Cathy sighed. ‘All right then. She said, “Your daughter will be very rich, very wealthy, but she’ll always be lookin’ over her shoulder . . .”’
Ruby was silent as she digested that, but there wasn’t much to make of it.
CHAPTER 9
As time went on, and Cathy’s pregnancy advanced, she struggled more and more doing normal things, spending much of the day flaked out on the sofa or resting in bed.
Ruby took on the lion’s share of the chores, on top of her work, and fell into bed at midnight each night exhausted, though she wouldn’t have dreamt of doing things any other way.
Cathy gave up her job at the tobacconist and so they lost her income, small though it was. Louie worked longer hours at the scrapyard to try to make up the shortfall, which meant he was out for much of the day and evening, leaving Cathy by herself.
She never complained. Even when her labour pains started she waited for Louie to get home that night before telling him her contractions had begun. Neither Ruby nor Bobby were back from work and so she’d been alone.
‘Bloody hell, why didn’t ya ring the yard?’ Louie rarely swore. ‘Sorry love, I didn’t mean that. Come on, let’s get ya to hospital. I’ll leave a note for Rube and Bobby, they can follow on later.’
Ruby arrived home just ahead of Bobby and found her father’s hastily scrawled note. She didn’t hesitate. Both headed straight to Bancroft Hospital in Mile End.
‘Where is she? Is she OK?’ Ruby had a thousand questions but Louie stopped her at the door to the ward.
‘She’s absolutely fine. The midwife said she did brilliantly. You can both go in.’
Ruby opened the door and saw her mum, hair tangled with sweat, propped up against her pillows, a gentle smile on her face.
‘Come and meet your baby brother.’
‘Oh, Mum, he’s gorgeous. Can I hold him?’ Ruby said in a whisper, holding out her arms. She picked up the warm bundle, inhaling his sweet milky smell, and gazing into his big blue eyes.
‘He’s gorgeous. Hello, little brother, welcome.’
Bobby looked like he was about to cry. He was a sensitive man, kind to the core, and as soon as the baby was placed in his big arms, the tears started to come.
‘’Ere, take him back, Rube. I’m too emotional,’ Bobby said, handing their brother back to her.
The baby looked up at his big sister, curling his tiny hand around her little finger, his eyes fluttering open.
‘He thinks you’re his mum, I swear it,’ said Bobby.
Just then, Matron bustled in. ‘Right, you lot, it’s time to leave. Your mother needs her rest.’ Ruby handed the bundle back to her mum who barely looked strong enough to hold him. Before she could think any more about this, Louie gestured for them to leave. Cathy gave them all a weak smile as they were shooed out of the ward. The three of them made their way home, yawning now as well. It had been a long evening.
Ruby visited every day after work, catching separate buses to get there and almost missing visiting time on a couple of occasions. A week after George’s birth Cathy was allowed to go home, and the whole family turned up in Louie’s knackered old van to drive her and the baby. Ruby had placed an extra cushion in the front for Cathy to sit on. As they drove, Louie began to sing an old Romany song, and Ruby, sitting next to him, smiled over at her beloved dad, the first grey hairs only just appearing in his thick black hair. He returned her smile as they travelled to the hospital. He had a good voice, melodious and strong. Louie looked more handsome than ever. He was clean-shaven for once, which showed off his square jaw and high cheekbones. He was a man in his prime, wearing jeans and a blue shirt that seemed to show off his deep brown eyes. They arrived at the maternity unit and before long, Cathy was back home and Ruby had carried her chubby, blonde-haired little brother into the house. His cot was set up next to Cathy’s side of the bed, and she lay him down in it. He opened his eyes briefly, staring up at his big sister before shutting them again and drifting off to sleep. Ruby fussed over her mum, helping her up the stairs and putting her straight into bed too.
‘Thanks, darlin’. What would I do without ya?’ Cathy said weakly. She seemed exhausted just walking up the stairs.
It’s just the lack of sleep, she’ll be OK. Ruby tried to reassure herself, but her instincts couldn’t be dulled. Something was up, she could feel it in her bones.
A week later, and Cathy didn’t seem to be any better. ‘I think we should call a doctor,’ insisted Ruby.
‘Don’t fuss, love. She ain’t young, and ’avin’ a baby this late in life is bound to take it out of ’er,’ Louie said, biting into the bacon sandwich Ruby had made for his breakfast.
Ruby stood at the cooker, spatula in hand, and looked over to Bobby for support.
He shook his head. ‘You’re worryin’ too much, Rube.’
‘Anyway, the midwife is comin’ tomorrow so we can ask her then.’ Louie gulped down his tea. ‘I’m off up the yard today so I’ll see ya both tonight. Don’t worry, love, it’ll all be fine.’
Just then they heard a wail. George had woken up and needed a bottle. Ruby sighed. She just had enough time to make him one and hand it to her mum before leaving for work.
‘I’m comin’,’ she hollered up the stairs. Quickly, she grabbed a piece of toast and raced up the stairs with the warmed bottle.
‘I’ll be home at six. Will ya manage until then?’ Ruby asked, frowning. Her mum pushed herself up on her pillows with some effort, saying, ‘Course I will. Now, off ya go, don’t be late.’
That day, Ruby couldn’t settle to any
