The Bow Wow Club

by May, Nicola

  ‘I’m really pleased for you. You deserve happiness, you are such a good man.’

  ‘Really? Saying that, how’s Fi getting on?’

  ‘She’s good actually. You’ve made a big baby, is all I can say. You can imagine already what she’s saying about the birth.’

  ‘Ha, yeah. The poor midwives should be warned. The delivery-room air will be blue, that’s for sure. But honestly, is she OK with everything?’

  ‘Please don’t worry. James is oblivious, just completely excited about the whole thing. The decision made was the right one. They do love each other. You have done a wonderful thing for both of them.’

  ‘I do hope so. I will always here for her, make sure she knows that.’

  ‘She knows. She loves you.’

  ‘Do you think they will get married?’

  ‘I think so, but Fi will want to wait until after the baby comes, of course. It’ll be a massive knees-up in Ireland, I expect.’

  ‘I can’t tell you what a relief that is, Rubes. I don’t think I could have stood up and married them. Imagine it - I would be struck down then.’ And as the church-hall door was pushed open, he went on: ‘Here comes the happy crew.’

  ‘Jimmy, what are you doing here?’ Ruby questioned. ‘I thought it was your last session the other day?’

  ‘I’ve come to say goodbye properly. It was all a bit chaotic last time.’

  ‘Yes, with me shouting my mouth off, it was indeed. You look great, by the way.’

  Jimmy’s hair had been cut shorter to his head and he had lost more weight. He was wearing trendy jeans and a polo-shirt. Contact lenses enhanced his brown eyes and he was clean shaven. He looked years younger.

  ‘It’s all that bloody sex. Cali the insatiable, I call her. She’s not coming today, by the way; she sends her love though.’

  ‘Lucky you,’ Simon chipped in. ‘Ruby’s right, you look great, pal. And do you know what the best thing is?’

  ‘No more fuck, shit, bollocks? I know. I still do it when stressed. But Cali has literally shagged it out of me. I’m so happy.’

  ‘Well good to hear. You are indeed a case study we can use for future Bow Wowers.’

  ‘Anyway, here, before the others arrive and get jealous.’ Jimmy handed Ruby a large Clarins bag.

  ‘Jimmy! You so shouldn’t have.’

  ‘I so should. It’s from both of us. You’re an angel in disguise, Ruby Stevens. What you did for me… well, it has changed my life.’

  ‘Anyone could have done it.’

  ‘But they didn’t - you did.’

  Ruby felt tears pricking her eyes. It felt good to have helped somebody.

  ‘And here, for you, Reverend.’ Jimmy handed Simon a carrier bag. The tall vicar pulled out a bottle of vodka, a pot of Vaseline and a framed photo of Fanny the wonder dog.

  Jimmy winked at him. ‘We weren’t sure what to get you, but thought you’d appreciate at least one of these.’

  Simon hurriedly put it all back in the bag and smirked. ‘Wanker.’

  ‘From a man of the cloth too,’ Jimmy laughed.

  Ruby went to the back kitchen and filled Simon’s vodka mug. She helped herself to one too. She flicked the kettle on, and as she bent down to open the biscuit cupboard, she felt a hand cup her right bum cheek gently.

  ‘Hey, how you doing, sexy lady?’

  She turned around. ‘I’m good, thanks.’ The Fireman had replaced his usual T-shirt with a smart blue collared shirt. He looked extra hot and she felt a tingle in her nethers.

  ‘How are your knees?’ he asked her.

  ‘I look like I’ve fallen over in the playground.’

  ‘Ooh, I can just imagine you in a gym skirt and bunches.’

  ‘Nick Redwood!’

  ‘Come on, you lovely lot - let’s sit down, shall we?’ Simon summoned his disciples. ‘Right, firstly, for those of you who don’t know Jimmy, stand up please, Jim.’ Jimmy stood up and did a little bow. ‘This young man here is a volunteer who will be able to answer any of your questions and run some of the sessions when I can’t make them.’

  Ruby thought it felt weird with Cali and Ellie not here any more, but it was great they had moved on.

  Simon was on a roll. ‘Jim is one of our positive stories. He came in here very disturbed at the loss of his wife. He was a shadow of the man he is today.’

