“Just do it or you’ll ruin the surprise.” Ruby squeezed her eyes shut, screwing up her face, and satisfied, the lights turning green, Steve drove on. “Keep them shut. No peeking.”
“How long do I have to keep them closed for? I’m feeling queasy.”
“You are not. You just hate surprises.”
“I don’t hate surprises. I’m just impatient.”
Steve pulled into the driveway of their old family home. “You can open them now.”
He watched Ruby as she open her eyes, and saw them widen. She raised her hands to cover her mouth that gaped open. He grinned.
“Wow,” Ruby said, staring at the renovated building. Fresh paint and a landscaped garden made all the difference.
“Come and see inside.” Steve ran up to the front door, unlocked it and they walked inside. It still smelt of paint and polished wood floors.
“You got all the furniture out of storage?” Ruby rubbed a finger along the bureau in the hallway. She wouldn’t find dust. Steve had had the place cleaned from top to bottom. All the furniture was polished, and had been restored where needed. Ruby wandered from one room to the other. Her eyes glistened. Steve had a lump in his throat. It brought back wonderful family memories, and some cheerless ones, like losing Dad. But these memories made a person, happy or sad. When he needed that sorts of feeling in his acting, he always thought of his father. Channelled the emotion of his death, the funeral, to bring to life what he needed on the screen. And that way, he’d always remember his father, too, keeping his memory fresh.
“I’ll make us some tea, then you can see upstairs.” He’d kept the kitchen well-stocked; it helped the builders and decorators to work better if he provided tea and biscuits.
“When did you get all this done?” Ruby took a chair at the kitchen table, while Steve boiled the kettle.
“Well, it started the day I was locked out of your house, and Daphne put the idea into my head. I haven’t really done anything, just made a few calls.”
“Steve, what if the press find out you’re here?”
“Don’t worry about it. The contractors were none the wiser.”
“I do worry about it. Terry showing up has me rattled.”
“I can’t believe you dated a journalist. Were you mad?” Steve remembered, Lydia had let slip he was an ex-boyfriend.
“I didn’t know at the time. The bastard lied to me, to get information about you.”
“Oh.” He placed his hand on her shoulder, and gave her a reassuring squeeze. “Sorry.”
“Mum knew about it. And helped me pick up the pieces. I’m over it.”
Steve sat at the table and handed Ruby a mug of tea. “If he knew anything, I think we would have seen trouble by now. He’s bought the story I’m sunning myself in the Caribbean with a new woman, so don’t worry about it. Biscuit?” he said, opening a tin.
“I suppose you’re right.” She delved in and pulled out a chocolate bourbon. “Wow, you really were keeping the contractors sweet.” Steve devoured a digestive in two bites. “So, now the house is done up, are you going to sell it?”
“No! Of course not.”
“So what are you going to do with it?”
“I want you to live in it, Ruby.”
“What?”
“Okay, you don’t need to keep all the furniture, if you don’t like it. I know some of it is old fashioned. It was Mum and Dad’s, and none of it is really antique, but I thought, the only way to tell if you like it or not was to put it back. I know the colour isn’t exciting, but I got the decorators to paint the rooms neutral colours, so you’ve got a blank canvas.”
“Wait, hold up!” Ruby held up her hands to stop him. “I don’t want to move back to this house.”
“Why not?”
“Too many memories.”
“Good memories.”
“Steve, this house is far too big for just me to rattle around in. Without Mum, I started to hate it.”
“You won’t hate it when you’ve got a family of your own. Mum would have wanted you in this house.”
Ruby snorted in disbelief. “I’ve got to find somebody first.”
“You will. Lydia seems to think Brett likes you.”
“She does?” Ruby blushed, staring into her mug of tea. “I think he’s just being nice.”
“Look, promise me you’ll think about it. Let me show you the garden.” He grabbed her hand and they made their way to the back door.
