Free Gucci Gucci Coo by Sue Margolis Page B

wait to tell Fi that Ronnie was pregnant. More than that, she needed to talk about it. Last night, as she was falling asleep, she’d been convinced she was OK with the news. This morning, having dreamt that she’d gone to visit her parents, who didn’t recognize her, she wasn’t so sure.
    Fi lived in the tiny terraced cottage in Hammersmith that she and Saul had managed to buy with the bit she had saved and his “yogurt money.” Like most struggling actors he leapt at any commercial that came his way. For a start there was always the possibility—however slim—that playing an animated yogurt pot or pizza could lead to the offer of a proper acting role. More important, commercials were financial lifesavers. They tended to pay megabucks for a couple of weeks’ work. The downside was that since he never knew when the next job would appear, he had to make the money last—often for a year or more.
    For the last couple of months he’d been working at the National. He had a bit part in
Hamlet
—a role he described as “third codpiece.” During that time he’d also recorded a couple of advertising jingles. Saul had a great singing voice. He’d had a few minor singing roles in West End musicals, but family and friends who had seen him perform were surprised he’d never landed a leading part. He made no secret that this was a major ambition.
    With Fi now a full-time mother, they needed every penny he earned to pay the bills. When Ben was born three years ago, Ruby had insisted on making them a present of a crib and a buggy, for which Fi in particular was immensely grateful. Ruby got the feeling that Saul on the other hand, although he made all the right noises, was a bit uneasy with the gift. It occurred to her that his pride had been dented and that he might feel she was treating them like a charity case.
    As far as Ruby was concerned, the gift had been generous but not particularly lavish, since with her business contacts she’d ended up paying even less than the wholesale price. Nevertheless, she was perturbed by Saul’s reaction and mentioned her fears to Fi. Fi was adamant that Ruby should take no notice. “The hunter-gatherer hasn’t had any work for a few months and it’s starting to get to him.”
    But Ruby had taken notice. She had a huge soft spot for Saul and she knew how serious he was about proving to Fi’s mother that even a heathen actor could provide for his family. Ruby didn’t want to upset him. When Connor was born she gave Fi a couple of gorgeous baby outfits and left it at that. The pirate costume she’d bought Ben for his birthday had cost fifteen quid from the Early Learning Centre.
     
    T HIS MORNING , F I opened the door pale and puffy-eyed from lack of sleep. Her long blonde hair, which looked like it hadn’t been brushed or washed for a couple of days, was pulled back into a scrunchy. She was wearing an ancient Juicy Couture tracksuit offset by a sick-encrusted cloth slung over one shoulder. Cradled in her arms was a beatific, slumbering Connor. Ruby gazed at him with his mop of black hair—just like Saul’s—sucking two fingers in his sleep.
    “OK, I know he looks positively edible right now,” Fi jumped in without even giving Ruby a chance to say hi, “but don’t be fooled. The little so-and-so has been screaming his head off nearly all night.”
    Ruby kissed her friend hello. “God, you look knackered.” Fi led the way down the hall to the kitchen. Ruby asked her if Saul could give her a break this morning so that she could catch up on her sleep. Fi shook her head. “He’s got an audition for a commercial. Don’t worry. I’m fine. I slept back in July.”
    “God only knows how my mum’s going to cope,” Ruby said, sitting down at the kitchen table. She couldn’t help noticing that the kitchen was a mess. The surfaces were littered with piles of unwashed plates and pans, plus an assortment of bibs, pacifiers and half-empty feeding bottles. A heap of dirty laundry