The Bow Wow Club (9 page)

– Chapter Thirty-Two –

‘A fecking box of chocolates and a dozen red roses. That was it. Rubes - that
was it
! No proposal of any sort. In fact, he fell asleep on me before we even got at it. I’d bought a whip and some body paint as well. Fecking bastard.’

‘Blimey, Fi. Haven’t heard you this angry for a while. Calm down. Let me get us another drink and we can talk about it.’

Fi took a massive slurp of her wine. The football was on so it was a busy Saturday afternoon in O’Neill’s Irish bar, but thankfully they had got in early enough to get a seat.

‘What’s the matter with him, Rubes? You know James as well as me; being a lawyer he is pragmatic and steady, but we’ve been together five years now and he knows how much I want to settle down.’

‘Hmm - and he usually does like his sex as much as you, so it was strange he fell asleep on you.’

‘Do you think he’s having an affair?’

‘I can categorically say no on that front. Whatever we say about James, he has been straight up about everything. I remember when George was going to marry Candice and we knew she was fleecing him of his dad’s inheritance, James didn’t take sides. He just said it how it was, and besides that, you can just tell he’s not a philanderer.’

‘But what does a philanderer look like? Anyone has the capacity to cheat.’

‘Not when they love you, they don’t. Stop being stupid, Fi.’

‘Get in there!’ Three lads in West Ham shirts jumped up at the same time as their beloved team scored.

‘My turn for the drinks.’ Fi intuitively gave Ruby’s arm a squeeze as she got up. ‘He’s here in spirit, I can feel him.’

She placed two large wines down on the table.

‘We’re gonna be pissed by six if we carry on at this rate,’ Ruby said. ‘What will James say then? You know he doesn’t like it when you get too drunk and disorderly, especially without him.’

‘See - another fault we have identified, Ruby girl. But I so want children, we have to get married.’ Then Fi pulled herself together, saying: ‘Look at me going on about me as usual. How was the weekend of sex with the delicious Mr Bell?’

‘It was bloody brilliant until he told me that he loved me.’

‘What!’

‘I know. I mean, I’ve known him for seven bloody weeks and the
three little words
literally bolted out of his mouth. Oh, Fi. I don’t know what to do. He is just the perfect gentleman. I fancy the pants off him and I feel so safe with him - but it just feels far too soon to be getting so serious.’

‘Oh, Rubes. Michael is so sweet. And that must have been so hard for him. Why not say what you just said to me? You can take it slow, see what happens. At least you know with him he won’t take five fecking years to propose!’

‘That’s what Simon said. Take it slow.’

‘Who the feck is Simon? Don’t tell me, you’ve got another one on the go?’ Fi laughed and hiccupped at the same time.

‘More news I haven’t told you about,’ Ruby explained. ‘I’m volunteering for a charity at the church hall in Eustace Street. Goes by the name of the Bow Wow Club.’

‘Oh. What’s that then, a dog’s home or something?’

‘No, it’s short for Boyfriends of Widows, Wives of Widowers; it helps people who are seeing bereaved people learn how to cope with them and the problems losing somebody so close brings up.’ Ruby took a slurp of wine. ‘However, all sorts of waifs and strays turn up, even if they’ve just lost somebody and are feeling lonely.’

‘Aw, bless you Rubes, that’s so sweet.’

‘Talking of Simon, you’d love him. He’s a big black man with dyed orange cropped hair. He’s really funny and I can just tell he loves sex.’

‘Ooh, how divine.’

‘Only thing is, he’s so camp I don’t know if he’s gay or not; he seems to fancy men
and
women.’

‘Even better. That means he does just love sex.’

‘Fi! There’s you saying you think your boyfriend is behaving badly - listen to you.’

‘I just haven’t had it for a while, that’s all. And on that note, come on let’s drink up. I am feeling horny. James Kane is getting more than he bargained for when I go through that door.’

‘Just make sure the football’s over or you won’t stand a chance.’

They put their coats on to leave and Fi hugged Ruby tightly. ‘Go and see Michael. Just tell him how you feel. You like him, but want to take it slow as it’s scaring you a bit.’