  Jimmy remained standing. ‘Yes, I was a bloody mess. I suffer from Tourettes, I didn’t care about my appearance. I smelled. How vile is that? But a lot of you may relate to that. You do lose the will sometimes. It’s hard. You think you will never be able to carry on a normal life without that person who meant so much to you. The whole “time is a healer” analogy is so well used - but that’s because it’s true.’

  He coughed and carried on. ‘And for those of you here who are dating widows and widowers, we so need you. You don’t think we do probably half the time. But please do bear with the person you are with, as I am proof there is light at the end of those long dark tunnels we all have to face.

  ‘Whilst I’m standing up, I want everyone to give Ruby, at the back of the room there, a big round of applause as she turned me from a tramplike useless piece of shit to the man I am in front of you today.’

  Everybody clapped. Ruby reddened. The applause subsided, but Jimmy didn’t.

  ‘I feel great, I’ve got a job I enjoy - and not only that, I met somebody here, yes weirdly, and I love her very much. Maybe Simon you should set up a Bow Wow Dating Club?’

  ‘Maybe later,’ Simon responded, secretly thinking he couldn’t imagine anything more horrendous. ‘And, thanks Jimmy, for sharing.’

  ‘Whilst we’re being so caring and sharing, can I say something too?’ Nick was usually so shy in a group.

  ‘Fire away! Hah! Get it? Fire away.’ Nobody laughed at Simon’s weak attempt at a joke.

  ‘I just want to say that Ruby deserves more than a round of applause.’

  ‘Oo er missus.’ Jimmy put his hand to his crotch.

  ‘Jimmy, please don’t lower the tone.’ Simon shook his head, whilst shielding a smile.

  Ruby raised her eyes to the ceiling. It was very flattering but also very embarrassing to have such a fan club.

  ‘She’s been here for all of us, in fact. I can’t tell you how she first helped me, but what she said just did it for me. I’m definitely moving forward with my life now.’

  Ruby felt she might cry. Nick behind his bravado was so such a soft, caring man. She took in how smart he looked tonight.

  The Fireman carried on: ‘Today I’ve decided is my last Bow Wow too. You are all great and Simon, man, you are an inspiration. I will miss you all, but it’s another step forward to feeling better.’

  ‘This door is always open, Nick. Even if you just want to pop in for a chat.’ Simon was sincere. ‘I’m really chuffed for you, mate. Well done.’

  ***

  Ruby called after Nick as he headed down the church path. They had been the last to say their goodbyes to Simon. She always carried a torch as it was so dark around the churchyard. Now, when Nick turned round, she held her torch under her chin to make her look zombie-like. He put on a faux terrified face.

  ‘What’s up, Rubes?’ he asked. ‘I thought we’d just said goodbye.’

  ‘You know you said you would miss us all?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘Well, I just wanted to say, I really will miss you, Nick.’

  ‘Ruby, I work just down the road from your house. I live less than a mile from you. We are going to stay mates. Aren’t we?’

  ‘I… er…’

  ‘Let me capture this moment on film.’ Nick laughed. ‘A tongue-tied Ruby Stevens. How very rare.’

  She pushed him with affection in the ribs. ‘Look, I’m going to my holiday home in the Lake District tomorrow morning. Just need a bit of time out from the real world. I know you mentioned you’ve got a week off and I just wondered if you wanted to maybe come up too?’ She paused. ‘As friends, of course.’
<
br />   ‘Of course.’ Nick pushed his tongue into the side of his cheek.

  ‘Nick! You don’t have to, it’s fine. My mate Fi, who you met at the pub a while back and her boyfriend James are already up there, so I would fully understand if you didn’t.’

  He took her hand, lifted it to his face and kissed it. ‘Sorry, Ruby, I’m just joking with you. I’d bloody love to come. I could do with a change of scenery too, so it’s perfect timing.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Really. I was just going to do some DIY in the flat, that can wait. So what’s the plan?’

  ‘I was going to get the train up sometime tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Sod the train, Rubes, I’ll drive. I’ve got an old campervan, another hobby in itself. It’ll be fun.’

  ‘If you’re sure, that would be amazing. It’s so just so beautiful up there, we can be proper tourists. I’ll show you all the good bits and what fun in a camper.’

