The Bow Wow Club

by May, Nicola

  ‘She’s not here, duck. And look at you, you’re soaked through. Why don’t you come in and get yourself warm and dry?’

  Barney shook himself, making Michael even wetter.

  ‘Well, if it’s not too much trouble.’

  ‘Of course not. Bert is snoring as usual. I’ll be glad of the company.’

  Margaret lit her old gas fire and gave Michael a towel to get the worst of the wet off of him. She went to the kitchen and returned with a tray laden with a metal tea pot, three china cups and saucers, a plate of custard creams & two schooners of sherry.

  ‘Ruby’s favourites.’

  ‘What, the sherry?’ Michael laughed.

  ‘She’d kill me telling you, but she does love a sherry too, actually. You don’t have to have one if you don’t want to, but I thought it would warm you through.’

  Michael drained his glass in one go and screwed up his face. ‘Blimey, that’s sweet.’

  He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. They felt sore from too much writing. He put them into their case and placed it on the tray.

  ‘I thought you might be partial to sweet things, what with courting our Ruby.’ Margaret also downed her sherry, then poured herself another. ‘Well it is Saturday.’ She bent over to put the bottle on the floor next to her and farted without even noticing. Michael decided to ignore this, despite even Barney wincing at the smell. The black Labrador let out a little whimper then flopped in front of the fire.

  ‘Courting is not quite the word.’

  ‘Oh, well she speaks highly of you, young Michael.’

  ‘Does she? Really?’

  ‘Yes. She was shaken to the core when our George was taken, but you put a smile back on that pretty face of hers.’

  ‘Not a big enough one, obviously.’

  Margaret, ever the matchmaker when she knew it was right, was aware that she couldn’t divulge too much information.

  ‘You just need to talk to her.’

  ‘I’ve been trying. But her phone is either off or it cuts off.’

  Margaret didn’t dare say that she knew she had been hanging up on him since she had caught him with Emily. But, as he had the dog with him, she guessed that Ruby might be right.

  ‘So… single at the moment are you, Michael?’

  ‘Yes, yes, I am.’

  ‘I didn’t know you had a dog? Ruby never said.’

  ‘She wouldn’t have. I only just got him. Ooh, listen to that rain.’ Michael didn’t want to get into the Emily conversation with someone like Margaret, as he was sure, especially now she was on the sherry, she would get the wrong end of the stick and not relay it properly to Ruby.

  However, he had to ask the question that had been on the tip of his tongue since he had arrived.

  ‘So… um… do you know where she is? Ruby, I mean.’

  ‘Gone to her place in the Lakes. The poor girl has been working so hard and what with her volunteering too, needed a break. She hasn’t had a holiday all year. Well, apart from a couple of days in Devon with you, that is.’ Michael was quite taken aback at how much Ruby did tell Margaret.

  ‘That’s great. She loves it up there. You’re right - some time away will do her good.’

  Margaret didn’t think he’d be saying that if he knew she’d gone with The Fireman.

  ‘So… er… do you know who she’s gone with?’

  ‘Oh, some old friends of hers, that’s all,’ Margaret blustered. ‘Another sherry, duck?’

  ‘No thanks, the tea’s just fine.’ Michael reached for a biscuit. He didn’t dare ask what friends, it made him sound like a stalker. He was annoyed that she hadn’t spilled some names, but Ruby was right, she was a wise old bird.

  Michael finished his tea as Margaret poured yet another sherry. Bert and Barney snored in unison. The old girl then dropped off too, but shook herself awake after a few minutes.

  ‘Sometimes,’ she said drowsily, ‘a letter works the best out of anything.

  There’s some paper and a pen in the bureau.’ She pointed to the antique in the corner. ‘Now there’s no time like the present. If you write to her, I will make sure she gets it, I promise. She’s turned her phone off, you see. I know that much. Said she wanted some peace.’

  With that, the old girl promptly fell back to sleep.

  Michael had to laugh. Here he was in a nigh-on stranger’s house, surrounded by three snorers, whilst the woman he loved was away with goodness knows who. At least he had an explanation re. her phone this time round.

  A resounding clap of thunder caused Barney to stir slightly. Michael stroked his ears gently. ‘It’s all right, Barn.’

