Calling All Dentists (Calling All... Book 2), page 20
The nail clippers were useless. The hammer was too efficient at smashing bits off of the plastic molded teeth and Emma had already caught her thumb nail under the wickedly sharp chisel as it shattered the teeth into pieces, under the force of the hammer. “Argh!” she grunted, tossing the chisel aside. “How am I going to get just one tooth off?”
“I don’t think it would work anyway Emma. I mean, how are you going to fix it in?” Ruby had dampened her hair down and sat curled up with a mug of herbal tea and her latest Mills & Boon novel on her lap.
“Well, I’ve got to try.” Emma had managed to break away several parts of the plastic, leaving a set of just four little teeth. One of the middle ones looked like a perfect fit for her gap.
“Em, don’t you think this is a bit…”
“A bit what?” snapped Emma.
“Well, you know… a bit crazy,” Ruby sighed, “Aren’t you getting a bit obsessed Emma?”
“Sandpaper – that’s what I need!” she said while ignoring Ruby’s last comments. Emma jumped up and went back to the cupboard to root around in the depths of what could have been mistaken as the wardrobe in the Chronicles of Narnia film, it stretched back so far.
She’d spent 2 hours on the damned thing and then thrown it across the bathroom in rage. The little, single tooth looked totally ridiculous wedged in between her own teeth. It stood out worse than the actual gap itself. The colour did not match at all and the plastic replica was far too small. What a frigging waste of a Saturday, she thought to herself and stomped into her bedroom and threw herself on the bed.
Ruby was next door in her room, getting ready for her night out with Pete. She’d spent the afternoon pacing up and down the hallway, talking to herself, patting her hair down and studying her fingernails before devouring them.
“Do you think these will be ok?” she asked, peering around the bedroom door, clutching a pair of old jeans in her hand.
“They’re a bit tatty Rue. I suppose it depends on what you’re going to wear with them,” said Emma, slightly bitterly. She should have been going out with Andrew tonight.
“Trainers… or these?” Ruby asked, holding up her black Hush Puppies used mainly for work.
“Neither!” Emma picked herself up from the bed and padded through to Ruby’s room. “Boots, you haven’t got any have you?”
“I’ve got my grey snow boots.”
“No, you can’t wear them. If you’re wearing old jeans you need to tart them up with a nice top and some high-heeled boots!”
It was a good job that Emma was the same shoe size as Ruby, “Here try these,” she said, throwing her black, knee high boots on to Ruby’s bed. A few minutes later Emma returned from her room, laden with different tops and blouses. “And this would look lovely on you.” Dropping the other tops on the floor, she held up a low-cut blouse with pale blue, silky flowers embroidered down each side of the button edge. “Try it on.”
Emma walked back out of the room, noted the time on her new cheap-looking, digital watch (a Christmas tree present from Grandma and Grandad – but most definitely purchased by Grandma) and went into the lounge to check the phone. No messages. Good. She’d felt a little on edge all day, fearing that Andrew might just turn up unexpectedly. Now and again she would go to the window and peer outside to check he wasn’t coming along the road or parked up outside the flat. Quite what she would have done if he had turned up, she really had no idea – unless the spare cupboard really was the way to Narnia and she could disappear in to it. Teeth and all.
“Do I look all right?” asked Ruby, hobbling in to the lounge wearing Emma’s boots.
“Gorgeous – Ruby Winters, are you wearing make-up?” Emma looked surprised.
“Just a tiny bit. I bought a brown mascara from the chemist yesterday lunch time.”
“Good for you Rue,” said Emma, even more surprised that her geeky little friend had actually been to the shop and bought herself some make-up (even if it was only one item) and more astonished that she’d managed to apply it herself.
“Does it look ok?” asked Ruby, moving closer and thrusting her face forward, almost nose to nose, into Emma’s face for a closer inspection.
