by Carol Rivers
‘You were in love.’
‘With a dream,’ Ruby corrected quietly as she met Kath’s gaze.
‘We all have those.’
‘Yes, but yours came true with Clem.’
Kath’s pale skin flushed. ‘He is rather wonderful. I never thought I had a chance at love. My dad was a brute. After what he did to me and Bernie I was left with a fear of men. But then I found a passion in the dancing. That saved me. And through dancing, I met Clem. And I found love again.’
Ruby knew Kath deserved love. But did she? She was beginning to wonder lately if love had passed her by. ‘You are amazing, Kath. You’ve been through so much and come out on top.’
‘So will you.’
‘I hope so.’
Ruby was thinking of Pete. She hadn’t told anyone, not even Kath, about her meeting with Johnnie Dyer. She would keep Pete’s secret for him, although, perhaps one day in the future, she might be able to unburden herself in the knowledge that society would no longer condemn Pete as a criminal. Until that day dawned, she would honour the pact she kept with her dead brother and know that, wherever he was, he would at last be at peace. ‘I want to move on, Kath. I truly do. But I haven’t a clue how.’
‘You’ll think of something. One thing is certain, your Pete would want you to be happy. And your mum too. Isn’t that the important thing?’
Ruby nodded. She still had her dad and it was the living who counted, after all.
Kath stood up and opened her arms. ‘Happy Christmas, Ruby.’
Ruby returned the embrace, sharing a silent but deeply intimate moment with her dearest friend.
‘Enjoying yourself, doll?’ Bernie called as they entered the hot and steamy kitchen.
‘Don’t call me that,’ Ruby returned, though with a smile.
While the others were talking, drinking and laughing, Bernie made his way to her side. As she gazed into his dark eyes, she saw how their expression had changed over the years. How rock-steady they were, how honest and genuine. And how the curve of his smile held a warmth that spoke of the bond they had shared through thick and thin. This tall, impressively handsome young man dressed in a dark suit and white shirt had grown into maturity before her very eyes. And the odd thing was, she hadn’t really noticed before.
‘It’s hot in here. Do you fancy a breath of fresh air?’ Before she could answer he slipped firm fingers over hers and led her outside into the cold winter air. He saw her shivering and took off his jacket to slide around her shoulders. ‘Kath told me what happened with your bloke,’ he said abruptly. ‘Sorry it worked out that way.’
‘You’re not sorry at all, Bernie Rigler,’ she dismissed. ‘You never liked Nick or Anna, did you?’
‘Can’t say as I did, no.’
Ruby gazed down at the hard winter earth and sighed. ‘Why don’t you say “I told you so”?’
‘Because . . .’ He lifted her chin and said huskily, ‘I want to say something else instead. But I might get me face slapped.’
Ruby nodded slowly. ‘Yes, you might at that.’
‘Well, all the same, here goes.’ He pushed a hand in his pocket and brought out a wilted green leaf, holding it up between two fingers.
‘What’s that?’
‘Mistletoe. Or it was before I sat on it.’ He threw it aside and took her gently in his arms. ‘Think I’ll just go for it and hope for the best. Happy Christmas, doll.’ With tender lips he bent to kiss her, and instinctively she knew he was waiting; waiting for her to pull away and their old pattern of behaviour to resume as the insults flew far and wide. But to her own great surprise, she found her lips remaining, seeking and enjoying, wanting a firmer pressure.
Very slowly her arms went around his neck and his jacket fell to the ground. She barely noticed the cold air on her skin. Or the Christmas breeze that blew her hair around her face, causing Bernie to slide his fingers through its softness. But she did notice the warm rush of desire inside her growing steadily into something very different to anything she had ever known – or wanted – before.
Carol Rivers, whose family comes from the Isle of Dogs, East London, now lives in Dorset. Visit www.carolrivers.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter @carol_rivers
Also by Carol Rivers
Lizzie of Langley Street
Bella of Bow Street
Lily of Love Lane
Eve of the Isle
East End Angel
In the Bleak Midwinter
East End Jubilee (previously Rose of Ruby Street)
A Sister’s Shame
Cockney Orphan (previously Connie of Kettle Street)
A Wartime Christmas
Together for Christmas
The Fight for Lizzie Flowers
First published in Great Britain by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2016
A CBS COMPANY
Copyright © Carol Rivers, 2016
This book is copyright under the Berne Convention.
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Hardback ISBN: 978-1-4711-5316-7
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4711-5317-4
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4711-5318-1
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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