Gradually, Helen’s voice faded into the distance and Ruby shut out life outside of her cocoon. She felt the physical shaking of her body but blanked out voices as soon as they called her name. And then she came round. Death wanted nothing to do with her, and Ruby felt its rejection in the deep breath which surged through her lungs. She coughed and gulped in more air, blinking her eyes and trying not to look in the direction of the shop. Several pairs of concerned eyes stared back at her, and a man held out his hand and pulled her to her feet. She staggered slightly and Helen moved to support her.
‘You gave me such a scare, Ruby. I’ve never seen anyone so pale and lifeless. I thought … Well, never mind what I thought – let’s get you home. There’s nothing for you to do here.’ John’s warm breath touched her ears. His voice brought comfort over Helen’s anxious questions.
‘Is she hurt? You know her? Is she hurt?’
‘She’s coming round fine. I’m John, her friend. I heard this area was attacked, and thought of Ruby.’
‘I’m Helen, her friend and guardian. You are kind to think of her – poor thing, she’s in shock. Come on, darling, let’s get you home.’
John helped Ruby to her feet and put a supportive arm around her shoulder. Helen grabbed Ruby’s left hand. She looked at them both, then back at where the shop had once stood.
Accepting she’d never rebuild the business there, Ruby allowed her friends to guide her away from the scene, whispering words of encouragement in her ears. Numb and unable to speak, Ruby stumbled home knowing she had their love and support to get her through the next few hours.
Helen pushed open the door to Garden Cottage and called for Fred. The moment Ruby saw him she gave a small smile.
‘I’m afraid it’s all gone,’ Helen said. ‘And madam here gave me the fright of my life. She passed out and at one point I was convinced she’d passed away. This is her friend, John.’
‘Nice to meet you, lad. Come and sit down, Ruby.’ Fred fussed around her and Ruby gave him another soft smile.
‘She’s not spoken since she came round, Fred,’ Helen said.
Fred bashed life into a cushion and placed it behind Ruby. ‘It’s going to be a quiet house then, ’cos I’ve got Beatty in the same way in the front room. This one,’ he said, pointing at Ruby, ‘made her a room to live with us, ’cos her place is gone too. I might do a bit of singing and see which one tells me to shut up first,’ he said, and Ruby heard the teasing humour she loved so much. It wasn’t fair on Fred to be waiting on her and Beatty to rally round.
She gave another cough. Her throat felt sore with dryness. ‘What does a girl have to do to get a cup of tea round here?’ she said, her voice croaking out the words.
‘There she is. There’s my girl. One cup of tea coming up. Helen? John, you stopping for one?’
‘Let me help, Fred,’ Helen said and followed him into the kitchen.
‘You’re in safe hands here, Ruby,’ John said as he sat on a chair beside her.
‘Fred is a good man – they are all dear to me. The war brought us all together.’ Ruby smiled with a nod towards the kitchen door.
‘It brought us together too.’ John’s voice was barely audible, but Ruby saw something in his face which expressed far more than words.
‘It did,’ she whispered back.
Fred and Helen re-joined them, armed with warm drinks, and the moment to talk more alone passed.
Fred tapped on Beatty’s door. ‘Tea’s up, Mrs P,’ he called out before entering.
‘’bout ruddy time too,’ came the reply from inside the room.
‘And there’s the other one. I knew it was too good to be true. That’s me peace shattered for the evening,’ Fred said with good humour.
Ruby put down her cup and rushed into the room. ‘Thank goodness, Beatty. I’ve only just recovered from my bout of shock, but thought you never would. You gave us quite a scare.’
‘Sorry, duck. I can’t believe what happened in front of me. It took my breath away. I was stunned,’ Beatty said and handed her cup back to Fred. ‘That went down well. Thank you.’
‘Same with me last year, and now with the shop,’ Ruby said.
‘No! The shop’s gone too?’
‘All gone, the lot of it.’
Beatty looked over at the doorway. ‘And who are you, young man?’
Ruby turned and smiled at John, standing tall at the entrance of the room. ‘That’s John. He’s Canadian, and a friend – be kind.’
Beatty chuckled. ‘I must say, you are a pleasant sight after such a shock. I can see why Ruby befriended you.’
‘Beatty!’ an embarrassed Ruby chided her friend, who stood looking an equally embarrassed John up and down.
‘I’m glad she did, Beatty, or I’d have missed the opportunity of meeting you, Helen and Fred. She’s mentioned you all.’
‘Ah, so you’ve met more than once then?’ Fred questioned John, then looked at Ruby.
Ruby, not wanting Fred to question John on his moral duty and other things she suspected Fred wanted to reel off, changed the subject. ‘I’m going to be lost without the shop. It’s a nightmare. We’re living in a nightmare.’
Beatty held out her hand and Helen put a comforting arm around Ruby’s waist.
Ruby took Beatty’s hand in hers. Beatty’s large fingers wrapped themselves around her slender ones.
‘You’re a survivor. You’ll start again. We’ll help. Probably find a lot of stuff in my place when it’s safe to go back. Where I’ll go from there, I don’t know,’ Beatty said.
Ruby waved her arm around the room. ‘You will stay with us. It’s not much, but it’s yours. We don’t bite, do we, Fred?’
Fred laughed. ‘Not many teeth left to do that, Ruby.’
The atmosphere of doom and gloom lifted, and Beatty manoeuvred herself to the edge of the bed.
‘I’ve got my mask and my handbag has my papers inside,’ she said and pointed to the sideboard where Ruby had placed her things.
‘If you allow me to put your name down on the homeless list, Beatty, it can help when you need somewhere of your own.’ Helen stepped in from the doorway as she spoke.
‘I’ll need details of your old property, and can get the ball rolling for you.’
John gave a polite cough, and all eyes went to him. ‘I have to go. I’m glad you are safe, Ruby.’
Before Ruby could move, Fred went to John and snatched up his hand, pumping out a vigorous handshake.
‘We’ll be forever grateful to you, young man. Ruby needed help and you thought of her. Kindness goes a long way. Stay safe and come visit again. Thank you.’
An echo of thank yous joined Fred’s, and Ruby went to John.
‘Fred’s words are mine too. Thank you for helping me and Helen. Be careful out there – it’s going to be back to what it was like in November.’
John lifted her hand and they moved away from Beatty’s room and prying eyes.
‘I’d like to see you again, Ruby. I’m alone here, and enjoyed your company when we first met.’
‘I’d like that – very much. I’ve only got them –’ she tilted her head to the bedroom