“Yes, you’ve done well. I’m amazed at the way you’ve changed Rue.” Emma had to admit that Ruby was naturally good looking and didn’t really need any make-up at all. The most beautiful thing about Ruby was the fact that she didn’t know how beautiful she was. “I’ll hide in my bedroom when Pete turns up. I really don’t want to see him, or anyone else for that matter. Tell him I’m in bed if he asks.” Ruby nodded and smiled. “I hope you have a lovely time tonight Rue.”
“Thank you,” she said sweetly. “We’re going to see an old movie at the cinema, not sure what it’s called but I’m so excited. Then we’re going to the Waterhouse for an all-you-can-eat Chinese meal.”
“That’s nice. Bet you’ll have a lovely time with Pete. You’re made for each other.” Emma really meant what she said but she just couldn’t help feeling slightly jealous. Not jealous that Ruby was seeing Pete but jealous that Ruby was going out, having fun, spending time with a man and all with her teeth fully intact.
Once she was sure they’d left, Emma vacated her bedroom, went in to the lounge and put the television on before picking up her phone to read the message. She’d heard it play the antique notification tune before Pete and Ruby left and had to sit and wait patiently before she could read it.
Hi babe, hope you’re feeling a bit better. I’m looking forward to seeing you really soon. Love Andy xx
Ditto. Feeling rough still and throat is killing. Can’t wait to see you after the funeral stuff is all over and done with. Em xxx
Cringing through the lies, Emma placed the phone on the side table and flicked through the channels, it was going to be a very long night and she still had to fathom out how to fill the gap.
Chapter 18
Morning again, hope you’re feeling better and enjoy seeing your family today, although for a very sad occasion. Andy xx
Feeling a bit better, still can’t talk (probably a blessing for Ruby). Hope you have a good day. Miss you too Em xxx
Placing the phone on to her bedside table, Emma stretched and yawned and then snapped her jaws together quickly to listen to the noise outside of her room. Muffled voices and footsteps drifted away, along the hallway, and into the living room. It must be Ruby – and Pete! Had he stayed overnight again? Emma couldn’t imagine Ruby inviting Pete to stay the night, especially if she was sober. Would she? Had they slept together? Surely not.
Listening through the opened crack of the door, Emma’s thoughts were confirmed, it was definitely Pete. “I’ll just have a quick one then I had better go,” said Pete in a low, hushed voice but just loud enough that Emma could make out what he was saying.
The sound of cups being placed on the worktop and the kettle revving up could be heard, then Emma closed the door and went back to sit on her bed. Damn – she’d have to wait until he’d left before she could get up. There was no way she was going to see Pete, unless she could keep her lips sealed and that would look very odd if she said nothing, apart from ‘Um’. There were enough ‘Um’s’ in the flat from Ruby, let alone Emma taking on the trait too.
Emma buried her head in her hands. What the hell was she going to do? She needed to get to the bathroom mirror and check that she didn’t look like the lagoon monster, permanently imprinted on her mind. She picked up the magnifying hand mirror on the dressing table and stared hard into it. It always made her face look horribly porous and downy as the 10x magnifier blew everything out of proportion – including the now, gigantic gap!
Tossing the mirror on to the bed, Emma slumped down and then began to think about the coming couple of days: Jack coming home, the funeral and all the people that would attend (at least it wouldn’t be an occasion to smile all day), the dentist on Tuesday, back to work and seeing Andrew. She had to face up to the fact that she couldn’t hide away forever. Maybe she could say that she fell down the stairs and hit her mouth on the banister. That wouldn’t work because she had no bruising around her mouth and they also had no stairs. Emma was lost in her thoughts, until the moment she heard the front door close.
Tiptoeing down the hallway, Emma listened carefully for any signs that someone else was in the living room. “Morning Emma,” said Ruby, from behind her.
“Oh God – you made me jump!” Emma slapped her hand on her chest, “Has Pete gone?”
“Yes, I hope you don’t mind that he stayed last night,” said Ruby, clutching a mug of her usual morning tea. Her hair could only be described as the after effects of a hurricane-blown bird’s nest as she smiled sweetly, while waiting for a response.
“No, not at all. You could do with sorting your hair out though,” laughed Emma, “Did you have a good night?”