  Well, sod it. There was no point trekking home in this foul weather and he didn’t have spare cash for a cab. He looked at the blank page. For a second, he had a vision of Emily on his shoulder sneering, ‘Hah, call yourself a writer.’ He was a writer and write he would.

  He scribbled the black biro on the inside of his hand to get it to work and then lifted his head to the ceiling in thought.

  Dear Ruby…

  – Chapter Seventy-Two –

  ‘You two took your time,’ Fi shouted from the chaise longue in the luxurious sitting room of Daffodils.

  ‘Have you seen the weather?’ Ruby replied. ‘And Nick’s van only goes sixty miles an hour downhill.’

  ‘A van, you say?’

  ‘It’s a campervan, you snobby cow,’ Ruby shouted from the kitchen.

  ‘Here.’ James handed Ruby a glass of wine and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Have this and stop abusing my lover.’ He shook Nick’s hand. ‘Nice to meet you, mate. Beer?’

  ‘Great, thanks.’

  Ruby went in to see Fi.

  ‘Can’t believe it’s bloody June,’ she grumbled. ‘This weather is awful.’ Then she looked at Fi’s stomach. ‘Blimey! You’re huge.’

  ‘Tell me about it.’ She went to a whisper. ‘Not even four months and I’m already like a baby elephant. Mind you, I am eating my way through a tub of pecan ice cream a day. I quite like the fact I can eat what I want when I want.’

  ‘Well, don’t go too mad. You know how much you hate exercise and it will all have to come off.’

  ‘Oh, Rubes, don’t go all sensible on me now, will you. We are having sex again, actually at it like rabbits, thank goodness. So I will burn it off later.’

  ‘I’ll make sure I take the twin bedroom up the other end of the landing then?’

  Fi kept to a whisper. ‘Twin, yeah right!’ She smirked. ‘Don’t tell me there’s no hose action on the cards then?’

  ‘There’s not.’

  ‘Why not? He’s well cute.’

  ‘I just want to do something properly for once - you know, get to know him.’ Ruby also couldn’t bear to sleep in a double bed where she had made such passionate love with George on countless occasions either.

  ‘You wait, another couple of wines and you’ll be rubbing The Fireman’s shiny helmet.’

  ‘You’re so wrong and so damn coarse.’

  ‘No, I’m oh so right, my little ginger minger.’ Fi stretched out on the chaise. ‘I bloody love it here.’

  ‘So do I. It’s just so calming, isn’t it. I can feel Lucas around us as well. Camping it up, wafting house spray around and pouring the largest brandies you’ve ever seen. I so wish I’d known him for longer.’ Ruby suddenly went quiet. ‘Why do people have to die too soon, Fi?’

  ‘My mam says it’s because they are too good for this world, and I believe that. George didn’t have a bad bone, did he? Life isn’t fair. How you feeling now, anyway?’

  ‘I’m so much better actually. I was just thinking the other day that without fail, every single day I would wake up and the first thing I would think of was him not being here any more. But now I don’t. I think about my day ahead. And it’s just certain things that trigger my memories of him.’

  ‘I guess that will happen forever.’ Fi started munching gherkins from the bowl on the side table.

  At that moment, Ja
mes appeared and stoked up the fire. Nick plonked himself down on the sofa next to Ruby.

  ‘You should be doing this mate,’ James laughed.

  ‘Ha ha. No, thanks. Can’t believe you had to light it. On the upside, it’s supposed to cheer up tomorrow, so maybe we could go to Derwentwater like you suggested, Rubes? I quite fancy a walk.’

  ‘Yeah, sounds good. You up for it, you two?’ Ruby looked to Fi.

  ‘I’ll see how I feel,’ she said. ‘Just walking around the village may be enough for me, to be honest. Millbeck is so pretty and I’m not up for a big hike with Bump on board.’

  James walked over to her, knelt down and rubbed her tummy.

  ‘Aw. It’s so exciting. I cannot wait for us to be parents.’

  ‘I just can’t imagine Fi changing nappies and doing night feeds. You wait, she’ll have two bottles made up, one full of red wine for her and the other with milk for the baby.’

