And I Come Back To You

Chapter Four - The moon and sun

  After Brian's car disappeared from Edith Grove, Ruby took a deep breath and stood up. It was getting a bit cold and she hadn't put a jacket on. She got back inside and slowly climbed the stairs; she was smiling like the first time they kissed back in 1969. She didn't feel like she was 44 at this moment. She felt just like she was 21 again, in Brian's arms of course. Before she opened her door, she just blushed and stared at the wall. “Oh, Brian's back, Brian's back!” she whispered to herself. Then, she opened the door and got inside. Jane was cleaning the table in the living room after she had done the dishes. She jumped as she saw Ruby.
“Oh, God! You scared me! So, what did he tell you?”
“I don't really know where we are, but we kissed again.”
Jane's eyes widened as she smiled. She ran to the kitchen and threw the sponge into the sink before rinsing it. Then, she dried her hands and ran back to Ruby, with her arms opened. She hugged her.
“Oh, Ruby, I'm so happy for you, what great news!” she exclaimed. “Does that mean you're dating again?”
“I don't know... I guess so. We never broke up in a way, and he said that as long as I wanted him we never would.”
“And do you still want him?”
“Oh, no, not at all.”
Her cousin pouted, raising her eyebrows. Ruby bursted out laughing.
“Of course I do!”
“That's really great, I'm happy for you. He's a nice man, really. Very kind and gentle. I like him.”
“You know, you saw him when you were 7.”
“Did I?”
“At Dennis's funerals.”
“Oh, yeah! He had a sort of curly afro hairstyle, didn't he?”
“Oh, don't exaggerate!” Ruby laughed. “His hair was just way shorter than now.”
“Actually now he reminds me of this French king... He had the same hair! Do you know who I'm talking about?”
“No..?”
Jane thoughtfully poked her chin with a fist on her waist. She was frowning and looking up. Ruby was always amused to see her in this position.
“His nickname was the Sun King or something like that...”
“Oh, Louis XIV!”
“Yes! That's it! Well, Brian reminds me of him.”
“Oh no, his hair isn't like the king's!”
“Almost!”
Ruby and Jane bursted out laughing. Then, they both started to yawn. Jane placed a hand on her cousin's shoulder, rubbing her eye with the other one.
“I'm exhausted, I think I'm going straight to bed.”
“I think I'm going to bed too. Good night, and thanks a lot for this dinner. It was delicious!”
“It's nothing! Good night. By the way, tomorrow I'll go out with my boyfriend, we'll leave around 10:30, will you be awake by then?”
“Largely.”
Jane smiled at her cousin and walked up to her bedroom – once Prudence and John's room. Ruby went to hers and opened her suitcase. She took out her pyjamas and put it on, looking at herself in the mirror.
“Ruby, Ruby, you've aged!”
She shrugged and switched off the lights. She slithered in her bed, under the sheets and rested her head on the soft pillow. She closed her eyes and tried to fell asleep, but in vain. Brian was in her mind. She remembered how he looked like. “Oh, Bri, even at 45 you're still the most handsome man I've ever seen...” She hugely smiled and imagined herself burying her face in his even more fluffy hair. She closed her eyes once again, and then, she flew to the gates of dreams.

Ruby was wandering in a huge green park and looked all around her. She could see nothing and nobody, only miles of green grass. Without knowing why, she kept walking straight, feeling that something was going to happen. What? She had no idea. But she felt it. She tried to shout, to call for someone to help her to get out of here, but her voice got stuck in her throat. Fear was growing. She had always been afraid of being lonely, and now she was. She was alone, and lonely. Suddenly, a ray of sunshine blinded her. “There must be a way out!” she told herself. So she began to run, run, run, run, run... It seemed like it was slowly stepping back as she got closer and closer. “I want to get out of here.” She ran even faster and felt like something had punched her in the stomach. She lost her balance and fell to the floor. The ray of sunshine was moving. Not only was it moving, but it was also taking another shape. The more the seconds were passing, the more the shape looked human. She screwed up her eyes and looked straight at it. Now, it wasn't hurting her eyes anymore. On the top of the head of the human ray grew shining curls that came down to what seemed to be its shoulders. A voice sounded in the whole meadow. It sounded incredibly familiar to Ruby. Then, the human stopped shining. It shook its curls and looked down at her with a grin. It was Brian. Ruby smiled back at him and stood up. He opened his arms and she ran straight to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Oh, Bri, Bri, it was only you!” Brian sadly looked at her. “I hate Tuesdays” he whispered. At the same moment, a hand clenched her arms from behind and pulled her back. She tried to hit what was holding her and she realised it was her father. “Not this sheep-haired boy!” John suddenly ignited, and so did his fingers. Ruby was screaming in pain and stretched out her hand toward Brian who helplessly looked at it. “I can't help you, this is Tuesday, and we always get separated on Tuesdays.” Then, the fire spread on her body, and she howled Brian's name.

