Free Goodbye Ruby Tuesday by A. L. Michael Page A

making an ‘o’ before stumbling out the words ‘The… there’s a
library
in your
house
?’
    ‘I know, it’s
mad
, isn’t it?’ the older lady laughed, and for a second Evie imagined what Ruby might have been like if she’d lived to be an old, funny lady. Perhaps they could have been old funny ladies together. The sadness fluttered briefly, then was gone.
    ‘Come on through and tell me all about your wonderful plans for that dingy old studio!’ Evelyn was saying, moving through the house. The walls were covered in artwork from around the world, bright colours and jagged lines, and they followed in silence, taking it all in.
    Evelyn served tea in the conservatory, where they sat at a fairly modest round table, with wildflowers in jars all around the room, looking out on a wild, overgrown garden. She served tea infused with cinnamon, and chocolate cake with a thick dark ganache. Esme had it all over her face within minutes, and Evelyn grinned at her.
    ‘So… is the studio okay?’ Evelyn snuck a little more cake onto Esme’s plate, ‘I haven’t been down there in years, I’ve just left Killian to look after it all. I’m sure he’s done a good job though.’
    ‘Are you?’ Evie raised an eyebrow, licking chocolate sauce from her thumb.
    Evelyn chuckled, ‘Finding him a bit abrupt, are we?’
    ‘He’s quite a rude man.’ Esme said, frowning at her cake, then looking at Evie, ‘Is it okay to say that?’
    ‘Yes, because it’s true,’ Evie laughed ‘he doesn’t seem happy we’re there at all.’
    Evelyn laughed, shaking her head, ‘He is a bit of a grouchy old man, but he’s a big old softie once you get to know him. He’s lovely, honestly. Always comes round, offering to fix bits and pieces for me.’
    ‘Well it’s good to know he’s capable of being nice, at least,’ Evie said.
    ‘I’m sure you’re capable of giving as good as you get, according to Ruby,’ Evelyn pursed her lips, and Esme giggled. Evie revelled in that for a moment – Ruby had talked about them.
    ‘She told you about me?’
    Evelyn laughed, ‘Of course, she spoke about all of you. She said you were a fantastic artist, full of fire, and your friend who was the beautiful but shy actress, and the excellent dancer. I’m afraid she didn’t seem to know about you, Esme.’
    ‘We fell out of touch over the years. Ruby was pretty good at a disappearing act,’ Evie shrugged.
    ‘Yes, she was… complex.’
    ‘The newspapers said she was having a breakdown,’ Evie said quietly, ‘do you think that was true?’
    Evelyn looked at her squarely, ‘People love a broken woman, especially a talented, beautiful, broken woman. The most famous women in history had tumultuous, dramatic lives. You think people ever want to know about the beautiful woman who marries the handsome man and lives happily?’
    ‘In fairytales that happens!’ Esme piped up, and Evie handed her a napkin to wipe her face.
    ‘In fairytales you have to overcome adversity, my love, you have to rise from humble beginnings.’
    ‘Ruby did.’
    Evie wanted to tell her about Ruby’s start, about the care homes, and then living with her foster mother, and how much she’d felt like an outsider. How the careers advisors had told Ruby that girls from the estate shouldn’t dream so big. That singing wasn’t a career. And she’d proven them wrong.
    Evelyn looked at her, lips twitching like she wanted to say more, ‘Shall I show you the library then, darling?’ She held out her hand to Esme, who took it instantly.
    Evie watched as they climbed the winding staircase up to the landing, passing a few different rooms until they stopped at the far end of the corridor. The older woman paused, hand on the doorknob, building the tension as she asked Esme ‘Are you ready?’
    Esme nodded grimly, her lips set in a thin line as she simply stared at the closed door.
    The room was wonderful. Floor to ceiling windows with huge maroon draped curtains that fell heavily onto