  ‘Not funny, Rubes. I will be the perfect earth mother, you wait and see.’

  ‘I’m sending her back to work and being a house husband.’

  ‘Hmm. I hadn’t thought of that. Nah. I need a break.’

  Nick piped up. ‘A break? That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. Coping with a young baby will be the hardest thing you’ve ever done in your life.’

  ‘Look at the guru over there.’ Ruby grimaced at her friend’s words. She hadn’t told Fi about Nick’s tragic life story. She jumped up quickly, put her hand out to him and directed him back to the kitchen.

  ‘Come on, Fireman Redwood, let’s unpack.’

  When they were out of earshot, she squeezed his arm. ‘Sorry about that - they don’t know what happened.’

  ‘Rubes, it’s fine. You are so sweet. But seeing Fi pregnant does bring back so many memories.’

  ‘I bet it does. Just being here holds a lot for me too.’

  ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have come.’

  ‘Don’t be silly. I really wanted you to.’ Ruby went to him, put her hands on his cheeks and brushed his lips with hers. ‘It will be good to get to know each other outside of the bloody Bow Wow.’

  ‘That place, such a laugh in a way. I mean Simon, love him to death, but what is he all about?’

  Ruby chuckled. ‘Oh, he’s just one of life’s eccentrics. And the world would be a worse place without them. A bit like Lucas, who left me this house.’

  ‘Indeed, but let’s look forward now, eh? Onwards and upwards for us both, Miss Designer Pants.’

  ‘Miss Designer Pants?’

  ‘No worse than you calling me The ruddy Fireman!’

  ‘Oops.’

  ‘Yes, oops,’ Nick teased her. ‘Right - come on, now it’s stopped raining, let’s get those bags in.’

  – Chapter Seventy-Three –

  Dear Ruby

  I am bizarrely sitting in Margaret’s front room writing this. She is snoring, Bert is snoring and my reacquired dog Barney is snoring too.

  I, however, am thinking. Thinking about you. I don’t want to make this a massive essay, because in short my feelings haven’t changed from the day I met you.

  You were so sad and distraught at losing your precious wedding ring, but I knew from that moment, looking at your beautiful pale face and into your moist green eyes that I wanted to sweep you off of your feet and protect you forever.

  I love you, Ruby Stevens. I cannot get you out of my head. I’ve tried, oh how I’ve tried. I think sometimes I wish I had never met you, as never before has someone affected me like you have. Every waking moment it is you on my mind. Silly things I think about daily. Like the way you bite your thumbnails when you’re anxious or throw your head back and laugh in that infectious way. The little squeaking noise you make as you are about to come. There is nothing about you that I don’t like. Well, apart from the stupid piece of you that doesn’t realise how much I do care about you.

  And that guy, the one I saw you kissing at your door. Of course I know now it wasn’t your precious George. How could I have thought that of you? I was just hurt and angry and lashed out. How dare I? And for that I will be forever sorry.

  I don’t blame you for seeing other people. After all, it was me who told you to go away and think about what you wanted, and now I regret that. We met too soon, perhaps. But then again, maybe if I had kept on your case, then I would have smothered you with enough love to win you over. I don’t know.

  I felt sick for days after we rowed at The Bow Wow Club. Another thing that I am immensely proud of you for doing. I could see how much respect everyone has for you there. But again, it was such a bloody shock seeing you, when you hadn’t told me you were volunteering.

  It had taken a lot for me to go along and say my piece and I was just so embarrassed to see you. I didn’t want you to see me as a weak man, Ruby. I am strong and will always be strong for you.

  The day I saw you at the door I came to apologise for the row at the Bow Wow, got you flowers and everything: I would have said all these things then.

  I am even writing a novel and you are the heroine. It’s good too – well, it could be nothing less with you as the star, now could it?

  I’ve thankfully got rid of my demons about Emily jilting me too, by writing about it. Weirdly, she rang me. Not to apologise or anything civilised like that. No, she was moving into a flat that didn’t take pets so poor old Barney didn’t fit with her life any more and had to go. I have to say I was delighted to get my boy back. It had crippled me to lose him more than my fiancée and best mate, to be honest. He has also kept me sane in my loneliness without you.

