Page 31 of Coming Home to Crumbleton

‘Okay,’ laughed Oli, ‘maybe I added that last one. But the others are true.’

‘I’m going to kill them,’ she sighed, shaking her head. The terrible two had clearly decided that some end-of-tour hijinks were in order. They’d obviously decided that it was safe to have a little joke at her expense because she knew the bookshop owner.

‘Sorry, Ruby,’ said Oli. ‘I should have-’

‘Don’t you apologise,’ huffed Ruby, picking up her sausage roll and dunking it into her puddle of ketchup. ‘I should have called to confirm the details myself.’

‘Erm… isn’t that the whole point of having people on your team?’ laughed Oli.

‘Not for much longer!’ said Ruby darkly – though she didn’t really mean it… deep down. Very deep down right now.

‘Don’t look so horrified,’ chuckled Oli. ‘I always knew you were a diva deep down.’

‘Am not!’ she squeaked, completely indignant.

Oli snorted. ‘Chill - it’s fine - I’m just joking. You know – it’s so good to have you back for a few weeks. I was chuffed when Bobbie mentioned you were staying in town for a while.’

‘Yeah well, she got that bit wrong too.’

The words were out of Ruby’s mouth before she could stop them.

‘What?’ said Oli. ‘You’re not serious?’

‘I’ve got an open-ended ticket,’ she said with a shrug, ‘but I’m leaving straight after the event on Thursday.’

The smile dropped off Oli’s face and he looked… hurt.

‘Do you really hate this place so much?’ he said quietly. ‘I mean, what happened to make you stay away for so long? I thought you were happy here… you seemed happy when…’

He trailed off, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

Ruby swallowed. ‘I didn’t mean… it’s just… I…’ It was her turn to trail off. Why was she getting so flustered here? She didn’t have to explain herself. Yes, she’d left Crumbleton behind her, and Sure, she hadn’t exactly built herself a life in London – but she’d certainly forged a career for herself instead. ‘I don’t hate Crumbleton. It just brings back a lot of memories.’

‘But not good ones?’ said Oli.

Ruby frowned at the look he was giving her. He didn’t get to look hurt. Hadn’t he left Crumbleton in his rear-view mirror too? Just because he was back now - it didn’t mean she should feel guilty because she wasn’t.

Of course there had been good times. Crumbleton hadn’t been a bad place to grow up… but she’d felt so stuck those last few years, so hemmed in and trapped - until that last summer when the little town had come alive. Because of him. Then he left.

‘Look,’ she said, her voice tight. ‘I’m sorry, but I’m really not up for a trip down memory lane right now.’ She dropped the remains of her sausage roll onto her plate and brushed the crumbs from her fingers. ‘I’m sorry. I’m exhausted. Let’s just go over any details I need to know about the event.’

‘Oh,’ said Oli, ‘okay - I understand. You’ve had quite a trip.’

Ruby shot him a tight smile.

‘So, we’ll start at ten and aim to be done by twelve-thirty. You can do the reading first, then a question and answer session with the audience - and then plenty of time for signing afterwards.’

‘You want a reading?’ she said.

‘Erm… it’s kind of the main draw to the event,’ said Oli.

‘Oh.’ Ruby swallowed.

She’d had to do exactly the same thing at all the other venues… but for some reason, she’d blocked out the idea of having to do the reading here. After all, she was going to know most of the people in the audience. They weren’t going to be the usual nameless, faceless crowd.

‘Is that okay?’ said Oli, looking concerned.

‘Yes,’ she said quickly. ‘Of course.’

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