And I Come Back To You

Chapter One - Here you are

 Brian was pacing up and down with fear in his chest, in Edith Grove. He had tried hard to tame his wild curls, so he wouldn't look terrible next to her. He was wearing an elegant black shirt half open – as usual – and grey jeans. The times he wore very colourful clothes and scarves were a long way off! “Ruby...” he whispered. A flow of feelings invaded him. For the past twenty three-years, he had hoped he would see her again, and just when he had given up, she appeared to him in a crowd. Yet, he just couldn't ring the doorbell. “Maybe she's busy and I'll interrupt her...” he thought. He scratched the back of his head, mumbling.

Meanwhile, inside the flat, Ruby was sitting in what was Dennis's room one day. She was listening to their old records, looking at pictures she found in a box under the bed. She laughed as she saw a photograph of a three year old Dennis with a newly born Ruby sitting on his chubby knees. She put it aside, and looked at the next picture. They had both grown up, and they were eating ice cream in Hyde Park. “Oh, Hyde Park!” she told herself, remembering the wonderful date she had there with Brian in 1969. She sighed. She knew he had seen her in the crowd the night before; she could still see the expression on his face. His eyes had widened and his jaw had slightly dropped. As the record on the turntable stopped, she stood up and walked up to it, turning it on the other side. She absently watched the record rotate. “Gibing this letter was a waste of time. He never read it.”

Ruby's cousin, Jane, was cooking a quiche in the kitchen, humming Tangerine. She opened the oven and put it inside. She wiped her hands on her apron and removed it. She opened a shelf and took out two plates with two forks and knives. She closed it and walked up to the living room, placing them on the table. Ruby appeared behind her.
“Oh, Ruby, you're here! I cooked a quiche Lorraine, it will remind you of France!”
“Thanks, Jane. Ah, this house is full of memories!”
“Yeah, mum didn't want to change anything, in case you would come back.”
“Don't you feel embarrassed to live amongst others' memories? I mean, I don't mind, but don't you feel strange?”
“No, I've loved this flat since we moved in.”
Jane smiled at her. Ruby envied her a lot. She was still young (she was only 29) and she was gorgeous. She had her mother's long blonde hair and her father's brown eyes; she was quite thin and Ruby couldn't believe she was pregnant. It wasn't visible at all, whereas it was when Ruby was pregnant, despite her light curves.
“Jane, can I use the phone?”
“Why do you ask? You're at home here.”
“Thanks.”
Ruby smiled and walked up to the kitchen, where she found the phone. It was still the same as before. She picked up the handset and heard the traditional beep. She remembered that one day, Brian's curls had touched this same handset. She smiled and shook her head. “Ruby, you're such a groupie!” she giggled. She dialled a number she knew by heart. Beep. Beep. Beep.
“May Franklin here.”
“Hi, May, it's mum. How are you?”
“Oh mum! It's great to hear you! I've just had the results of my first semester and I had the best grades once again.”
“Oh, congratulations, dear!” she smiled. “I'm so proud of you!”
“Thanks! By the way, how was the concert? Did you see... dad?”
Ruby grinned as she heard her call him dad whereas she never knew him. She took a deep breath.
“Well, the concert was really outstanding, they played very well, as usual. We could almost feel that Freddie was here.”
“Wow, I wish I had been able to be here! Where was your seat?”
“At the front row. I was just in front of him.”
“Oh... I hope it didn't hurt you too much. Did he notice you?”
“Yeah, he did while playing the last song.”
“I hope he recognised you.”
“Oh, yes he did! His jaw dropped!”
May and Ruby laughed. Ruby heard a noise and another voice through the telephone.
“Oh, am I disturbing you, sweetheart?”
“No, not at all. Marie's here, we're celebrating our success!” she giggled.
“Say hello for me, Marie's such a sweet girl.”
“I will. I have to go, mum. It was nice hearing from you.”
“Have fun with your friends, love. But be careful.”
“I promise I will. I love you.”
“I love you, May.”
Then, she hung up. Ruby sighed, happy that she had heard her daughter's voice. She missed her so much, and she would have loved her to see her father for real. She walked back to the living room, where Jane was looking out the window, a bit puzzled.
“What's going on, Jane?”
“There's a strange man down there. I've been looking at him for five minutes and he didn't go away. He's right in front of our main door.”
Ruby frowned and stood beside her. Her eyes followed the same direction as Jane's and it hit her right in the heart. Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened, just like Brian the other night.
“Do you know him?”
“It's Bri... It's my Bri... He's here!”
Jane was surprised. Ruby ran to her bedroom and opened her suitcase. She drew out a blue dress and closed it. She undressed quickly and put on the dress. She grabbed her hairbrush and rushed into the bathroom. She untied her hair and brushed them, before combing them in a braid.
“Is he still here?” she shouted to Jane.
“He is.”
Ruby looked at herself in the mirror. She realised only now that many years had gone, but she didn't want to hide her few wrinkles. “I want to be natural for him.” She sighed and lifted her chin. “You're beautiful, Ruby” she said to herself, trying to summon her courage. She stepped out of the bathroom and crossed the corridor. She bent over her shoes and put them on.
“Do I add a third place setting?” Jane asked her with a smirk.
“Yes, please.”
“Go to him, now.”
She hugged Jane and opened the door. She ran down the stairs and took a deep breath. Her pulse accelerated as she stretched her arm to grab the door handle. “Come on, Ruby, you can do it, you have been waiting for this moment for twenty-three years. It's time!” she thought. She took another deep breath and pulled the door. She saw Brian from behind; he stiffened and dared not move. Her eyes became a bit wet and she smiled happily, like a child. In a tender voice, she whispered in the dark:
“Brian?”
He spun around and his eyes widened. His face lit up with a huge grin, revealing his white teeth. As he was about to speak, his voice choked. She saw his eyes becoming wet just like hers, as if he was about to cry. His cheeks were blushing and he didn't really know what to say. He slowly inhaled and sighed.
“Ruby. My Ruby.”