Beatty’s red face and twisting hands told Ruby she was talking about what she always referred to as the birds and the bees, and Ruby nodded she understood.
‘It’s too late to talk about it, Beatty. I know all about it – everything.’ Ruby emphasised the last word and Beatty sat up straight.
‘I see.’
Rising to her feet, Ruby peered into the mirror.
‘And has he said he intends to come back to Coventry?’ Beatty asked.
‘He said he’d be back to see me as soon as he’s back in England. I don’t know when it will be, or where he is, and it’s frightening.’
‘Frightening for many reasons. Let’s see what happens next,’ Beatty said and got up from the bed. ‘This war has a lot to answer for,’ she muttered as she made her way downstairs.
Ruby heard mutterings between Beatty and Fred, and knew Fred was fed just enough information to stop him feeling left out of Ruby’s care. She was grateful she’d such thoughtful friends in her life. They would need her in their old age and, in the silence of her room, Ruby’s future was decided.
CHAPTER 29
1st May 1942
The long snowy days of winter were long forgotten, and spring wavered on the edge of summer’s rising. Radio news kept the household up to date with the horrors of the war still raging, and informed them of another city bombed the previous day. York had experienced the wrath of the enemy, and Beatty, Fred and Ruby stood in silence, remembering their own day of death and destruction, and all three hoping Helen was safe.
Ruby had worked through into another phase of her life. She’d received a letter from the council informing her the landlord was retaining the Eagle Street plot and, once rebuilt, he’d give consideration to renting it to her when she was of age. She wrote back and informed them she would not live there alone, and the tenant named on the documents would be either Fred or Beatty. She put the idea from her mind as she focused upon her new position within the local Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment. The shop kept Beatty, Fred and the many women who gathered there busy, and they ran it like clockwork. Ruby’s job was reduced to the book-keeping, and when she’d spoken about getting involved in more war work they’d agreed a change would be good for her. Earl and Tommy no longer visited and life was calmer for them all, and Ruby needed to train her mind not to think of the danger John was in every day.
Standing rolling a bandage, Ruby looked around at the small group of VAD females she worked with; some were Beatty’s age, others were much younger. Ruby worked alongside three the same age as herself and marvelled at their ability to present themselves more and more glamorously each day. Compared to some, Ruby thought she looked an old maid.
‘Pat, how do you get your hair to stay in the curls around your cap?’ she asked the girl working opposite her.
‘I can show you later, if you like. Mind you, if I had pretty hair like yours, I’d leave it alone. You just need a bit of mascara on your eyelashes, and a bit of lippy. Red is in. What do you reckon, Dolly?’
The plumper girl of the two looked up from her task. She gave a shy smile. ‘You worked wonders with me,’ she said.
‘I’ll have a think about it, but I’ve a feeling Fred will have something to say.’ Ruby laughed.
‘Him? He’s nobody. You’re a free agent. If I had your luck, I’d –’
Ruby didn’t remain in the room to hear what Pat would do. Her leg ached, her job bored her rigid and the company of some of the girls made her enjoy her own more and more. Pat’s statement that Fred was nobody to her, and the thoughtless comment about her being a free agent and lucky, caught her unawares. She’d stood listening to mindless gossip and endless chatter about boys and their wandering hands for weeks, but could no longer bear the humdrum of every day. Guilty feelings of walking away from a worthwhile position would come later, but for now Ruby stomped off her anger with a walk to the shop. As she passed her supervisor she told her she had severe pains in her leg from standing too long, and was allowed a two-hour break.
‘And they let you leave? Just like that?’
‘It’s my leg, Fred. I can’t stand or keep up with the others.’
‘Never held you back before.’
‘It held me back at school. It made me different – stand out from the rest. You only knew the after-Blitz me.’ Ruby snapped out words she’d said several times over as many days. She was beyond sighing, huffing and explaining why she’d left the VAD. Beatty said she found it hard to understand, and expressed her concerns about Ruby having no friends her age. No matter how many times she tried to tell them she didn’t need them, she was shot down with reasons as to why she did. Dancing and letting her hair down didn’t count in Ruby’s world, but Beatty and Fred pushed their individual reasons as to why they should.
With an iron will, Ruby decided it all had to end that day. The hope of returning to some form of normality appeared to be drowning under an avalanche of repeated conversations. She took a deep breath.
‘I’m going to Yorkshire. To see Helen.’
Fred stopped polishing his shoes, and Beatty stood open-mouthed. Both spoke at the same time.
‘Alone?’
‘I won’t be alone. I’ll be with Helen.’
‘The journey … I mean the journey.’ Beatty’s voice was filled with anxiety.
‘I forbid it.’
Ruby jumped as Fred’s voice rang out loud and clear. It was firm and decisive. Beatty reached out her hand to him and they stood together, facing her.
‘You can’t stop me.’
The moment the words left her lips, Ruby regretted them. They sounded childish, and her aim was to show them she was adult enough to take the trip.
‘I’m … we’re your guardians. It’s not safe for you and we’d be wrong to agree for you to travel alone. Maybe Beatty can come with you – stay overnight in a guest house and bring you home the next day, after you’ve seen Helen. What do you say?’
Ruby didn’t want to say anything. Disappointment crowded her thoughts, and she shrugged. Losing her parents had given her a freedom she’d never considered before their deaths, until Pat had mentioned it. Now, she had two people reeling her in, and taking on the role for themselves. She scrambled through her thoughts for the word which represented how she felt. Resentment. Ruby resented their decision to make up their minds for her, but accepted the time had come to give up her freedom. When she turned twenty-one, no one would make decisions on her behalf but, until then, Ruby knew she had little choice in the matter.
‘You’re right; I’m being hasty. I’ll wait. In the meantime, I will be patient and focus on the business. You two take tomorrow off and visit your cousin again, Beatty. I appreciate all you do, but have lapsed into leaning on you far too much. I’ll cope.’
‘At least we’ll know where you are,’ muttered Fred, and earned himself a gentle cuff from Beatty.
‘That will be nice. We enjoyed our last visit. I know you’re frustrated with life, and your leg, Ruby, but all will settle into place one day. You’ll see.’
The next morning dragged into midday, as Ruby sorted her way through a batch of tatty magazines and comics. She’d reached the final pile when the bell Fred had attached to the door gave a ping and announced a customer’s arrival. Stretching herself from her kneeling position, Ruby stood upright and faced a well-dressed middle-aged woman.