Calling All Dentists (Calling All... Book 2), page 25
“No,” a shaky little voice replied from the other side of the door. “It’s nothing to do with Andrew at all.”
“Well, who is it to do with then?”
“No one… please leave me alone Em. I’m ok really. I’ve just got over emotional about everything that’s been happening, like I always do.”
Emma could totally understand and had to agree one hundred percent on that one. But this time she just had that feeling that there was something else as well. Something that Ruby was not telling her and possibly something that involved her, by the way Ruby had been acting towards her – and Pete for that matter.
“Ok, I’m going now, talk to me if and when you’re ready Rue. I care about you and don’t like to see you like this.” Turning to walk away, Emma could hear the sniffles and sobs coming from Ruby’s room and wondered what on earth could be so wrong with her best friend. The mystery was driving her crazy and momentarily, Emma was compelled to call Pete to find out what was going on, but then she decided against it, just in case it was nothing to do with him, which could possibly stir things up even more for Ruby. She resigned herself to the fact that she would just have to wait patiently before she could begin the slow process of draining every ounce of energy from Ruby, until she gave in and told all.
Just before she went to bed, Emma gently tapped on Ruby’s bedroom door again, and waited… nothing. Ruby hadn’t come out to get her dinner and said she had a bad headache when Emma told her that her baked potato was getting cold. With her heart pounding in her chest, as if she was an intruder in the house, Emma pushed the bedroom door open and saw Ruby tucked up in her bed, fast asleep. Damn, thought Emma, closing the door. It would have to wait until the morning now. Great! Another sleepless night lay ahead because she was so worried about Ruby. Emma only hoped there wouldn’t be any nasty beings coming to visit her dreams again tonight or worse still, a devil-dentist in the form of Andrew.
***
“Morning, are you feeling any better?” said Emma, poking her head around Ruby’s bedroom door.
“I’ve got a terrible headache, could you tell Colin I won’t be in today,” whispered Ruby.
Emma could just make out two little, blood-shot eyes peeping over the duvet, “Ruby, it’s not like you to miss work. What is the matter?”
“I just don’t feel very well… that’s all. I’ll be ok if I go back to sleep. Please apologise to Colin for me.”
“And what about Pete?”
“Tell him I’ve got a migraine and hopefully I’ll see him tomorrow.” Ruby pulled the cover back over her head and curled into a ball under the quilt.
“Rue, I’m getting seriously worried about you. If you don’t talk to me or tell me what’s wrong… well… well, I’m going to speak to your parents.”
“Promise I’ll talk to you tonight. Sorry Em, my head is thumping.”
“Ok, as long as you keep your promise. I’ve hardly slept all night, worrying about you.”
“I will… pinky promise,” said Ruby as she pushed her little finger out from under the quilt and held it up in the air.
“Ok, pinky promise.” Deflated, Emma closed the bedroom door and headed to the kitchen to make a much needed large mug of coffee, before she went to work.
Her saving grace was that it was Friday and she’d managed to get through the week much easier than she initially thought. The one problem with it being Friday was that tomorrow would most definitely be Saturday – the day she was meeting Andrew. Emma squirmed at the thought of seeing him – what was he going to think of her? He was bound to notice her missing tooth before she even began to tell him about it and she knew she had to explain everything to him if they were to stand any chance of reconciliation.
Strangely, no-one else seemed to have noticed at work though (apart from the office staff obviously), or had they? Perhaps they were all being very polite down on the shop floor or maybe Colin had held a secret meeting to threaten all the staff of Webb’s DIY Store not to mention Emma’s tooth problem at all or they would be instantly dismissed from their posts.
Emma laughed to herself and padded through to the living room with her steaming mug of coffee, at least she could laugh about the problem now which she supposed was a step forward.
