Free Goodbye Ruby Tuesday by A. L. Michael

attachment theory and Freud and then asked me if I ever felt confused about my sexuality.’
    Ruby made a ‘that was a mistake’ face, ‘Oh boy. And what did you say?’
    ‘I said I was confused about whether her degree was one of those images that already comes as a background to a frame in IKEA, and maybe she should think about actually cracking open a psychology book before slamming me with her mumbo jumbo.’
    ‘Detention?’
    ‘Nope,’ she grinned, ‘that’s the beauty of it. Anything said in there is “an authentic expression of my feelings”… can’t get in trouble for being authentic.’
    ‘Hmm, think I’m going to use that next time I want to slap Nicki Bridwell in the face.’
    Evie tilted her head and Ruby shrugged. ‘Started going off about kids in care, and how we’re all fucked up.’
    ‘Want me to slam her head into a locker?’
    ‘Nah,’ Ruby twitched her nose, ‘I’m not that bothered about it. I think I might just tempt her boyfriend into leaving her and then let them sit in the wreckage of it all.’
    ‘You never do things the simple way, do you? It’s never just telling people how you feel.’
    Ruby smiled, ‘Now where would be the fun in that?’
    ***
    The next afternoon they were summoned to the Glass residence. Well, that’s how it felt. In reality, Evelyn Glass, their new landlady, wanted to invite them to afternoon tea to celebrate their arrival in London.
    Evie was nervous for some reason, dawdling as she walked with Esme ten minutes down the road, hands swinging back and forth as the houses seemed to get bigger and more grand. Esme’s eyes got wider as she took in stained glass windows, huge metal gates fencing off properties bigger than she’d ever seen before. She gripped Evie’s hand tighter.
    ‘So why is this lady asking us to her house?’ Esme frowned, looking at the houses with suspicion.
    ‘Well, we’re her new tenants, perhaps she wants to get to know us?’ Evie offered, realising that, yeah, she thought it was strange too.
    ‘Did she know Ruby?’
    ‘I think so, I don’t know how well, but she seemed to know her well enough when we spoke on the phone.’ Evie shrugged, ‘I looked her up, she used to be quite famous back in the day. A model, artist, photographer. I think Ruby was a fan of hers.’ The memories were hazy, but Ruby had always been on the hunt for role models, beautiful women who’d conquered the arts and created lots of drama and sparkle. She was almost sure there had been an Evelyn mentioned, a joke about her name being meant for glory. Or maybe she was making things up.
    They stood before a huge white house with a shiny black door, and Evie lifted Esme up to use the silver lion’s head knocker. Within minutes, there was a soft padding, and the door opened.
    ‘Darlings!’ A voice trilled, and they stared. Evelyn Glass looked every bit the artistic darling she must have been back in the day. She had on smart black trousers and a Japanese style cherry blossom blouse, with a dramatic pink pashmina flung over her shoulder. She was barefoot, and Evie found it endearing. She spoke like someone who had always been listened to, and she was more sure than ever that Ruby had been a fan. Evelyn smiled, her bright blue eyes almost alarming in contrast with her cropped white hair.
    She beckoned them in, ‘Come in, come in! It’s so good to see you both! You must be Esme!’ She stooped over slightly and held out both hands to the little girl, which Esme took suspiciously.
    ‘I’ve believe you are a fan of reading,’ Evelyn raised her eyebrows, waiting for a response.
    Esme frowned, ‘How do you know that?’
    ‘Your backpack is open darling, and there seem to be a lot of books in there.’
    Esme nodded shyly, her magpie gaze distracted by the woman’s twinkling pink crystal earrings.
    ‘I only mention it because I thought you might like to see the library upstairs, after some cake of course.’
    Evie laughed at Esme’s face, her lips