Donning their hats and gloves, Steve showed Ruby around the back garden. The trees and shrubs had been pruned, flowerbeds dug over, winter pansies, cyclamens and primroses planted out. Daffodils, tulips and hyacinths would appear in the spring, to surprise her further. Even with the sun shining, the air was crisp and as they talked, mist appeared from their mouths like speech bubbles in a cartoon.
“Sometimes, I do wonder why you disappeared, Steve.”
“I didn’t disappear.” Steve frowned, shoving his hands into his coat pockets. They stood under the sycamore tree at the end of their garden. Steve had made the gardener cut it right back; it had grown too large for the garden. When Steve had been a boy, he used to climb it. Struck by lightning, it had split a large branch off, perfect for climbing and making a den. “I had to knuckle down if I was going to make it. Mum understood.”
“Yeah, I know. But I wondered if I’d done something, being much younger – were you jealous of me?”
“Hey, no, far from it. I loved being your big brother.” He wrapped an affectionate arm around Ruby. “And Mum had tried to have a smaller age gap. She’d miscarried twice before you. Almost thought Mum and Dad had given up – not that back then I knew what they had to do to get me a brother or a sister.” He laughed.
“She had told me about the miscarriages.” Ruby’s cheeks and nose were pink with the cold.
“And then, finally, she got her little girl,” Steve said, tugging her rosy cheek as well as he could in his gloved hand. “Her wish granted.”
“And then five years later Dad died.”
“She had to cope; she had two kids she wasn’t going to let down. It was hard at first, but luckily I was thirteen and able to help out.”
“But then you took flight.”
“Ruby, I knew you were about the age I was when Dad died. I knew you’d both manage without me. You’d flourish. And I was twenty, wanting to follow my dream, and regain some freedom. I could see I no longer needed to be the big supporting brother. Mum realised that too.” He wasn’t sure he could admit that at twenty, with the world ahead of him, wanting to follow his dream took a more selfish approach. He’d outgrown his twelve-year-old sister.
“I do sometimes wonder if Dad be would be alive now…you know, if it hadn’t been for the car accident.”
“He’d be sixty-five, drawing his pension.”
“But he smoked heavily back then, didn’t he?” Ruby asked and Steve nodded. “Cigarettes could have killed him too. But at least I’d have better memories of him. I play the same ones over and over in my mind, sometimes, worrying I’m going to forget what he looks like. I look at photos of him, old black and whites, him looking like you do now, but I can’t see it in my mind.”
“I feel the same about Mum. At least you had the last fourteen years with her. I missed those.”
“Bringing me back to this house wasn’t supposed to turn us miserable, was it?”
“No.” Steve chuckled. “Come on, let’s get this Christmas tree and decide where we’re going to put it.”
“Here?”
“Yeah, why not? Come on, Ruby? I would really love to spend Christmas here. It would mean a lot to me.”
“I suppose if you want Lydia over, my little house is a bit small to entertain friends. But won’t she find it strange?”
“How do you mean?”
“Well, how did we afford to get this done up? You’re not supposed to be splashing your money around.”
“They don’t know how much work needed doing. Don’t worry abo
ut it. Let’s spend Christmas at home, Ruby.”
***
Friday 6th December
Before Steve knew it, another week had passed and he felt ready for another weekend to begin, understanding that Friday feeling. He had just over two weeks until Christmas.
Lydia had already left the reception desk, finishing slightly earlier than him. Tonight they were going to her sister’s to babysit.
Was tonight the night? He really wasn’t sure how fast to move. But considering Christmas was around the corner he needed to act fast, or faster, and things were hotting up between the two of them. They both yearned for an intimacy they couldn’t perform in public. He craved to feel her naked, soft body against his, wanting to explore her every curve…
Obviously, he wouldn’t be able to do anything while they were babysitting Lydia’s nieces. But what about after?
Brett entered the locker room, and started to change. Steve threw on his coat. Now, if Brett was to take Ruby out, then the house might be free.
“Hey, Brett, um…” Steve wondered if this was a good idea. But sometimes a guy needed pointing in the right direction. “I’m out with Lydia tonight, so Ruby’s home alone. Maybe you could, you know, take her out or something…it’s Friday night after all?”
