doesn’t want to cause trouble by doing the wrong thing, not today of all days, so she replaces the key around her neck and rings the bell.
‘Gosh, you’re early,’ says Amber, pulling the door open thirty seconds later. ‘Wonders will never cease.’
‘I’m a changed woman.’ Ruby grins as she steps inside. ‘How’s it going?’
‘Fine.’ Amber lowers her voice. ‘Mum arrived at the crack of dawn with a load of extra food. I told her there were only going to be seven of us plus a few babies but she won’t take any notice.’
Ruby swings her rucksack off her back. ‘I’ve brought a few beers, is that okay?’
‘Great, but there’s no room left in the fridge.’ Amber turns around and walks up the stairs, Ruby following close behind. ‘You should see the size of the cake Mum’s made. It’ll feed the entire park.’
‘Where’s the birthday girl?’
‘Watching Nana make the sandwiches.’ Amber unlocks the stair gate – a new safety measure – and shuts it behind Ruby. ‘Please make sure you never leave this open. Not even for a moment. She’s so fast now that she’s crawling, I daren’t take my eyes off her.’
‘No problem.’ Ruby removes the high-vis vest, revealing a voluminous sleeveless jumpsuit – black with a sort of stained-glass-window pattern. ‘Did my present arrive?’
‘Yeah, yesterday. I didn’t open the box. It’s in my bedroom if you want to have a look.’
‘I need to wrap it.’ Ruby opens her rucksack. ‘I’ve brought some paper …’ She takes out a four-pack of beers and rummages. ‘At least I thought I did … Shit, it’s not here. Must have left it at home.’
‘It doesn’t matter. Mabel won’t care, she hasn’t a clue it’s her birthday. She’ll just be pleased to have all her people around her, making a fuss.’
‘The celebration is for us, really,’ admits Ruby, annoyed with herself for forgetting the gift wrap. She wanted to impress Amber with her new efficiency – ordering the present well in advance, paying extra for named-day delivery when she could ill afford it. Since escaping from the escape room, she’s been scratching a living from temporary bar work while she gives her life a makeover. Last week she heard she’d been accepted onto a degree course in fashion design, starting in the autumn. It’s a big step forward. She’s excited, but also nervous about seeing it through.
They go into the kitchen-diner. ‘Hi, Mum,’ Ruby says. ‘How’s it going?’
‘I could do with some help.’ Vicky puts down the butter knife and looks her younger daughter up and down. ‘Is that what you’re wearing?’
Ruby prickles. ‘Er … obviously.’
‘You know what I mean.’
‘Yes, Mum,’ she groans. ‘This is my party outfit.’
Vicky screws up her eyes. ‘What is it? Some kind of bag?’
‘Look who’s here, Mabel!’ says Amber, quickly intervening. ‘Auntie Ruby!’
Mabel is sitting in her high chair, playing with a piece of bread, the tips of her fingers shiny with grease. She looks up at Ruby and smiles a toothy grin. ‘Da!’ she says.
‘Happy birthday to you!’ Ruby sings, bending down to kiss her niece’s cheek. ‘Oh no! Who’s done a smelly poo?’
‘Typical!’ Amber laughs. ‘I knew she’d do that as soon as I put her new dress on.’ She unstraps Mabel and lifts her out of the chair, then carries her out of the room, leaving Ruby stranded.
‘The salad needs washing,’ Vicky says after a pause. ‘Or you could grate some cheese. Apparently, there are vegetarians coming.’
Ruby hesitates. She came to help Amber, not Mum, and feels resistant to being ordered about. The difficulties in their relationship were briefly swept aside by Mabel’s return, but there is still an undercurrent there – disapproval at the very least, maybe even dislike. She knows she will never be forgiven for leaving the key in the door. As if Amber was a completely innocent party. She sighs inwardly. Not everyone has been transformed by their recent experience, it seems.
‘Better wash my hands first,’ she says, fleeing down the corridor, followed by her mother’s irritable sigh.
Amber is in the bathroom, cajoling Mabel, who is refusing to lie still and be undressed. ‘You okay?’ she asks as Ruby sneaks in and sits on the edge of the bath. ‘I love the bag, by the way. Where did you get it?’
‘I made it.’
‘Wow. Your own design?’
‘Well, I draped the fabric over me and scrunched it up here and there, if that counts.’
‘I’m so pleased for you about the course,’ Amber says, grimacing as she removes Mabel’s dirty nappy.
Ruby watches as her sister