Page 6 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
‘At least ten. I started to count, but then one date struck me. The earliest entry. Ruby, it was…’ I choke out the words, ‘It was fourteen years ago. Just one week after the twins were born, when I was still in hospital.’ I thump the steering wheel. ‘One damn week.’
‘Frigging hell. The shit.’ Ruby shakes her head.
‘There were no other dates for a good few years – from what I could see – but then the numbers started increasing. First one, then two a year, then more. One part of me wanted to smash the tablet against the wall, theother part to examine every detail. Then mother arrived to look after the twins so there was no time to delve any further.’
‘Did you tell her?’
‘My mother? Heavens, no. Speak a word against Vince? She thinks he’s God’s gift. Besides, she was too busy moaning about having to drive over to sit with Joanne and James on her Cheshire Ladies’ night.’
‘What did you do with the tablet?’
‘I shoved it under my bedcovers and now I can’t think… I mean, what do I do? Ruby, I must look a complete fool…’
‘Foolish you are not.’
‘But I should have known. Hell, what am I saying? I did know… I immersed myself in my dress design, in dance, yoga, Pilates, running… anything but face up to it.’
‘Hey. You’re not the one at fault here. He needs to go.’
I rub at my brow and realise my teeth are clenched. It is easy for Ruby to have such clarity. She has never known the complexities of being married. She’s free and utterly liberated.
My phone starts to give a low buzz, vibrating inside my bag. Ruby grabs the bag, pulls out the device and switches the call to divert before throwing it back inside.
‘You need time to plan your next move. When’s the scumbag due back?’
‘Tomorrow evening, I think.’
‘OK, you’ve time to decide what you’re going to do. Do you want me to come round in the morning? I’m working from home again and can slip over to yours afterthe school drop off.’
I nod. ‘What would I do without you?’ A small wail of anguish escapes my mouth, and I bite my hand.
Ruby places a firm hand on my shoulder. ‘You’re going to be OK. Come on, Monica. Go home. Don’t look at that tablet again. Resist. Take a bath, have a stiff drink and go to bed. We’ll look at it together in the morning and work out what to do.’
I give a shudder and suddenly feel exhausted.
Ruby takes my hand and gently strokes it as we sit quietly for several minutes. A calm descends on me and I breathe deeply.
‘Please don’t tell anyone about this.’ I sniff and start to rummage for a tissue.
‘My lips are sealed.’ Ruby pulls a fresh pack of tissues from her coat pocket and puts them in my hand before opening the car door to get out. ‘Sure, you’ll be OK?’
‘Yes, I’ll be fine.’ I remove a tissue and blow my nose loudly, causing Ruby to jump back.
‘God, I’ve never known anyone blow their nose so loudly. That snort would give a demon a fright.’
We smile and I suddenly know Iwillbe OK. Ruby has her life sorted – she’d never let someone walk all over her. Hell, I can be like Ruby.
‘Ruby, I really appreciate your help. See you in themorning. By the way, who was calling?’ I indicate my bag she’s placed back on the passenger seat.
‘Someone calledCheating Bastard.’ She winks at me, and we both laugh.
2
Ruby Anderson
My fingers hover over the keyboard of my laptop as I sit at the worktop in my kitchen. I stare at the screen, shaking my head as I read this year’s three-hundred-and-sixty-degree work appraisal task.
Present yourself as the latest new product. What are you? What do you do? How do you work? What is your unique selling point? How will you become an invaluable asset to the First Bite company?