Ruby walked up West Hill deep in thought. Could she imagine life without Michael in it? She loved his company and the feeling that being so close to him brought. She would be hard pushed to find anyone as decent. If she was really honest with herself, she was really scared of getting close to someone and losing them as well. But she would have to face that fear head on or she would end up sad and lonely, like poor Jimmy at the Bow Wow. Ten years on and still single.

OK, decision made. As soon as she got in she would arrange to meet Michael. They had to talk. So what, that he had said he loved her. Some women waited months for that moment. She should be happy that he cared that much.

She put the key in the door and rushed to the toilet, bursting; she really should have gone at the pub. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her face had filled out a bit now and she was pleased. Her brother was right, being a bony joany just didn’t suit her. She also liked her red hair longer. Losing her trademark bob was a good thing. Changes had to happen for her to move on.

She washed her hands and rinsed away the soap that had caught in her wedding ring. In doing so, the ring slipped up to the top of her finger.

Leaving the bathroom, she looked up at Patrick in all his black and white feline stuffed glory and put the ring gently in a lidded pot on the side.

‘Patrick, I think our Gorgeous George may have been looking down and found me a proper boyfriend. What do you reckon, old fella?’

– Chapter Thirty-Three –

Michael lit a cigarette. He hadn’t smoked since the day that he had found Emily shagging Justin.

He had been reliving the awful drive back from Devon with Ruby all week, and when he found a stray fag in the back of his messy drawer, he just had to have it.

‘Once a smoker, always a smoker’ his mother used to say to him. Ironic really that she had died of lung cancer and had never smoked a cigarette in her life.

He hung out of the kitchen window of his poky flat so as not to stink it out.

Feeling sick after his spur of the moment vice, he made a gagging noise with his throat and clicked open his laptop.

A Ring for Miss Ruby by Michael Bell

Chapter 20:
Why oh why hadn’t he kept his mouth shut? But that wasn’t him. He did wear his heart on his sleeve and at least she knew how he felt now. Bloody games! Why did people play games in relationships? And if she liked him as much as he felt that she did, why was it a problem? Maybe it was him not understanding enough about bereavement. He had felt at a loss when he split with Emily, but unlike in death he knew he could see her again if he really wanted to. But he did understand about bereavement. His mum dying had been the single most dreadful thing that had ever happened in his life. Thinking back to that time, he did remember the complete feelings of isolation and pain, knowing that he would never see her ever again.

He lived for the moment because who knew when their moment was going to end - and that’s why he was so impulsive. If people couldn’t handle that then it wasn’t his problem. If somebody loved you enough they would surely just take you how you were.

Yes, he loved Ruby but he couldn’t force her to love him. That was it, decision made. She obviously didn’t feel for him. He was just the rebound that is so common in any sort of split. The kindest thing for her and him would be to let her go. It was obviously too soon for her to recognise her true feelings.

If he set her free and she came back to him, then that would be it. Love would have won.

– Chapter Thirty-Four –

‘Wuby, Wuby, Wuby, Wuby,’ Tony Choi sang in his best Chinese version of the Kaiser Chiefs hit whilst patting the chair next to him in Piaf’s. Daphne du Mont came running out, put a big bright red ring of lipstick on Ruby’s cheek, then zoomed back behind the counter, as the queue lengthened.

‘I have ordered hot chocolate and cold cakes. We have time for some fun together, yes?’

‘We have until midday, so a good hour or so before I meet Michael.’

‘Good-oh. I love a Saturday - no work, just my friends and time for play.’

‘Talking of work, how is life in the sexual-health clinic these days?’

Ruby thought back to her twelve jobs in twelve months mission and the mirth that working with Tony had caused.

‘Still full of stinking kippers and warty wilberforces.’

Ruby snorted. ‘You are just hilarious, Tony Choi.’

‘Do you remember when George came in and you thought he had the crabs, and he was just strimming the grounds?’ Tony asked innocently. ‘I’ve never seen anyone shoot under a desk so fast. Ah, dear, poor George - we loved him, didn’t we?’

‘We did, Tony, but it’s time I started to move on.’

Norbert, Daphne’s very attractive German toy boy, brought over their drinks and cakes. He too kissed Ruby on the cheek and carried on with his business.

‘How is this new one, by the way?’ Tony added sugar to his coffee.

‘He’s great, as a matter of fact, and I need to be nicer to him. I’ve been fighting my feelings, but just need to let them roll, I think.’