Brett instantly glanced at the floor, then frowned at Steve, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Do you think she’d like that?”
“Yeah, why not? You two seem to be getting along, right?”
“I think so. Just we work together, I wasn’t sure if she was really interested or not.”
“You like her, don’t you?”
Brett hesitantly nodded, maybe wary of the big brother approval.
Steve nudged Brett. “You won’t know, pal, until you ask. And take it from me; a girl prefers to be asked.” The fact Lydia asked you first is neither here nor there. “And if I know Ruby, she’ll be too bloody stubborn to actually ask you.”
“Yeah, that’s true.” Brett laughed. “Okay, there’s a new film out she mentioned wanting to see. I’ll ask her out.”
“Good luck.” Steve winked and walked away without a backward glance, smiling to himself, his job done.
***
Tucked away in her office, away from the hubbub of reception, Ruby rubbed her eyes gingerly, remembering she had mascara on and not wanting panda eyes before leaving work.
She felt content that Steve and Lydia were out again tonight, and that her brother might have found his happiness, and her plan may have worked. Then with the crunch of reality, Ruby leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. There was so much paperwork to be finished and sometimes not enough hours in the day to do it. Bloody useless meetings with area managers and suppliers this morning had written off half of her day. Did she stay and finish it, or leave it for Monday? She had a weekend off, so she should enjoy it. Steve would be out. She could make the most of the house to herself. Although she loved having him home, she enjoyed the quietness of living on her own without having to listen to him moaning about the TV being on because he wanted to read through his script. She could watch whatever she liked – not the football. She liked EastEnders.
She spied Brett heading towards her office, uniform off, and coat on, about to go home. She combed a nervous hand through her hair, to make sure it was smooth. Quickly, she opened her drawer, where she knew a small compact mirror was to hand and subtly checked her make-up.
God, she was an idiot. What had got into her?
“Hey, Ruby,” Brett said, resting against the doorjamb, “okay if I come in?”
“Yeah, sure, take a seat.” Oh hell, did that remind him she was his boss? She hated that she was his boss. She wanted them to be on equal terms.
Her heart hammered inside her chest and all of a sudden her office became very hot.
Then her telephone rang, and she gave a nervous apologetic smile, and Brett nodded his acceptance she had to pick up the phone.
She hesitated, then said, “Ruby-uh-Fisher speaking.” Argh! She’d forgotten how to answer the phone with Brett sitting in front of her.
“Ruby, one last chance. Let me take you out.” Terence. Her blood boiled.
“Terry…”
As she said his name, Brett stood, mumbling, “You’re busy, I’ll leave you…”
She cupped her hand over the mouthpiece. “No, no, wait, please.” Then she spoke more firmly down the phone. “Terry, I’m not interested in anything you have to say. Goodbye.” She put the phone down, with relief. “Sorry about that.”
“He doesn’t want to leave you alone.”
“He can’t take no for an answer…” She could hardly tell Brett why Terry was really pestering her. “So, anyway, you came to see me, what can I help you with?” Ruby tried to look and act as relaxed as possible. It wasn’t working.
“It’s not about work…I wondered if you wanted to catch that film tonight. We could go for a bite to eat first.”
Was he asking her out…on a date? Or was this just friends? “Um…is anyone else going?” Had Terry addled her brain?
The corners of his mouth twitched, as if trying to hold in a smile. “No,” he said, with a hint of friendly sarcasm. “But I can invite them if it would make you feel more comfortable.”
Ruby quickly shook her head. “No, no, no!” She didn’t want sodding Alice or Callum ruining this. “I’d love to. Of course. Yes.” The paperwork could definitely wait. Terry was history. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Brett, silly fantasies in her head, since they’d shared a taxi home. And since then, whenever in his presence, she’d dry up and act so shyly around him, burying herself in her work.
Ruby Fisher, shy? Never. But apparently so in the presence of the man she fancied.
Fancied?