  ‘Well, that’s a date. I’ll pick you up at midday tomorrow from yours.’

  Ruby kissed him on the cheek. ‘Perfect. How exciting. I do love an adventure and you will just adore Daffodils, I know it.’

  Nick walked back to his flat with a big smile on his face. He looked to the sky and spoke under his breath. ‘Milly. My darling Milly. I hope you’re not cross, but she has got such a good heart, that I just know it will help heal mine.’

  ***

  Ruby awoke with a feeling she hadn’t had for a while. The feeling of excitement.

  She was up to date with her dressmaking and could spend a few guilt-free days with the lovely Nick at Daffodils; one of her very favourite places. The garden needed a good sort-out and a burly fireman would be able to help her.

  At noon on the dot, Nick drew up outside the flat, smiling and waving as he got out of his old beige-coloured camper can and slid open the side door quickly to avoid the heavy rain that had just started falling.

  Ruby laughed to herself as she loved campervans and knew it would be great fun. She also noted how handsome her travelling companion was. Then she took a deep breath as she thought of the last time she had packed for a trip.

  Dittisham had been so special and Michael had made such an effort. The Devonshire village had become a close second-favourite place to her beloved Lakes, and she suddenly felt sad that she hadn’t been able to work it out with the lovely author. But he so obviously had made his choice with Emily or he would have come back to her by now. She must have been right that he didn’t love her, that it had all been too soon for him and he hadn’t got over his ex like he thought he had.

  Maybe she was being rash inviting Nick to Daffodils, but there was no need to rush things. The Fireman was at least a very good friend, and if things developed so be it. She would just keep a clear head and see what happened. It would be nice to have him around, especially as Fi and James had rekindled their love and were constantly fawning over each other at the moment.

  ‘Ready, girl?’ Nick looked over to Ruby in the passenger seat and grinned.

  ‘Ah, I need to do one thing first.’ She reached into her handbag for her phone. ‘Turn this bloody thing off. I’ve changed the answerphone, so clients know when I’m back. Mum and Sam know where I am, and Fi and James are expecting us early evening, so all is good. Peace at last.’

  ‘What a fantastic plan. I will do the same. And Ruby?’

  ‘Aha?’ Ruby had half an eye on her phone.

  ‘Thanks for inviting me. I know Daffodils is a special place, or should I say was a special place for you… and George.’

  ‘Well, it’s good it’s being filled with special people again then, isn’t it?’

  Nick stuck his bottom lip out and felt warm inside. They pulled away and Ruby caught sight of Margaret waving wildly under a torn red umbrella.

  ‘Pull over a sec, Nick.’ Ruby wound down her window.

  ‘I didn’t know you had a handsome chauffeur to take you up there, duck,’ cackled her neighbour.

  ‘You know me, Margaret, a toy boy in every port.’

  ‘Well, have a good time anyway, love. You… and the chauffeur.’ The old girl winked discreetly at her young neighbour.

  Ruby shook her head. ‘You’ve gotta love her.’

  ‘She seems like a wise old bird.’

  ‘Wise, all right. She’s taught me a lot, I can tell you.’

  Nick tooted, turned up The Vaccines on the radio and sped off. Intent on their chatter, neither of them noticed his beloved campervan splashing a tall, bespectacled man walking up the road with his black Labrador.

  – Chapter Seventy-One –

  Michael had got in from his run, sweaty, tired but hopeful. He thought back to what Cali had said. ‘You have to try and gently fill the holes in their hearts that were blown open by grief.’

  He had tried but obviously not hard enough. His last text from Ruby had been that she missed him and wanted to meet, but then she had disappeared off the face of the earth. Maybe her phone was broken? Each time he had tried to call her, it was as if she was cutting him off. He didn’t text her as he couldn’t bear the thought of her not replying. He would just have to try and catch her at her house again.

  However, he was hesitant about doing this because of what happened last time. Women! If only he could work them out. Maybe she had been drunk when she had said she missed him. Was she still with the husband look-a-like? Quite frankly, the whole business was driving him mad. But something was stopping him from giving up, and that something was so obviously love.

  Barney barked. ‘I know, boy, you’re hungry. Let me sort you out.’

