16. Chapter 16
Ruby cracked her eyes open and, for a brief moment, wondered where on Earth she was. Half sitting up in bed, she stared around. Piles of notebooks, posters on the walls, and soft vintage bedding. Of course - she was home - back in Crumbleton under her parents’ roof.
Heaving a huge sigh, she flopped back down into the pillows and sneezed as a puff of dust tickled her nose. Shuffling over onto her side, she came face-to-face with the jug of yellow roses on her bedside table. A small smile appeared on her face - even as something squirmy wriggled in her stomach. Suddenly, the previous evening came back to her.
Roses from Oli.
The drink with Oli.
Oh hell… she’d agreed to spend the day with him. What on earth had possessed her?!
Ruby didn’t have to look too far for the answer to that question - she’d have said pretty much anything to wriggle out of that awkward moment outside the City Gates last night.
Ruby blew out a long breath. A whole day together… what would they do? After all, there wasn’t that much in Crumbleton to keep you occupied… unless you were a pair of teenagers, of course. Back then, they’d somehow managed to while away entire weekends at a time – but she somehow doubted she’d end up snogging the day away on a picnic blanket in Crumbleton Clump!
Just the thought of it made Ruby shiver, and she turned and buried her face to hide the soppy smile that had just appeared out of nowhere. Even now, the thought of sneaking around with Oliver Evans – school sports hero - was thrilling. She still couldn’t believe this little nerd had somehow managed to capture his attention.
Oli had always been popular. He’d been sports captain and part of every single team their school had - but where he’d really shown exceptional talent was on the running track. He’d won practically every race he entered - and ended up being national youth champion many times over. It didn’t matter how well he did, though - his father had always pushed him to do more… be better… train, train, train!
‘Idiot,’ muttered Ruby, clambering out of bed. She knew she should feel bad that Mr Evans had passed away, but it was hard to feel any kind of sympathy for the man who’d guilt-tripped her into cutting Oli out of her life.
But… maybe you can fix it?
Ruby shook her head. It was a dangerous thought, and one she hadn’t let herself go anywhere near for a very long time.
Grabbing her bag, Ruby threw it onto the bed and started to rummage through the small selection of clothes she’d brought with her. Yanking out her least shabby tee shirt and a soft green cardigan, she stared at them for a long moment before shrugging. They’d have to do - after all, Oli already knew what she looked like. He was more than aware that she was the polar opposite of fancy.
Besides, this wasn’t really a date, was it? He might have bought her flowers, but she wasn’t about to kid herself that he had any intentions towards her other than catching up properly. At least… she was pretty sure that’s what his intentions were.
Last night’s skinny jeans… converse… tee shirt… cardigan. It would have to do. She was saving her little black dress for her signing tomorrow. Just the thought of the event made Ruby shudder, and she quickly put it out of her mind. If she wasn’t careful, she’d just spend the entire day tied up in a big knot of nerves about it otherwise.
Clutching the threadbare towel her mum had handed her the previous night, Ruby headed out of her bedroom, praying the bathroom would be free. Perhaps the wrath of her parents’ temperamental over-bath shower might knock some sense into her.
She’d just locked the door, propped her mobile against the tiles at the back of the sink, and was busy clambering out of her tartan pyjamas when the phone buzzed.
Hey you - how do you fancy meeting me for lunch today? I’ll drive us down to the restaurant at Crumbleton Sands! Let me know? C x
Ruby stared at it for a long moment. There it was - the ready-made excuse she’d been praying for. It was the perfect reason to blow off this date with Oli. A huge part of her really wanted to say yes. She’d missed spending time with Caroline, and lunch with her would be fun, easy, and long overdue. But… being back in Crumbleton wasn’t about being fun and easy, was it?
Ruby chewed her lip for a long moment, staring at the screen… and then decided that perhaps she’d better be honest with herself for what felt like the first time in a very long time.