Ruby woke up with a start. Her forehead was covered in sweat; she quickly wiped it with her arm. She was looking all around her room. “Oh, God, what a nightmare...” She sighed and looked at her watch on her bedside table. It was 9:30. She pushed her sheets back and put on her slippers. She made her way to the bathroom and washed her face before brushing her long black hair she tied back. Then, she got out and crossed the corridor, heading for the kitchen.
“Jane?”
“Ruby! I'm in the living room!” she replied in a singing voice.
Ruby frowned. “She must be in a wonderful mood to sing in the morning!” she thought. She passed by the door and entered the living room, and saw Jane sitting at the table, hugely smiling at her. There was someone sitting there too. Ruby turned her head and saw him. It was Brian. He was holding a bag with pastries in it. His hair was a bit messy, but his face was lovely. Ruby felt her heart pounding and she jumped at him, wrapping her arms around him before kissing his soft and sweet lips.
“What are you doing here, my love?” she said in a high-pitched tone, showing her joy.
“I wanted to surprise you and bring you French pastries. I hope you like them, because I guess that in France, you eat them in the morning but also in the evening!”
“We don't” she laughed. “Only in the morning or for the afternoon tea. Oh love, how nice of you!”
Then she kissed him once again. He pulled her a chair and she sat down. Brian opened the pastries bag and placed them on an empty plate Jane brought. They all got some, and Ruby dunked her croissants in her coffee. Jane was smiling at them, happy to see her cousin smile like that for the first time in 23 years. She went to the kitchen and brought bread, butter and marmelade as they were still hungry. They made themselves butties and finished their generous breakfast. Brian and Ruby helped Jane to clean the table and do the dishes before she went to the bathroom and took a shower. Meanwhile, Ruby sat on Brian's knees on the couch. They were cuddling and sharing smiles and looks.
“I love you so much, Bri, I can't believe you came here in the morning just to surprise me!”
“I'm glad you liked it, love. I'd love it not to be the last time.”
“Oh, it won't! I'll try to come back next month, I promise. Unless you have too much work.”
“I don't know yet, I'll tell you.”
Thirty minutes later, Jane came out of the bathroom and came to them, her hair combed in a flawless bun, and wearing a purple dress.
“How do I look?”
“You look fabulous!” Ruby said, smiling.
“Do I? Isn't it too much?”
“It isn't.”
Brian nodded and Jane finally believed them. The doorbell rang.
“Oh, he's early!” Jane said.
“You'd better go. I don't think he likes being kept waiting!”
“Yeah... By the way, are you two planning to go out, or can I lock the door? Do you have the keys?”
“I do have them, don't worry. If we go out, I'll use my keys.”
“Okay. Well, have a nice day! See you soon, Bri!”
“Bye, Jane, have a good time!”
She smiled at them and opened the door before going out. They heard the keys locking the door and her shoes in the staircase. Brian kissed Ruby's cheek.
“Ruby, I'd like to tell you something.”
“What is it, Bri?”
“I'd like to...”
He hesitated and looked down, blushing. Then he cleared his throat and looked back at her.
“I'd like to take you to Hyde Park tonight, to watch the stars. Like on our first date, remember?”
Ruby's face lit up with a smiled and she hugged him, kissing his neck.
“I'd love to.”