Ruby by Heather Burnside (carter reed txt) 📗

face while he’s doing it too. Besides, what’s the alternative? Stay here and wait to be thrown out?’

Then Ruby’s tone softened and she stared into Tiffany’s eyes. ‘I want the best for us, Tiff. I feel like all this is my fault for letting clients come back here in the first place, and I want to make it up to you.’

‘Aw, thanks, Rubes,’ said Tiffany. ‘But don’t forget, we’re in this together. And I suppose you have got a point.’

‘Definitely, Tiff. Just imagine, it’ll mean we can book in clients at the same time instead of having to take turns.’ Ruby was becoming animated by now, her words tumbling out of her in a rush to share her thoughts with Tiffany. ‘And I’ll be able to have a proper dungeon. Not just a space in a bedroom. A proper dungeon! I’ll be able to get all the big equipment. The clients are always asking for it: stocks, cage, sex sling, the fuckin’ lot!’

‘Erm, maybe it is worth thinking about. I could help you man the desk too and it’ll be great fixing the place up together. We could go and have a look at some other places where our friends work and see how they’ve kitted them out.’

‘Course we can. Tell you what, why don’t we go and see the place he’s found and take it from there? If we don’t like the look of it then we don’t need to take it any further.’

‘Sounds good to me,’ said Tiffany. ‘But I’m not agreeing to anything till I’ve seen the place and had chance to have a good think about it.’

‘I wouldn’t expect you to,’ said Ruby stroking her girlfriend’s shoulder affectionately. She was so glad she had Tiffany’s support, and welcomed her enthusiasm. Life didn’t seem so bad when you had someone loving and caring to share it with. ‘Trust me, Tiff,’ she said. ‘It’ll all work out fine.’

*

The following day Ruby went to visit her mother. When she walked in the living room Tyler was sitting playing on his games console as usual.

‘I’ll go and make us all a cuppa,’ said her mother. ‘Tyler, why don’t you come off that thing for once and talk to your sister?’

Tyler flicked his head around briefly. ‘Hang on a minute. Let me just finish this game,’ he said.

Ruby smiled and ruffled his hair then sat down on the sofa until he’d finished. She heard her mother shout through from the kitchen, ‘Aren’t you gonna tell your sister your good news?’

Tyler then seemed to stop playing mid-game. When he got up, the look on his face suggested he felt a little ashamed for ignoring Ruby, and he took the seat next to her on the sofa.

‘Soz,’ he said.

‘No worries,’ said Ruby, smiling. ‘I’ve grown used to your obsession with that thing by now.’

Tyler’s face became more animated as he said. ‘You’ll never guess what?’ Then, after a dramatic pause, he added, ‘I’ve got a place at Manchester Uni.’

‘You’re joking!’ said Ruby.

‘No, straight up. Two of my mates are going there too. I can’t wait.’

‘Aw, that’s brilliant!’ said Ruby, throwing her arms round him. ‘I’m so pleased for you. You’ve done really well, little bruv.’

‘Less of the little,’ laughed Tyler, standing up as if to demonstrate his height then stepping towards his mother who had just come in through the door, and taking one of the drinks from her.

‘Hasn’t he done well?’ asked Daisy.

‘He has,’ said Ruby, and as she looked at her mother, she noticed a look of pure pride on her face.

‘Aye, I’d be the first to say it, but me kids have all done well for themselves. You and your other two brothers have all got your own homes and good jobs and now our Tyler’s going to university.’

The way her mother slowly emphasised the word university gave Ruby a warm glow, and she went over to her and put her arms around her.

‘You’ve done well, Mam. I’m really pleased for both of you,’ said Ruby.

Seeing her mother like that made her realise just how well her mother had coped considering the circumstances she’d had to endure. She was happy for her but, at the same time, she regretted the harsh opinion she had formed of her when she had been a rebellious teenager. Her mother wasn’t feeble at all. She was a strong woman who had kept a good home and held down two jobs to provide for her children. And she’d done it all by herself.

Ruby also felt a little guilty because her mother didn’t know the truth about what she really did. And Ruby was even more determined that she would never find out. After the life she’d had, her mother deserved her bit of happiness and Ruby decided there was no way she was going to spoil it for her.

23

June 2007

It was another three days before they got chance to view the property Victor had found, which was a large flat above a discount shop, two miles from the city centre in Rusholme. Ruby had rung the estate agents to arrange a viewing and had taken the first available appointment when she, Tiffany and the estate agent were all free.

It was early evening when Ruby headed towards Rusholme in her gleaming BMW feeling a rush of excitement. Ever since she’d told Tiffany about her plans the idea had come to life in her imagination and as she got closer to the viewing appointment, she could feel her heart fluttering as the thoughts whirled around inside her head. Now, as she rushed through the city traffic, she shared some of her ideas with Tiffany.

‘I’ll take the biggest room. I’ll need it to fit all my equipment in. It’ll be nice to have a proper dungeon. We can even have a sign put on the door, saying, Ruby’s Dungeon. I’m gonna kit the place out really nice as well.’

‘Whoa!’ said Tiffany. ‘You’re getting a bit ahead of yourself, aren’t you?