A Promise Between Friends by Carol Rivers Read Free Book Online

flights of stairs to get to it.’
    The baby’s screaming grew unbearable. ‘Better be off. Time for another feed,’ the girl said. ‘If I was you I wouldn’t hesitate to buy them shoes. Go on, spoil
yerself.’
    Ruby watched the girl walk off, shopping bag in one hand, infant in the other. The heels of her dirty boots were worn down and Ruby could hear the scuffing of the many Blakeys hammered into
their soles.
    She turned back to Patterson’s window and shuddered. What had the girl said that had upset her so much? Your life ain’t never your own after you have a family. And the fact
that the young mother could never see herself wearing a smart pair of shoes again.
    Ruby’s eyes fixed on the shoes. They were very smart. And the notice said they were her size. They would go perfectly with her dress. She had worked hard all week. There was no harm in
looking.
    Ruby opened the shop door and went in.
    ‘How much were those shoes?’ Kath demanded the moment Ruby unwrapped the brown paper parcel.
    ‘Not much.’ Seeing the disappointment on Kath’s face, Ruby began to regret her impulse purchase.
    ‘Oh, Ruby, you can’t be trusted where shops are concerned.’
    Ruby flopped down in the chair. ‘I know. I shouldn’t have.’
    ‘Oh well, we’ll just have to forget the taxi.’
    ‘I really am sorry.’ Ruby gazed at the shoes. ‘I’ll take them back on Monday.’
    Just then there was a knock at the door.
    ‘Who can that be?’ Kath whispered, her face ashen. ‘Do you think it’s the landlord?’
    Ruby looked into Kath’s frightened eyes. ‘But Bernie’s been paying the rent.’
    ‘He might have forgotten.’
    ‘That’s all we need.’
    Another knock came. Kath got up. ‘What are we going to do?’
    ‘Open the door, I suppose.’
    ‘I saw him once when he came with his men to the bloke upstairs. They went inside and knocked the old boy about.’
    There was silence until they heard a friendly voice calling.
    ‘Bernie?’ Kath and Ruby ran to the door together.
    ‘What’s going on?’ he demanded as he strode in.
    ‘Why did you pound on the door like that?’ Ruby asked angrily.
    ‘Because it’s bloody cold out there. And you both moan if I let meself in.’
    ‘You scared your sister half to death.’
    Bernie touched Kath’s shoulder. ‘Sorry.’
    Kath took out her hanky and blew her nose. ‘We didn’t know if you’d paid the rent.’
    ‘Of course I have. Though that’s more than I can say for you two. I’m not a bleeding charity, you know.’
    ‘We ran a bit short, that’s all,’ Ruby said, hoping Bernie wouldn’t spot the shoes.
    ‘I bunged you three quid a couple of weeks ago.’
    Kath stared down at her lap. ‘We’re not good with money. It just seems to disappear.’
    ‘You’re supposed to be females, do the shopping and all that,’ Bernie complained. Nevertheless he took out his wallet and peeled off several notes. ‘For God’s sake,
feed yourselves. Fill up that cupboard and when I come here again, I expect to see something in it. Or else I’ll be asking for my money back. Understand?’
    Kath and Ruby nodded.
    ‘There is one thing more,’ Kath said as she smiled at her brother. ‘You don’t fancy giving us a lift up West tonight?’
    Bernie looked at them, shaking his head in disbelief.
    But Ruby only smiled. She knew they could wind him round their little fingers.
    Ruby sat in the back of Bernie’s car, gazing out at the streets of the West End. She felt very excited. People were silhouetted by the lights and brilliantly lit
billboards overhead portraying images of famous film stars like Deborah Kerr, Burt Lancaster, James Mason and Tony Curtis. Queues snaked out from the busy theatres: Drury Lane and the Opera House,
the Duke of York, the Apollo, the Lyric and the Strand.
    A woman walked out of one of the grand hotels on the arm of a tall, handsome man. She was wearing a deep red cocktail dress, high heels and a silver fox-fur stole. Her escort looked like