Ruby

The party was going fine until Mark started to act strange. Over the last few months our lives have been taken over by my music. Freda keeps humming our tunes and often wears a smile. Less time in the New Forest, as our musical career is keeping us busy.

With demands from my manager, Jerry at Harper music, we are now travelling from town to town, we will soon be appearing on British television on ‘This Morning’ with Philip and Holly.  When I was at school, Philip was my secret crush and now I am going to meet him, I’m giggly with excitement every time I think about it. We have always dreamed for success with our musical duo. Freda’s writing and piano playing, and my singing seems to be a winning combination and there is talk of our music being available on Amazon.

These are exciting times and I need Mark to be as excited as we are, but he often wears a frown.  He appears jealous of my success and I don’t want to be pushed to make a choice between them.

The party

Rosie has grown stronger and is concentrating on being a mum. Life is continuing at the pub and Freddie is now just a memory.  As far as I’m aware the police caught his captor. Marcus Ling and hopefully, he is behind bars.

Our growing success has brought new love for Freda.  We hadn’t noticed him following us around different venues so it was a surprise when he approached and asked if she would join him at the bar.

Here we are at Mr Harper’s Christmas party, the champagne is flowing, and Mark is handsome in his navy-blue suit, so why is he annoyed?  Freda is happily laughing with Geoff, and I’m stood at the grand fireplace wobbly on too much alcohol. Making the decision to talk to Mark I stumble clumsily on my high heels.

Mark

Watching Ruby approaching him, he couldn’t help wondering what she saw in him.  Not one for parties, he didn’t feel comfortable amongst the upper classes surrounding him.  Just a working man from the New Forest he had no business around the extremely wealthy.  He loved Ruby but uneasy around her new friends, how was he going to handle this? Flinching as she grabbed his arm, maybe he should just be honest.

“Mark, what’s wrong? You not enjoying the party?”

“You look like you are.”

“Yes, but I’ve also drunk too much.  Kylie is over there, doesn’t that make you smile?” She pointed to the slim pretty blonde over the room.

“Kylie Minogue has never interested me,” he said grumpily, “Sorry Ruby but this is a different world to my bar at home.  I can’t talk to these people, they’re not my people.”

Ruby looked around the room, listening to the excited chatter, she could see why Mark wasn’t comfortable. She glanced at Freda, Geoff was more of this world. They were talking happily to Rick Astley.

Ruby

How do I do this?  I love Mark but I love singing. This would be something we would need to work at.  Looking at my watch I can see its already 11pm. Putting my arm around him, I said,

“It’s okay, wait here.”

Walking over to Freda, I whispered,

“Mark and I are leaving, its late anyway.”

“It’s not that late,” Geoff interrupted.

“Sorry but we’re leaving. Freda I will phone you tomorrow.”

Grabbing Mark, I waved goodbye to Mr Harper who was talking to Jerry.

“Come on let’s get leave this party,” sensing Mark relax, I took his hand.

 Snow

Stepping out, into the December night, I wrapped my coat around me tightly.  Slipping on the snow I cursed my heels.

“Shame you can’t wear trainers to these events.”

“Maybe you could wear sparkly trainers, high heels are so impractical.”

“Trainers don’t match the dress though, but I do agree Mark, heels are so uncomfortable”.

“Ruby, where do you see yourself five years from now?”

I was surprised by his question, but it is something I’ve thought about.  As the snow started falling, I could feel tears start running down my cheeks.  Could I answer this as Mark isn’t happy?

“In five years, I still want to be singing but I also want to be a mum”.  I pulled Mark towards me, I needed to feel his warmth.

“Ruby, I love you and I want you to be happy.  We will have to work together at this life, but I want to be a dad.  Imagine Christmas with small children.”

Looking up at him, all I wanted was him, can we make this work?  We’ve been through so much and other singers keep their partners out of the limelight.  I’m never going to be as famous as Kylie, or am I?  I need to think of today.

A proposal

“Ruby,” now aware that he is kneeling in the snow in front of me, was he really doing this?” seeing the ring my world started to spin.

“Ruby, I love you will you marry me?”

I didn’t have to think, accepting the ring on my finger, I pulled him off the floor laughing and hugged him close.

“Of course, I will yes yes.”

“But Ruby we are not appearing in ‘Hello” magazine.”

“We will keep it quiet, and I’m not a star enough for “Hello.”

“You will be one day. Ruby we can keep the two worlds separate; we’ll have to work at it.”

“We will, who knows where Ruby and Freda will be in five years’ time, but I’d like to think that Ruby and Mark are at home with their two or three children.”

“Two or three? Let’s start with one and go from there.”

“You want a baby now?” I asked playfully.

“Let’s get married first.” Hugging me tight the snow started to fall heavier.  “Come on, let’s get back to the hotel, its late and I want to lie quietly with you.”

Taking Marks hand, we are happy.  The future has not been written yet, it’s up to us to write it and I know it’s going to be quite an adventure.

 

Written for Grammys Grid sentence prompt

For more see, Future musical prospects and friends – Ruby and Freda part 17, this is the final part of the story.