Darren had been up to the office once and had spent most of his time cracking jokes about the Christmas party and his blossoming relationship with Amanda, head of the ‘giggle-girl’ gang but Emma had noticed that he didn’t look at her any differently. In fact, he had actually winked at her again (which did not have the same effect as the last time he had looked at her flirtatiously).
This morning, Emma seemed to have a renewed vigour and felt optimistic about her meeting with Andrew tomorrow. After all, what was the worst that could happen? They could both chose to go their own separate ways, after the coffee and cakes of course, and that was probably about as bad as it could get.
“Morning,” said Emma as she walked in to the office past Pete, who was leaning over his desk, scribbling something on a piece of paper.
“Morning,” he replied, without looking up.
“Ruby won’t be in today, she‘s got a bad migraine.”
“Not like her to be off,” said Pete, still looking down at the paper on his desk, “A migraine?”
“Yes but I think it’s been brought on by worry. She’s not herself Pete.”
“Why what’s wrong with her?” Pete shot a glance at Emma and then turned away to the kettle and began making coffee for two.
“Don’t know – she won’t say. I thought you might know.”
“Why would I know?” Pete snapped back. “Sorry Em but I don’t know why she’s got a migraine do I?”
“I’m sure you don’t Pete. I just wondered if you knew why she’s been so unhappy for the last day or so.”
“Nope. Don’t know why.” Pete continued to stand with his back to Emma as he busied himself preparing mugs of coffee while he waited for the kettle to boil.
“Ok, what about you? Are you alright?”
“Yes, why do you ask that?” Pete turned around and eyed Emma suspiciously.
“I was just wondering Pete, that’s all. You seem to be as bad as Ruby, what’s wrong with the pair of you for heaven’s sake?”
“Nothing, I’m fine… coffee?” Emma nodded and sighed as she slipped her coat off and hung it on a hook. “I’ll call her tonight, check she’s ok,” said Pete, nonchalantly.
“Ok, I just thought…”
“I’ll call her ok?” Pete scoffed.
Again Emma nodded and gave a half-hearted smile just as Dave appeared in the doorway, beaming as usual and looking around the office.
“No Ruby?” he asked, looking at both Pete and Emma.
“No…” Emma and Pete replied simultaneously and then continued to busy themselves, while Dave slipped off his jacket and looked around puzzled.
“Why’s she not in then?” asked Dave, feeling the tension in the air.
“Headache” replied Emma without looking up from her desk.
“Blimey, what’s wrong with you two this morning?”
“Nothing.” Again, the same simultaneous response came.
Dave tutted and went to his desk to sit down, rather sulkily. His entrance this morning hadn’t had the usual effect of being a big one – full of admirers and colleagues, speechless in awe of his presence. “Can see this is going to be a long day,” he harrumphed and began to sieve through the papers on his desk.
Emma and Pete remained silent with their heads down and everyone sulked together – about what? They didn’t really know.
Jeff was off again and Colin didn’t arrive in the office until way past eleven o’clock. The other three had worked silently during the first part of the morning and had each taken a break at separate times. They made excuses to avoid sharing a break by making out that they ‘just had this to finish’, or they just had to ‘tie up these loose ends’, or they just had to ‘nip down to the shop floor to sort something out’. All in all, Emma, Pete and Dave had pretty much ignored each other all morning and the atmosphere was like a sheet of thick, black smoke when Colin turned up.
“Morning,” he said firmly, as he trudged over to his desk, next to Emma and plonked a briefcase on the top. “It’s quiet in here this morning.” No one said anything but they all looked up and gave him a half-hearted smile or nod. “You look like a bunch of concentration camp prisoners – has someone’s cat died or something?” Colin cringed and realised his words may have been slightly inappropriate because Emma had just lost her grandad and because someone’s cat may have just died, but then Colin couldn’t think of anyone that might have a cat.
“You know Ruby’s not in today don’t you?” Emma broke the trio’s silence. “Did you get my message?” Colin nodded and sat down, still wearing his overcoat on top of a dark grey suit.