  I know you are away, I’m guessing with Fi. She will make you laugh and help you to enjoy the precious time off that you so need and deserve. Hopefully a change of scene will help you to think about us too.

  I know that you care about me, Ruby, even if you never said it. You don’t make love to someone like we did without feelings being involved. I could sense the love between us. Felt like I was drawing it from your pores. It was immense, in fact.

  Oh, I’m harping on now, sorry. It would be so much easier for me to be saying all these things to you face-to-face, but your phone has been off and is still off. That’s why I’m here actually. Was coming to see you again, with more roses (I think I should buy shares in that flower stall at East Putney tube!). I got your text saying that you missed me and wanted to see me, then you disappeared off the face of the earth.

  And the main reason I was coming to see you was to tell you again that I purely and simply love you.

  I hope when you get this you have had the best time away and have a big smile on that beautiful face of yours.

  Call me a romantic old fool but if it’s meant to be between us then love will win, I just know it.

  In fact, Ruby, just bloody call me, will you!

  Michael X

  – Chapter Seventy-Four –

  ‘Ruby? Ruby? Are you still awake?’ Nick whispered as he pushed open the door to the twin room she was sleeping in at the cottage.

  ‘Well, I am now.’ She turned on her bedside light and sat up in the single bed pulling the duvet up to cover her modesty. She put her hand to her head. ‘Shit, I feel groggy. Must have got a premature hangover.’

  ‘Well, we did put some back, didn’t we? But it was our last night in this beautiful place, so we were allowed. Anyway, budge up, you.’

  ‘Nick! It’s three o’clock in the morning and there’s barely room for me in here, let alone a muscly fireman.’

  ‘I heard a noise.’

  Ruby giggled. ‘Don’t be such a wuss. This old place creaks and groans all the time. It’s not haunted, if that’s what you think. I’ve stayed here on my own countless times and have never felt anything spooky.’

  Ruby shuffled over and tapped the mattress next to her. ‘I can’t promise I won’t keep my hands to myself.’

  ‘What’s a broken promise between friends, eh?’ Nick took off his T-shirt, revealing a tight pair of Calvin Kleins and slipped in beside her.


  Ruby suddenly became conscious of her sleep breath and sticky-up hair. ‘Erm, quite a lot actually.’

  ‘Yeah, that was a silly thing to say. Look, let’s snuggle up. I can always get in the other bed when you’ve warmed me up.’

  Compared to Michael, it felt funny being in the crook of Nick’s arm as he didn’t have an ounce of fat on his honed physique. She put her hand under the covers to straighten down her T-shirt and swept his pants by mistake. The Fireman was rock hard.

  ‘Ooh sorry, a firm hose, how mouthwateringly delicious.’

  ‘Ruby.’ Nick propped himself up on one elbow. ‘Stop joking.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ He pulled her towards him and kissed her really gently.

  ‘Nick, I…’ She pushed her warm mouth back onto his and felt her way around his toned back. As much as it felt so gorgeous and safe being here right now with him, she was still not sure.

  ‘I want you to be the first,’ Nick whispered in her ear.

  She looked straight into his tearful eyes and nodded, completely getting it now.

  She thought back to how tender Michael was with her when they had first slept together in the Soho Hotel all those months ago now. How important he knew it was for her to feel safe and loved.

  Nick had so pre-empted this moment, had even brought condoms with him.

  ***

  So - The Fireman and Miss Designer Pants made pure, simple love in a single bed in a beautiful cottage in the magical Lake District. No fireworks, no fuss. Just a mutual respect and understanding for the depth of losing someone you love with all your heart.

  – Chapter Seventy-Five –

  Bert woke himself up with a big snore and half-opened one eye. He reached for his glasses and looked at his watch. ‘Good. I haven’t missed it.’ He spoke aloud and turned to the racing page of the paper that was still folded neatly on his lap. He smiled at the sleeping Margaret and the nearly empty bottle of sherry beside her. Two glasses on the tray? He’d completely slept through a guest. Wouldn’t be the first time he’d done that, that was for sure. It couldn’t have been our Ruby, he thought. Because, whoever it was had left some sort of designer spectacle case behind.