‘Yes, you must. He sounds like a kind man, Wuby. Here, take this fortune cookie. Do not open it until later. I have a feeling you may need it.’

‘Tony, I do love you.’

‘See? You can say it to me.’

‘How did you know about that?’ Ruby screwed her face up.

‘With age comes wisdom, my little wed-headed friend.’

Ruby took a slurp of her hot chocolate and looked to the busy Covent Garden street. She suddenly let out a gasp. Tony grabbed her arm tightly.

‘Did you see what I just saw?’ she said.

‘Yes,’ Tony replied in a whisper.

Ruby got up, sped to the door and raced down the street. It was a Saturday morning in the busiest tourist spot in London, so she had no chance of finding him amongst the crowds.

Her face was red when she came back in and she was shaking. Daphne came running over and held her. ‘Ruby, darling, what is it?’

‘I just saw George.’

Tony’s face was white.

‘No, darling, of course you didn’t, just someone who looks like him. It’s quite common for that to happen. It was just someone who looked like him, darling, I promise.’

Ruby took a deep breath and composed herself.

‘That was awful. Tony, you saw him too, didn’t you?’

By now, Tony had regained his composure. Whoever it was did look very much like George – had been his complete Doppelganger, in fact, and it had also completely shaken him.

‘Yes, he d-did look like a bit like him,’ Tony spluttered. ‘But Daphne’s right, you just wanted it to be him.’

Ruby sat back down and fingered her glass of hot chocolate. She had identified him on that fateful day, for goodness sake. Kissed him on his beautiful cheek and said goodbye. When would this nightmare ever end?

Just as she started to cry, Michael walked in.

Tony stood up, saying tactfully, ‘Herro, Michael. I think she burned her mouth on the hot drink.’

The eccentric Chineseman kissed Ruby and shook Michael’s hand.

‘You don’t have to go - Tony, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, pleasure to meet you. I must go though. I have shopping to do.’ He waved at Daphne and Norbert on his way out, he too feeling slightly unsettled at what had just happened.

Michael felt nothing but love for the sweet, vulnerable girl in front of him. He crouched down next to her and hugged her tightly. But he had come here for a reason and he had to follow it through.

‘Is it George?’ he said really quietly into her left ear.

‘Yes. I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be sorry.’ Keeping his coat on, he sat down and held her hands across the table. He was shocked to see her wedding finger bare.

‘Your ring? You took it off.’ Michael bit his lip. ‘Why?’ He closed his eyes momentarily. Maybe he shouldn’t say what he was going to say.

‘Because it’s time I gave you a chance Michael, stopped being so silly. You love me. I would be foolish not to listen to my head for once.’

Michael felt sick. When did anyone ever make a love decision with their head? He couldn’t believe the words he was now hearing from Ruby, but he had to carry on for his own sanity.

‘But look at you, Ruby, your heart is still saying George and as much as I do care about you, I don’t think you are ready for this, not yet anyway. Why don’t you take a bit of time out for yourself?’

‘I don’t want to be on my own,’ Ruby replied quietly. ‘I’ve spent enough bloody time rattling around in that flat.’ She sniffed.

‘Oh Rubes.’ He lifted her left hand and kissed her now even more beautiful bare wedding finger. ‘Let’s just take time out, for both of us. My heart can’t take the will she/won’t she any more.’

‘Oh, Michael. I know that it must be so hard for you, but bear with me. I’ve had a big think and you are such a good man. Can’t we just take it slow and see what happens?’

Michael covered his face with both of his big hands as if doing that would make this dreadful situation go away. He felt his bottom lip starting to tremble. He took a deep breath and composed himself.

‘Please don’t do this to me, Rubes.’ He looked to the sky to stem the tears that were pricking his eyes. It had taken him so long to get to this decision, thinking it was completely the right one. And now here she was, this beautiful creature in front of him, deciding she wanted to make a real go of it.

He squeezed both her hands tightly. ‘No.’ He was very definite. ‘I’m going to go now, Ruby. All I want is for you to be happy, and I think this is the right decision for us both.’

He stood up and kissed her on the cheek.

‘Goodbye, darling.’

Turning the corner to the tube, he was glad of the rain to disguise the tears that had begun to gently fall down his cheeks.