had dried her tears and felt better. She and Kath had made tea and cheese and pickle sandwiches. They all sat round the
fire to enjoy them.

Everyone talked about the old days and Ruby smiled when she heard Bernie grumble about the many times his dad had fallen over blind drunk in the road. It was always Dave Payne who had picked him
up. ‘Though, as soon as he could stumble one foot in front of the other, he’d be down the boozer again,’ Bernie said with a gruff laugh.

Kath recalled the clothes that Babs made for her on the sewing machine as her own mother didn’t know one end of a needle from the other. ‘Do you remember, Ruby? She could knock us up
a dress in an afternoon? She was so clever with her fingers.’

Ruby nodded. ‘She was always sat at the Singer.’

‘That bloody racket,’ Dave said fondly. ‘It drove us all crackers.’

‘Yes,’ Ruby admitted. ‘But I miss it now.’

‘Thanks for the help this afternoon, mate,’ her dad said to Bernie. ‘We got rid of a lot of rubbish.’

‘You’re welcome.’

Ruby looked at Bernie as she handed him his cup of tea. ‘You’ve been in the wars,’ she said with a sad smile. ‘And it don’t look like a shaving brush that did that
to you.’

Bernie went scarlet, noisily slurping his tea. ‘They put these bloody lamp posts everywhere these days.’

They all managed to laugh. Ruby knew her mum wouldn’t want them to be sad for long. Sitting here with her dad and Kath and Bernie felt right. They were paying their respects in their own
way. Remembering the life they had lived with those who had once shared that happy life with them.

A brief service was held at the Congregational church in Poplar. It was where, three years ago, they had said goodbye to Pete. Ruby watched as Kath and Bernie arrived, along
with Maggs. They stood at the coffin with bowed heads then took the pew opposite to listen to the minister.

The coffin was decorated with flowers, white and red roses from her and her dad. White chrysanthemums from Maggs and a spray of beautiful mixed flowers from Kath and Bernie. Ruby was dressed in
a black suit for the occasion and was grateful for the delicate half-veil that was attached to her pill-box hat. It hid the grief in her eyes and the tears that had escaped during the last hymn,
‘Abide With Me’.

She held fast to her father’s arm as they walked out to the hearse and watched the pall-bearers slide in the coffin. Then they all climbed into the black limousine to follow the hearse to
the cemetery. No one spoke, but she was grateful for the money Nick had given her. If Nick had done nothing else for her, his money had provided a dignified funeral. One that befitted her mother: a
solid oak casket with little brass handles and fragrant roses that Babs would have approved of. Her mind had wandered during the service, as she had sat by her father on the polished pew and
listened to the minister’s carefully prepared words. But he was new to the parish and didn’t remember the last time they had visited the church. Ruby had found it difficult to speak
about Pete. After all, none of them had expected to return after three short years.

The small cortège drew up in the cemetery and Ruby and her father walked slowly to Pete’s grave a few feet away from where Babs was to be buried. Ruby left at his headstone a
heart-shaped posy of violets, pausing to remember her brother. Then, joining the others, they listened in silence to the minister’s committal.

“ ‘Forasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our beloved Barbara Anne Payne here departed: we therefore commit her body to the
ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust . . . ” ’

Ruby took one of the roses. As the casket was lowered, she kissed the rose’s petals before throwing it down. Her father sprinkled earth. They stood silently gathered, each with their own
thoughts.

Ruby knew that Pete would be there, smiling his lovely smile and waiting for Babs. And they would walk off together into the sunset, just like they did on the films.

‘Dad, you should go to the club tonight,’ Ruby said. It was now December, the beginning of a very cold month. Ruby had just finished preparing her dad’s lunch
box.

‘Don’t think I’ll bother, not till the better weather,’ her father replied as he tucked the battered tin and flask of tea into his workbag. He usually walked to work, but
had taken to cycling lately. Ruby knew he cycled to the cemetery to have a word with Babs. He said he found consolation that way.

Ruby kissed him on the cheek before he went out of the back door. Since the funeral, her dad hadn’t gone to his club, but spent all his free time painting, repairing and doing up the
prefab, just as he had in the old days.

Sometimes Bernie called round and helped with the decorating. There had been no word of Nick and Bernie would have heard from the dock authorities if there had. The only clue to the mystery was
an article in the newspaper describing the fire at Nick’s warehouse and the charred remains found within.

Ruby shuddered when she thought of that night McBride had threatened her. She had come so close to disaster. And Nick hadn’t even cared!

As the days passed, Nick’s money slowly ran out. Ruby considered going back to the parlour. Larry and Stuart had sent a beautiful card of condolence. Enclosed with it was a short letter,
assuring her that, if ever she wanted to return, her old job was waiting for her. Debbie had sent a card too asking Ruby to visit her and Rog at their new house in Streatham.

Everyone had been very thoughtful. But she didn’t want people’s pity. She had to get on with her life.

On the first Monday of December, Ruby found two letters on the mat. She took them to the kitchen and studied them.