As nervous as she was about today, a part of her knew she needed to talk to Oli. She’d been frozen in time for far too long. She needed closure… and if that’s all she got out of today, then it would be worth it.
Taking a deep breath, Ruby replied to the message with shaking fingers.
Can’t, sorry. Long overdue conversations to be had with you know exactly who. See you at the signing tomorrow. R x
Oli had asked her to meet him at the café – and in classic Ruby style, she was ten minutes early. Crossing the cobbles, she stopped briefly in front of the window and peered inside. There wasn’t any sign of him yet. If she wanted to back out, now was her last chance!
Much to Ruby’s surprise, she realised that the uneasy sensation in her stomach wasn’t nerves or fear anymore… it was excitement. She wouldn’t be backing out now.
Grabbing her mobile from her back pocket, she glanced at the screen. Nothing.
‘Huh,’ she muttered. She’d expected some kind of response from Caroline - even if it was just a thorough ribbing – but she hadn’t heard a squeak. Shrugging, she thrust the phone back into her pocket. No doubt her friend would demand a thorough de-brief after her day with Oli. As long as she didn’t ask for it right in the middle of the signing tomorrow, Ruby was up for it.
‘Morning Ruby!’
Ruby jumped and looked around. ‘Mrs Prescott!’
The once-familiar face of her favourite primary school teacher was beaming at her. ‘I cannot wait to hear you talk about your book tomorrow.’
‘You’re coming?’ said Ruby, as the familiar awkwardness started to creep over her.
‘I wouldn’t miss it, Ruby,’ she said, her smile growing even wider. ‘I always knew you’d do something special. I have to say, I’m incredibly proud of you.’
‘Thanks,’ mumbled Ruby, shaking her head by force of habit. ‘It’s nothing really…’
‘Don’t do that,’ said Mrs Prescott gently, shaking her head. ‘Don’t make something so magnificent smaller than it deserves to be. You’ve achieved something remarkable - and I’m excited to see what’s next!’
‘I…’ she paused and just nodded instead. ‘Thank you.’
She felt like she’d just been told off at the same time as receiving the hugest compliment. It was all quite a lot to take, considering it wasn’t even nine o’clock in the morning yet!
‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ said Mrs Prescott, patting her arm before continuing on her way up the hill.
Ruby stared after her for a long moment, feeling like something had just shifted deep inside her.
‘Don’t be an idiot!’ she muttered, before turning and pushing her way inside the café.
‘You’re not on the rota for today!’ laughed Mabel the moment she spotted her. ‘Can’t stay away, can you?’
‘Not if there’s a cup of coffee and a pastry in the offing,’ said Ruby. Oli might not be there yet, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t make a start on proceedings!
‘Are you happy to serve yourself while I get Stuart’s breakfast bap ready for him?’ she said, nodding over to Stuart Bendall, who was sitting at his usual table right at the back of the café. The owner of the hardware and general goods store had been coming in for his breakfast bap like clockwork ever since Ruby’s first day on the job - and there was no way she was going to get in the way of his routine now!
‘You carry on,’ laughed Ruby. ‘Oli will be here in a minute - I’ll make ours.’
‘He’s not coming,’ said Mabel cheerfully.
‘Wait… what?’ said Ruby, feeling like she’d just swallowed a concrete block as heavy disappointment dropped into her stomach.
‘He was here really early,’ said Mabel with a shrug. ‘Asked me to tell you that he wouldn’t be here to meet you. He left you this.’
Mabel handed her a piece of folded printer paper with her name scrawled across it.
‘Erm… thanks,’ said Ruby.
‘You get yourself that coffee,’ said Mabel, smiling at her kindly. ‘I’ll be out the minute I’ve got Stuart’s bap done and you can tell me all about it.’
‘All about what?’ said Ruby.
‘All about that look on your face,’ said Mabel, raising an eyebrow.
‘What look?’ muttered Ruby.
‘The one that says someone’s just cancelled Christmas,’