Ruby looked down at her slippers, “Um… yes.” Then she smiled, coyly.
“Did you sleep with him?”
“Yes, it was a bit of a squash though.”
“No, I mean did you s…l…e…e…p with him?” Emma was itching to know and by the look on Ruby’s face she was guessing that maybe she had.
“Um,” replied Ruby and scuttled away in to the living room.
Emma followed her. “Well?”
“Well what?” Ruby curled up on the sofa, gripping her mug like it was her last ever cup of herbal tea.
“Well, how was it?” Emma thought for a moment, “I mean, did you have a nice time?”
“Um,” replied Ruby, unable to look Emma in the face. “The meal was lovely.”
“No, I mean when you got home. Bedtime… you know what I mean.”
“Um…”
“So you’ve had sex with him?”
“Um.” Ruby suddenly began to cry softly. The tiny tears welled up in her eyes and plopped over the edge on to her soft, rosy cheeks.
“Rue, what’s the matter?” asked Emma, sitting down next to her and placing an arm around her shoulder.
“I don’t know,” she said, sniffing and wiping her eyes. “I really like Pete.”
“Well that’s good isn’t it?” Emma was puzzled. “So why are you crying? I don’t get it.”
“It was a lovely evening and I like him a lot. I think I’m just really happy,” sobbed Ruby.
“Oh, come here you daft lemon.” Emma pulled Ruby closer to her and hugged her tightly. “I’m so happy for you Rue. You make a lovely couple, and you’ve had SEX!” Ruby gave a quivering smile and wiped away another tear. “You’re officially a non-virgin Rue! Oh my Goodness, I can’t believe it.”
“Please don’t tell anyone.”
“Of course I won’t. This is your private life, no one else’s. I’m hardly going to write a book about it, am I?” Ruby laughed and Emma decided not to press for any more details about Ruby’s budding sex-life – that could come later.
“I’m leaving now Rue. I’ll see you tomorrow night, all being well.”
“Ok, send my love to everyone, especially your mum and grandma.” Ruby walked through the hall to the front door and held the door open. “Goodbye,” she said, pecking Emma on the cheek.
“Have fun tonight with Pete and make sure you keep off my bed if you start tearing each other’s clothes off and having sex all over the flat.”
Ruby breathed a sharp intake of breath, “Emma – I’m not going to do that!” Her face looked horrified again. “He’s only coming round for a coffee. We’ve got work tomorrow.”
“Ah well, once it’s started Rue, it won’t stop. You’ll soon be humping like randy rabbits.”
Ruby laughed as her face glowed a crimson red, flushed with embarrassment. “Goodbye Emma,” she said pushing her best friend out of the door, “I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow.”
The urge to jump on Jack’s back was still overwhelming after all these years but Emma managed to control herself, hugged him tightly and pecked him on the cheek. Misty ran around in circles, at their feet. She had already sensed that something was going on in the Frey household and she kept collecting bones and balls from her toy box and depositing them at the feet of anyone who showed an interest in her.
“Allo Sis. Good to see yer.” He smiled and then studied Emma’s face with a puzzled look on his. Jack’s accent had changed over the years whilst living in Germany and funnily enough, he sounded more like a cockney than anything else now and more so since he’d learned to speak fluent German, which didn’t make any sense at all.
“Lost one,” said Emma, pulling her bottom lip down and smiling.
“Bloody hell, how d’ya do that?” Jack frowned, while trying to get Misty to sit down by his side. “You been in a fight?”
“No, it just fell out.” Emma rolled her bottom lip and gave a ‘puppy-dog’ look with her big brown eyes.
She always felt like the baby whenever she saw Jack. He was the eldest of her three brothers and 8 years her senior. The family had always joked about the fact that Emma’s parents had needed to take a 5 year break after Jack was born, as the shock of raising a child was just too much for them, before they had the other 3 children, who then came along, one straight after another.