“Not like her to have a headache or take a day off. In fact I think she’s the only member of staff that has never had any time off – apart from holidays.”
“She really wasn’t good this morning,” said Emma, looking over at Pete from the corner of her eye. Colin noticed Emma’s sly glance and also peered over at Pete, who continued to work with his head down, ignoring everyone.
“She’s not pregnant is she?” laughed Colin and then stopped abruptly as he realised he’d probably done it again when he saw Pete’s horrified reaction.
Pete had raised his head and dropped his jaw, staring wide-eyed from Emma to Colin and back again, like his eyeballs were on a relay circuit.
“I’m sorry mate, only joking.” Colin tried to retract the comment, “No, I hear she has a migraine. Not the same here without our Ruby, is it?” He looked down and picked up a pen and then began to drum it on the side of the mahogany desk. “I’ll be off out again in half an hour. I don’t expect I’ll be back today – more bloody meetings,” said Colin, tutting and raising his eyebrows.
Emma smiled weakly and looked across to Pete, who had returned to studying the paperwork in front of him. Dave too, had steered clear of any involvement in the conversation and continued to sulk. He was probably Webb’s sulkiest employee when he wanted to be and Emma had always thought that he should win an award for it.
Lunchtime arrived and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The strained atmosphere of the morning had faded slightly but it still felt to Emma, like there had been many words un-said during the morning.
Colin had left the building a while ago and the three remaining office staff had quietly got on with their duties while the phone rang from time to time, only once had it been Mr Kibble at the end of the phone but Pete and Emma could tell by the way that Dave raised his eyebrows, slumped back in his chair and rubbed his forehead, that Mr Kibble had some new, strange requests for Webb’s DIY Store.
Emma hesitated before leaving the office, in the hope that Dave would disappear and then she could talk to Pete again, undisturbed. “Anyone want anything from Halley’s?” asked Dave, slipping his jacket on and checking his wallet. Both Emma and Pete shook their heads, mumbled an incoherent, ‘no thanks’ and smiled awkwardly.
“Ok Pete, I know something is going on between you and Ruby,” said Emma, once she was absolutely sure she’d heard Dave stand on the squeaky step at the bottom of the stairs and then the sound of the back door closing. “I know there’s something funny going on. Rue hasn’t just got a headache.”
“Told you… I don’t know. I’m going shopping.” Pete snatched his coat from the peg and hurried out of the door before Emma could reply.
Speechless and confused, Emma stood in the middle of the empty office and wanted to scream.
How are you feeling? Love Em xxx
Much better, I’m sorry Emma. Could you tell Colin I am so sorry for taking the day off and I’ll do overtime to make up for the lost time today.
He’s out of the office all day – just text him. See you tonight, hope we can have a chat love Em xxxxxxxxxxx
The afternoon was much the same as the morning had been – tetchy, tedious and glazed with a thorny hush. As the clock on the wall slowly moved around the hours, Emma sighed every once in a while. She mulled over the idea of standing up and bellowing out a statement of facts about the ridiculous situation she had come to find herself in with her two estranged colleagues and scowled across the room at them from time to time. However, her better judgement prevailed and she just sat quietly and got a surprising amount of work completed and tied up. Much to her relief, the minute hand finally made its way round to the number 12, while the little hand just about reached the 5 and that was it – time to go home.
“See you tomorrow,” said Emma, grabbing her coat and slinging her bag over her shoulder. Both Pete and Dave mumbled, ‘goodbye’ as she left the room and headed for the top of the stairs, feeling annoyed. Stupid bloody idiots, she thought and trotted down the steps with a sudden ‘Friday feeling’ in her heart.
Sorry I’ve been a miserable person today Emma. Hope you have a good weekend. Pete.
Thank you and don’t worry about it. I’m just worried that you and Ruby are upset with each other, or maybe even me? I just don’t know? Em
It’s not you, honestly. Talk to you on Monday Emma.