  Michael lit a cigarette as he reached for a tin of dog food, and then stubbed it out immediately. What was he thinking? He didn’t need to smoke. He’d just been for a run, for goodness sake. Screwing up the packet, he put his foot on the bin pedal. He then got the packet back out of the bin and poured water on it. There was no way he could retrieve them now. As he grabbed a fork from the drawer, he suddenly thought of Ruby and the amazing sex they had had down in the cottage in Dittisham. She loved it when he was all sweaty. Oh, how he fancied the arse off of that girl. He started to feel the usual heating up in his groin - not a good look in running shorts. Good job he was in the privacy of his own home. As soon as the bowl of food was on the floor, Barney began to wolf it down noisily.

  Michael clicked open his laptop. Emily, the bitch, was going to get it in more ways than one. It had really thrown him seeing her. He couldn’t deny she looked great, but beauty with her was definitely skin deep. She was an ugly person and he was actually quite glad that his mate had instigated his getting away from her. He wasn’t sure if he could even write about having sex with her any more, but he would try.

  Let Love Win by Michael Bell

  Chapter 27: Emily sauntered into the bedroom in just a sexy pink underwear set and a pair of black four-inch stilettos. Michael didn’t even look up, he was so intent on finishing the chapter he was writing.

  She bent over the bed and pulled her panties to the side with her fingers. ‘Fuck me from behind - and now.’

  ‘But your tummy - it might hurt you or the baby.’

  ‘Oh, Michael, just do it, will you. I want your cock in me good and hard.’

  Despite the raunchiness of it all, Michael still had to think of Ruby to get an erection. Emily had turned into some sort of sexual deviant since being pregnant, and although he couldn’t complain, it just made him want Ruby all the more. He had a connection with the fun red-head. The only connection he had with Emily was the baby growing within her.

  Fantasising about Ruby coming into the room, pulling him off of Emily, then sitting astride him as Emily masturbated on the bed next to them made him come really quickly.

  ‘Oh, darling was that it?’

  ‘Emily, I’m writing.’

  ‘This bloody book better be a bestseller, is all I can say.’ She harrumphed and stormed to the bathroom to shower.

  ‘Bloody hell, every time,’ Michael said aloud as h
is hard-on throbbed through his running shorts. He vowed he would write a thriller next time. It would save him wasting so much writing time on masturbation!

  Once he’d cleaned himself up, he sat back at his writing desk. What should he do with Emily? Should they go through with having the baby? It was too late for her to lose it. He couldn’t put a woman through that. Maybe it could turn out it wasn’t his. Brilliant! She could have been seeing someone else all along but they were married too… Hmm. It was too early in the book though, he was only on Chapter 27. No. He would keep on having inane sex with her and carry on seeing Ruby – that would be more exciting for the reader. But then again, what about poor Ruby? It wasn’t fair on her that he was with another woman. He would never do that to her in real life. He cared for her way too much. And the readers might begin to hate his Michael character.

  He groaned and pushed his glasses up on to his head. Now what was he going to do with the real Ruby? It was so difficult. She obviously wasn’t interested any more as she would have followed up on that text and not completely bloody ignored it. Sod it, he would call her right now. Damn - her phone was off again! He hoped that she was all right. He showered quickly and grabbed Barney’s lead.

  ‘Come on, boy, we’re off out for walkies again. I need to know what the hell is going on.’

  ***

  ‘You twat!’ Michael cursed as a campervan sped past him as he was rounding the corner to Amerhand Road, soaking both him and Barney.

  He took a deep breath as he knocked on Ruby’s door. He felt excited and scared at the same time. Suddenly Margaret appeared out of nowhere, sporting a broken red umbrella.

  ‘Oh, hello. Michael, isn’t it?’

  Michael smiled. You couldn’t beat a nosy neighbour; thanks to them, at least you always knew what was going on.

  ‘Yes, hello Margaret, how are you today?’

  ‘Bloody sick of this rain, I know that.’

  ‘In June too, you’d think it would be sunny.’ Why did old people always talk about the weather? Michael thought back to his 1 May deadline. That was how long he had been going to wait for Ruby. Well, the deadline was way past and he was still hanging in there. The time had just flown!