Page 39 of Strictly Friends
‘Yes, now I can.’
As Fi’s gravelly voice came back on the line, Ruby continued. ‘Okay, so where was I?’
‘In the middle of telling me how fab it is to see Mac’s portrait coming to life.’
‘Honestly, Fi, it’s so weird seeing yourself through someone else’s eyes. Can you believe that a famous – and incredibly sexy – artist is paintingme?’
Despite the background hum and the clicks on the line, Fi’s sigh was audible. ‘Yes, Icanbelieve it. D’you know, it’s a good thing you’re getting to see yourself through someone else’s eyes because yours need some very strong glasses.’
Ruby pulled a face. ‘I’m not saying I’m ugly. I’m just not your typical girlie girl.’
‘Girls come in all shapes and sizes. Look at me – gorgeous as I am, I would kill for your height and amazing abs, and I’m not the only one. I’ve never understood how you barely exercise and still have a body like a gym bunny.’
Ruby laughed. ‘You’re as bad as Mac. I don’t think either one of you has ever met the word “modest”!’
‘Talking of bad, how’s London’s baddest boy doing?’
‘Griffin? He’s loving it out here. He met a kid soon after he got here who’d run away from a nearby orphanage. The poor child hasn’t spoken a word since he lost his granddad in a house fire, but he heard Griff playing his guitar and took to him. So, Griffin’s been visiting the home every day to play for Drew – that’s the boy’s name – and the other children. It’s made a real difference, apparently, because Drew has stopped trying to run away and he even sits with the others for the music sessions, whereas before he refused to engage with any of the kids.’
‘And there was I picturing the man lounging on a beach, pulling all the hot birds while you clucked around him like a mother hen,’ Fi chuckled.
‘Charming!’ Then Ruby hesitated. ‘Okay, I may be a bit protective sometimes—’
‘Possessive, more like.’
‘Excuseme! I—’
The crackling on the line intensified and Ruby waited impatiently for it to subside. ‘Can you hear me? I need to go in a minute. Kenny’s picking Jake up shortly.’
‘Never mind Kenny,’ Fi said impatiently. ‘Tell me more about what Griffin’s doing. He’s talked to me in the past about setting up a project for disadvantaged kids and he seemed quite passionate about it, so this sounds right up his street.’
‘Really?’ Ruby said in surprise. ‘That’s news to me. I’ve always known Griffin is fantastic with kids, but I must admit he’s taking this much more seriously than I expected. I assumed it was about a few singalongs, but he’s deep into researching how music can heal trauma and getting pretty excited about the whole thing.’
‘Sounds like our Peter Pan might be growing up. Who knows, maybe this is just the start and he’ll want his own kids soon and settle down, or even get married –nota word I ever thought I’d use in the same sentence as Griffin!’ Fi hooted with laughter.
‘We live in hope,’ Ruby agreed, even as she felt a pang of something she couldn’t identify at the idea of a happily married Griffin. Surely the prospect of offloading her best mate and all his complications on to a gullible new wife should have her throwing her wedding hat into the air with joy?
‘You still there?’
‘Yes, sorry, I think the line dropped for a second,’ Ruby fibbed.
‘We miss you, but I’m glad you’re having a ball out there. Shame I can’t leave this lot and join you. I could do with a break, and me and George Clooney might well have hit it off.’
‘Dolly Parton meets George Clooney... hmm, I dunno about that. Besides, weren’t you the one who made me swear after divorce number two that I would stop you if you ever so much as looked at another man? You even threatened to make me sign an agreement in blood – mine, not yours, as I recall.’
‘Agreements don’t count when it comes to George Clooney,’ Fi replied, adding a cheery ‘Talk later’ before abruptly ending the call.
Even halfway across the world, Fi still managed to get in the last word.
Ruby waved until Jake was out of sight before retracing her footsteps into Paradise Inn. Despite his unexplained absence for most of the week, Kenny had kept his promise to pick up Jake, giving her the rest of Saturday to herself. She walked into the hallway just as Griffin was bounding down the staircase, whistling merrily.
‘Morning. You’re looking chirpy – are you heading over to Ocean House?’ she asked.
‘No, not until Monday. Where’s Jake?’
‘He just left with Kenny. They’re spending the morning together on his boat and then Kenny’s taking him horse riding near the marina.’
‘Ah! Does that mean I have you all to myself, then?’ Griffin leered, twirling a non-existent moustache. ‘Or are you off to do your modelling?’