Ok, no worries. You’re lucky that I like you both – have a good weekend. Will you be seeing Ruby over the weekend?
Yes – hope so Pete.
Me too
Chapter 23
“You really shouldn’t have done this Rue,” said Emma, dragging out a chair from underneath the small, rectangular table in the kitchen. The table was set for two people and every effort had been made to present their best set of crockery on top of the white, lace tablecloth that Ruby’s parents had donated as one of their house warming presents, when they moved into the flat. Ruby pottered around the kitchen, draining saucepans of water, stirring others and checking the contents of the oven.
“I wanted to apologise for last night and thought you might like this,” Ruby replied.
Moving across to the fridge, she pulled out two pre-prepared, prawn cocktails, elegantly displayed on two white plates. She’d obviously gone to a lot of trouble with the way she presented the starters. Each one had a single, large leaf of lettuce laid out on the plate which was surrounded by blue coloured seafood sauce (Emma could only assume) which had also been carefully formed in to a wave pattern. Each lettuce leaf was filled with prawns in a pink sauce and one trimmed spring onion lay across the lettuce leaf, on each side, sticking out to the edge of the plate. To top it all, Ruby had placed a slice of (crust removed) white bread on the top via a cocktail stick. Her magnificent creations looked like little rowing boats on the sea, although they also had a sail, in the form of a single slice of bread, held up by the cocktail stick. But whatever they were, Emma decided that the duo-powered sea vessels were absolutely fabulous little works of art.
Placing them gently onto the table, Ruby smiled sweetly and then returned to the fridge to collect two side plates with buttered brown bread on them.
“Ah, this looks lovely Ruby. You really didn’t have to go to all this trouble, especially if you weren’t feeling well earlier.”
“I wanted to Em. I felt so bad about everything… I’m really, really sorry.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it; just tell me what has been wrong. I’ve got a sneaky feeling it’s something between you and Pete, as he has hardly said a word to me all day.”
Ruby picked up her fork and began to gather up a prawn, dripping in seafood sauce, some lettuce and a piece of spring onion that she had chopped up.
“It didn’t need to come to this. You know you can tell me anything Rue.” Emma hadn’t touched her starter and watched Ruby eating hers for a minute. Ruby’s creative masterpieces looked too good to eat, Emma thought before picking up her fork and tucking right in.
“Let’s enjoy this first and then we can talk afterwards.” Ruby gave one of her melt-any-heart smiles and continued to tuck in to her beautifully-made, prawn cocktail.
“Ok,” said Emma, resignedly. “What’s for main?”
“You’ll have to wait and see,” said Ruby.
Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow at 12. Andy xx
Ditto. 12pm it is. Em.
Emma placed her phone on the side table and stretched her legs out along the two-seater sofa. She’d eaten far too much but the meal that Ruby had made was truly delicious. The main course had consisted of a mouth-watering mix of unusual vegetables (Ruby always liked to experiment with different and quite exotic vegetables, especially when they were available in the local supermarket), roasted potatoes and a meat and nut loaf, which Emma found to be surprisingly nice. She’d never liked the sound of Ruby’s nut loaves before, but today she’d tried it out of politeness and was pleased that she had.
Dessert was something else – a ‘Ruby creation’, all of its own. Biscuit crumbs sat on the top of a bed of mixed berries in a fruity sauce and then a thin layer of sponge, soaked in brandy followed by a dollop of thick cream. On the very top, Ruby had drizzled toffee sauce and chocolate shavings.
“What is this, I’ve never seen anything like it before? It looks very yummy though,” said Emma, politely.
“Upside-down dessert,” replied Ruby with a squeaky giggle. “I thought I’d try something different. I did it all the wrong way round… sort of.”
Now, Emma was so bloated, she could hardly move and the only comfortable way to sit on the sofa was to spread out along its whole length, while she waited for Ruby to bring two Baileys coffees through to the lounge.