Emma sat down and quietly explained her whole predicament to Jack, knowing he would understand her problems and worries. Her other two brothers had far less empathy and would have told her just to get to the dentist and ‘man-up’, or in her case ‘woman-up’ and if her boyfriend didn’t like her anymore, just because she had a tooth missing, then he wasn’t worth bothering about. Only Jack understood her real insecurities and fears. It was a great shame that he lived out in Germany with his wife and 2 children and Emma often wished he would just come back to the UK where he belonged.
Jack had done his time in the Army and then he left and became a heavy-goods lorry driver. He’d met his wife who was half German, half English while still serving in the Army and shortly after leaving the forces they’d married and had 2 beautiful boys. They ventured over to the UK about once every year, usually in the summer time, to see Jack’s family and Emma always missed them terribly when they went home after their 2 week stay. She begged them to move over to England every time they came. For this occasion, Jack had come over alone. He had 3 days leave from his job to attend the funeral and would have to return to Germany on Tuesday.
“I would have come with you on Tuesday, if I hadn’t had to get back Sis,” said Jack, staring at Emma’s mouth.
“I know you would have. Mum’s coming with me though, so it’ll be ok,” said Emma.
Jack grinned and winked at her before returning to the dining room where everyone was sitting around the table, drinking tea and talking, mainly about Grandad.
Alex and Grandma flapped around most of the day, worrying about this and fretting about that. Was there going to be enough food for the buffet? How many people would come back after the funeral? Was the house tidy enough? Where was the dog going to go? Grandma did not want Misty disrespecting Grandad’s wake by going around sniffing everyone’s bottom – and rightly so, everyone had agreed. And then there were all of the other things to worry about, like were the two toilets clean and did Alex have enough plates and cups?
Jack and Aaron played about upstairs, in Aaron’s bedroom, with the photo streaming film that would be played on the television during the wake. Everyone had rallied round and collected as many photos as they could of Grandad, so Jack and Aaron could put them into some kind of order to tell the story of his life.
Grant was at work but would be taking the day off tomorrow and Joe and Tiffany would be arriving early in the morning.
The phone didn’t stop. Great Aunts and Uncles, Cousins from near and far, old friends and even older work colleagues, called all day to finalise the arrangements and times for Grandad’s funeral.
The house was full of hustle and bustle, which was just what Emma needed to keep her mind off her own problems. She’d worked out how to speak without the gap showing too much as she knew she would have to talk to a lot of people tomorrow. She could talk clearly while sucking in and holding her bottom lip firmly against the bottom row of teeth, aided by her tongue at the back. She looked a little odd, as if she’d had a facelift on her jaw line, which pulled and stretched her bottom lip backwards, towards her ears but she had decided that her appearance looked far better this way than the one of a 7 year old child, having lost her first tooth.
By the evening the sausage rolls were cooked and everything else was prepared and ready to go. Jack and Aaron returned from the Chinese take-away, carrying bags of chicken fried rice, chicken balls and chips.
Grant was slumped on the sofa after a long day at work and Grandma and Alex pottered around in the kitchen, unable to sit still for 5 minutes. Soon enough, everyone sat down at the dining table and quietly nibbled their way through the mountains of food as Grandad’s funeral loomed.
Back in her old bedroom, Emma lay on the bed staring at the ceiling with a very full and gurgling tummy. She’d eaten nothing all day and then over-indulged on the Chinese meal. Looking around the room she felt like a young girl again, except she was minus her dear old grandad. Christmas had come and gone in a blur and Emma had spent more time in her childhood bedroom, these last couple of weeks, than anywhere else. She was nervous and felt over-emotional about tomorrow’s events – she almost wished she was a child again, things were easier then.
Ruby’s antique phone trembled on the bedside table and Emma knew it would be Andrew. Strangely, she hadn’t thought about him quite so much today.
Hi Emma, just to let you know that I will be thinking of you tomorrow. Missing you madly. Andy xx
Thanks Andy. It’s been like a beehive here today. Dreading tomorrow – but then I suppose that is to be expected. Em xxx Smiling to herself, Emma replaced the mobile on the table and went to take a shower and practice new verbal skill. A skill that was not quite good enough however, for her to confidently see Andrew again.
