Page 18 of Return Ticket

Liz winked. “Thank you. That’s as good a conversation opener as any.”

They ate sticky buns and drank tea, and then parted ways at the bus stop. Gabriella’s bus came first, and she waved at Liz from the top deck as it shuddered off into the afternoon traffic, the rain just beginning to spit against the roof of the bus and the windows.

The bus route home stopped close by Ruby Everett’s house, and the thought of going back to her tiny, dark flat in the gloom suddenly didn’t appeal. The warm lights of Ruby’s neighborhood sparkled through the rain on the window, and on a whim she got off and ran down the street, jacket pulled up over her head.

She reached the little porch over Ruby’s front door moments before the rain started in earnest, and realized with a sudden drop of her stomach that there were no lights on in the house.

Ruby wasn’t here.

She would have to go back to the bus stop and wait for the next bus to get home.

It was aggravating.

Except . . .

She ran down the steps, then stuck close to the eaves of the house to avoid the worst of the rain as she headed around the side, to the back garden.

There was a light coming from what had once been the shed, and was now the home of Teddy Roe, Ruby’s gardener.

The lawn mower and other garden equipment, which had once resided in Teddy Roe’s home, were now housed in a neat little lean-to on the side, and she saw that they had put in a little path from the shed to the kitchen door since she was last here.

She made a dash for the shed door, and gave a quick, light knock.

“Who is it?” Teddy Roe’s voice trembled with suspicion.

“It’s me, Mr. Roe. Gabriella.”

“Gabriella!” The exclamation fortunately sounded enthusiastic, and with a rattle of keys, the door swung open.

“Sorry to barge in on you,” Gabriella said, leaning in a little way to get out of the rain. “I thought I’d look in on Ruby, but it doesn’t seem like she’s here.”

“She’s gone to pick up a parcel at the post office, is all,” Teddy Roe said. “She’ll be back for tea, and I’m having it with her. You can join us.”

“Thank you. Is it all right if I wait here with you? It’s coming down cats and dogs.” She eyed the little room he and Ruby had worked on to turn it into a livable space.

“Come in, of course. Come in.” He beamed, stepping back and waving an arm. “Looking good, eh?”

“It’s looking fantastic, Mr. Roe.” She wasn’t just saying that, either. Ruby had made curtains for the windows, and they’d painted the interior as well as the exterior. The old wooden floor boards had obviously been sanded and sealed, and there were a few rugs on the floor.

They and the furniture were the only things that looked dodgy.

“Mrs. Everett paid for the paint and to have it all sanded and cleaned,” Teddy Roe said, patting the wall. “But I found the rugs and furniture myself.” He pointed to a moth-eaten old Turkish rug lying just inside the door. “Found it. Out on someone’s bins. Amazing what people’ll throw out. Amazing.”

She grinned at him. She couldn’t talk, what with the moth holes in the coat she was wearing that very moment. “Takes all kinds, Mr. Roe. I love the colors in it.” They were a rust red and a dusty blue, and she actually did love them.

“Got me a kettle, to make myself tea whenever I like,” he said, showing her. “And a bit o’ bread and fruit in a bowl.” He lifted the bowl up. “Mrs. Everett gave it to me as a housewarming present.”

“It looks so good.” She remembered how he’d been sleeping in an old, broken-down car when she’d met him. And when she and Ruby had been in serious trouble, Teddy Roe had come through for them.

“Hello?” A call came from outside, and Gabriella turned to the house and saw the kitchen door was open, and Ruby was silhouetted against the light.

“Hello,” she called back.

“It’s Gabriella, come to visit us.” Teddy Roe had to shout over the rain.

“I’ll come and fetch you both with an umbrella,” Ruby called back, and then she ran across, a huge umbrella over her, and handed a second one to Teddy Roe. “Gabriella can fit under this one with me.”

They made it back to the kitchen with wet shoes but otherwise dry, and Gabriella made toast while Ruby heated the soup she’d made earlier and Teddy Roe fried up some eggs.

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