Read Online A Promise Between Friends by Carol Rivers - Free Book Online Page A

of girlfriends. None had stood the test of time. Was Joanie one of Pete’s secrets? A special girl he’d really liked?
    Ruby read on. Some entries weren’t dated. There were random thoughts and even poems. Suddenly she realized the house was quiet. Replacing the shoes, she closed the wardrobe door quietly.
There was no sewing-machine noise. Quickly she slipped Pete’s diary under her jumper.
    A few steps later and she was safely in the bathroom.
    ‘Oh, here you are,’ her mother said, looking in. ‘I went outside to see if you was in the garden.’
    ‘Would you mind if I had a bath?’ Ruby asked. ‘I ain’t had a good soak for ages.’
    ‘Course not. There’s plenty of hot water. The council put in a new boiler to cure the damp. Just turn the knob and it’ll come through.’
    ‘Thanks, Mum.’
    ‘There’s a towel behind the door,’ Babs said, frowning. ‘I’ll go and find some Lifebuoy.’
    After she’d gone, Ruby turned the knob. Soon the cold, musty bathroom was warm. At least there was constant hot water now.
    She wondered if her mum knew about Pete’s diary. Would she look for it, then find it gone? No. That was unlikely. The catch in the wardrobe was hidden.
    ‘Here you are, ducks.’ Babs returned with the soap.
    Ruby couldn’t undress as the diary was inside her jumper. But her mum just stood there.
    ‘It’s nice to have you home,’ Babs said sadly. ‘Just like the old days.’
    This gave Ruby a jolt. Her mum had never said she missed her before. It had all been about Pete. Now Babs stood there, staring through puzzled eyes. As if, looking at Ruby, she had suddenly
remembered something she’d lost.
    Ruby knew it was still all about Pete. The son Babs had loved so dearly and was now gone. But where? This question was in her mother’s gaze, the mother who couldn’t leave grief
behind.
    ‘Pete will be pleased to see you.’
    A shiver went over Ruby. It was as if Pete’s ghost was trapped in the prefab. Babs kept him prisoner, refusing to allow Pete his escape.
    ‘Better get on with me sewing,’ Babs said in a distant voice, and, to Ruby’s relief, went out.

Chapter Eight
    It was early in December and most shops had already put up their decorations. Ruby left the bus in Oxford Street, eager to window shop as she made her way to Dower Street. The
lights strung overhead were not yet alight. Everyone was busy shopping, enjoying the Saturday afternoon. She gazed in all the shop windows. There were tall artificial green Christmas trees,
decorated with silver balls and glitter. Lifelike models of children wearing winter coats and hats with brightly coloured scarves. Over it all was a dusting of white fake snow.
    Carols were being played by a Salvation Army band and Ruby paused to listen. She dug in her purse for a copper to give to the worthwhile cause. After listening to ‘Silent Night’,
Ruby moved on. Once again she saw her reflection in the windows as she passed through the crowds. Her new outfit, bought at the Co-op last week to cheer herself up, looked very smart. The
three-quarter-length coat and straight skirt looked classy, a definite plus. She wanted to impress Anna. Unfortunately, she was broke again, but she was in no hurry to settle the rent. Not after
Bernie’s unforgivable behaviour!
    Her extravagance quickly forgotten, she continued to admire her reflection. The plum-coloured coat with its high rolled collar marked her out from the crowd. Her black suede peep-toes, leather
gloves and fashionable beret were the perfect accessories.
    Ruby paraded on, her bottom swaying from side to side. She felt top dollar, as Pete would say. For a few seconds she thought about his diary tucked safely away in her drawer. Every so often
she’d take it out and read it. But only when Kath wasn’t there. And that wasn’t very often.
    It was now almost three, according to the clock above a tobacconist’s. As Debbie had left early to meet Rog she’d closed the parlour at twelve and