The only conversation she could drum up was work related whilst in the office. This would be a good opportunity to get to know him. He was asking her out! She’d make sure she got a glass of wine down her, and that would drown the nerves, and her shyness.
He grinned, and his whole demeanour relaxed, as if relieved. “I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty?”
“Perfect.”
“I’ll book the tickets, then we won’t have to queue and it will give us more time to eat.”
“I look forward to it.”
“See you later,” he said, then strolled out of her office. Ruby thought she heard him mutter a ‘yes!’
Ruby sat dead still for a moment, recovering, taking a deep breath, hoping to regulate her breathing. Her heart, still pumping blood around her body faster than was probably normal, slowed and her office cooled. Then, frantically, she finished what she’d been doing, organising her paperwork, tidying her desk and putting the unwanted papers into her tray. You never know, she thought, Pete, her ever useful assistant manager might deal with some of it for a change. Or pigs might fly. She’d be more than likely dealing with it next week, but she didn’t care as excitement bubbled inside her.
Grabbing her handbag, she dashed out of her office. She was getting out of here. She had a date. Serious amounts of maintenance on making herself look wonderful was required. Shave legs, new polish for toenails…the list was endless. Oh, God, and what should she wear?
As Ruby drove out of the hotel grounds, her worries about what dress to wear were forgotten. Alice had walked out the front of the hotel and was getting into a sleek, silver car. Ordinarily, Ruby wouldn’t have a problem with this, only the driver of the showy car had been on the phone to her only ten minutes ago.
Terence.
Chapter 20
Steve’s head might be working out whether Lydia wanted the same things as he did, but his heart was already falling. They’d put on a DVD - The Avengers – but didn’t watch much of it. Not even the Iron Man Robert Downey Jr or the muscular Chris Evans in his Captain America Lycra suit could distract Lydia. The cuddling led to kissing, but he was conscious they were babysitting her nieces and if Rosie or Olivia did venture down, they shouldn’t see anything inappropri
ate.
He had a very good relationship with Lydia’s nieces. He wanted to keep it that way.
“Do you want this?” Lydia asked.
“This?” Steve frowned. “Kissing you, yes, I want.” He kissed her again, wanting his tongue to find hers, but she pushed him away playfully.
“No, silly,” she giggled. “You know, cosy nights in front of the telly, kids upstairs asleep. Do you want it, too?”
“Oh,” Steve said, sarcastically, as if cottoning on, making Lydia giggle more. When her expression sobered, anxiety etching into a frown, he quickly reassured her. “Absolutely. Why’d you ask?” Lydia had confirmed it herself, she wanted the same things in life as him. Another tick in the box, Steve thought, trying to refrain from smiling too much. Sometimes he felt like Dick Dastardly rather than Superman the way he was executing his plan – well, Ruby’s plan – and Lydia was doing exactly what he wanted; falling for him. Falling in love never seemed so easy.
“Oh, well, maybe I’m too practical for my own good, but I don’t see the point in being in a relationship if we’re going off in opposite directions. And I like you, Stuart, a lot.” She nervously chewed her bottom lip. Steve wanted to kiss her, but resisted, pulling her closer. She touched his face, gently stroking his temple. “And I wanted to make sure we both sought the same things, before it was too late…and one of us got hurt.”
“Lydia, I like you a lot too, and I hope we can have this,” he gestured to the comfy sofa, the lounge full of family portraits, “together, too.”
But could he provide it? His life would not be as private as ordinary Stuart’s. Lydia was private, even shy, until she learnt to open up and trust. Would she accept life in the Hollywood fast lane?
“Wow, most blokes would get freaked out so early on discussing something so heavy.” She sighed with pleasure, snaking her hands around his neck, pulling him towards her for a reward, a kiss. His words had obviously pleased her.
Stroking her hair as he released from the kiss, he said, “I’m not most blokes. Believe it or not, however strange this may sound, I’m looking for the perfect – no not perfect,” he shook his head, screwing up his face, “the right woman to settle down with, for the rest of my life.”
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