One was from the stonemason; Babs’s headstone would not be erected until the spring when the ground would be firm. And although Ruby had settled the fees for the black marble stone and the
gold inscription, the churchyard fees were outstanding.

Ruby sighed, putting the invoice aside. The other letter, a white envelope, was addressed to Ruby Payne. The handwriting was unfamiliar. Perhaps it was from someone sending their
condolences?

‘Dear Ruby,’ she read, suddenly sitting up in the chair.

‘We’ve met once, at Larry and Stuart’s party. I was with a companion at the time, Lady Granger.’ Ruby read the two lines again, then continued:

I apologize sincerely for bothering you. However, as I am leaving the country very soon, I must take a risk and ask if you would meet me. I have something to tell you which
I think you should know. Please be at the statue of Eros, Piccadilly this Sunday, where I shall meet you at eleven o’clock. Regards, Johnnie Dyer

Ruby read the letter again. There was no address. What could Johnnie Dyer have to tell her? He must have got her address from Larry.

Should she go?

Of course. Her curiosity wouldn’t let her do otherwise.

On Sunday morning Ruby took the tube to Piccadilly Circus. She had put on her warmest coat, since the weather was on the turn. All week it had been wet and windy and very
unlike Christmas. But this morning they had woken to a frost, and she had suddenly become excited. Christmas in London was something she had always loved. The lights, the stores, the atmosphere.
And today she had promised herself all these after meeting Johnnie. Perhaps she’d even call on Kath and tell her about whatever it was Johnnie had to tell her.

As Ruby walked the short distance from the tube station to Piccadilly Circus, her heart lifted. It seemed like an eternity since she was up here. As she stood waiting by the statue of Eros,
watching the morning traffic circulate, she thought of the glamorous life she’d once led in London’s West End. When living at 10 Dower Street, wearing beautiful clothes and modelling
them for the fashionable stores had become the norm. And then she thought of Anna and the night at the Manor when they first met. And the long journey of discovery she had taken since.

A redhead walked by and Ruby thought of Paula. She wondered if she had ever recovered from her disfigurement. There was Gwen too, and Charles and Mr Steadman; their faces passed fleetingly
through her mind. So much had happened in such a small space of time.

Ruby watched the couples, holding hands or with arms linked. They laughed as they fed the pigeons and stared in wonder at the figure of Eros. London at Christmas was spectacular. In the
distance, the clock face of Big Ben shone clearly from the Palace of Westminster. This was the London she knew and loved, but without someone to love, what did it all mean?

‘Miss Ruby Payne?’ A tall, dark-haired figure stood in front of her. Johnnie Dyer was dressed in a short camel coat and dark suit, the epitome of fashion. His black hair was swept
back, showing off his fine-featured face. His dark eyes were smiling and, as he leaned forward to kiss her cheeks, she smelled his subtle aftershave. ‘I’m so very glad you came,’
he said, looking about them. ‘Are you alone?’

‘Yes,’ Ruby said curiously. ‘Did Larry give you my address?’

‘Actually, no.’ ‘Who did?’

‘My car is parked not far away,’ he said, taking her arm. ‘I’d like to show you something before I answer your questions.’

‘I . . . I’m not sure,’ Ruby said, pulling away. ‘Why can’t you tell me now?’

‘Because here is not the place.’ He looked anxious. ‘Please trust me. I promise to make everything clear.’

Ruby hesitated. She was more confused than ever now. Why all this secrecy? What could he possibly want to tell her that was so important he couldn’t tell her now?

‘I understand your reluctance,’ he said quietly. ‘But this is very important. And, if my plans work out, I may not be back in England for a very long time.’

‘Where are we going?’ Ruby asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

‘Not far.’ Johnnie took her to his car parked a few streets away.

Where, she wondered, was he taking her?

Johnnie drove them to Greek Street and parked the car. They walked to the end and stopped at the little green park. ‘Why have we come here?’ Ruby asked in
surprise.

Johnnie guided her to the bench that Ruby remembered the old tramp had sat on. The wooden seat was newly painted and the grass had been cut around it.

‘They’re trying to smarten up this area,’ Johnnie told her as they sat down. ‘But for me, they’ll never succeed whatever they do.’ Ruby shivered in the cold
air and lifted her eyes to the house and bookshop across the road. The boards had been removed from the windows and scaffolding had been erected around the buildings. ‘Those properties have
been sold to a developer,’ Johnnie continued as he followed her gaze.

‘How do you know all this?’ Ruby asked with a suspicious frown.

‘Do you remember that house?’ Johnnie asked, once again avoiding her question.‘I have a reason for asking.’

Ruby couldn’t imagine how Johnnie would know about Pete. But why else would he bring her here? ‘I came here with my friend in October,’ she said warily. ‘We were looking
for someone.’

‘Someone special?’

‘Yes, a girl who might have known my brother before he died three years ago.’

Johnnie stared at her solemnly. ‘Did you find her?’

‘Why do you want to know?’ Ruby asked. ‘Why all these questions?’