‘Cut from photographs of all of us together. I found them in Ruby’s bedroom this morning.’
‘She wouldn’t.’
‘She did.’
‘But why?’ Prue looked genuinely shocked.
‘I was wondering if you’d be able to help answer that.’
‘How would I know?’
‘You and Ruby are close, as you should be.’ How could she phrase this lightly, without it sounding accusatory? ‘I think she’s struggling with the idea of Dylan and me together.’
‘You’ve been together long enough. She’s had plenty of time to get used to the idea.’
‘But now there’s talk of a wedding. It changes things. I know. I had a stepmother to deal with too and I’m ashamed to say I didn’t handle it all that well.’
Prue looked at a pretty perfect nail, inspecting it, before she looked at Cleo again. ‘She did hope Dylan and I would get back together.’
‘That’s natural, you’re both her parents.’ Although she wanted to remind Prue that it was a long time ago that that particular scenario had ever been on the cards. ‘Has Ruby said anything to you? About me? The wedding?’ Or had Prue said something to her?
‘She really hasn’t. As far as I knew she was happy with it.’
‘And you haven’t said anything?’
‘You’re blaming me?’ OK, here came the Prue she knew so well. ‘You think this is my fault?’
‘No, not at all. It’s just, I know you’re never going to be my biggest fan.’ Because I ended up with Dylan and you didn’t. ‘I wondered if Ruby picked up on that.’
Prue looked about to launch into a tirade but then she settled back into her chair. ‘I won’t lie to you, I hated you when you first got together with Dylan.’
‘Great.’
‘But that was then. I’ve moved on, I’ve had other men in my life. Dylan and I would never work together, he’s changed a lot since I first knew him.’
Cleo let that comment go. He had, and for the better in her opinion.
Prue stood up, hooked her bag over her shoulder. ‘I’m sorry I can’t help you but I don’t poison Ruby’s mind, I don’t want Dylan back, and I wish you well with your wedding.’
‘You’re leaving? Just like that?’
She checked her watch. ‘If the traffic is kind I’ll make the next nail appointment.’
‘Right.’
‘Ruby will come round. She’s a kid, they have mood swings, it’s all normal.’
‘I wondered if it would be a good idea for you to talk to her.’ One last attempt to get help from a woman who seemed determined to cause friction.
‘What, and ask her why she cut you out of all the photographs?’ She swished her immaculate blonde, bobbed hair out from under the strap of her bag and it obediently settled back to how it was before. ‘You and Dylan can deal with this one. This is what you signed up for, Cleo – the family, all the kids.’ And with a smile she added, ‘I’ll see myself out.’
*
‘There’s no need to call her that,’ said Cleo after she told Dylan how the conversation with Prue had gone and he had a few choice words about the woman. Cleo had been at the store, followed by the Inglenook Falls markets, and he’d been out all day with Tabitha and Emily. She’d replied to his texts assuring him everything was fine, she was OK, and she’d waited until they were both home before she told him about her encounter with his ex-wife.
‘Ruby!’ he called up the stairs. ‘Ruby!’ he bellowed again when she didn’t come running. ‘Believe me,’ he told Cleo, ‘I said plenty to Ruby in the car on the way to school but she hasn’t been anywhere near you since she got home, she certainly hasn’t apologised properly.’
‘Can you keep Jacob, Emily and Tabitha amused in the kitchen and let me have the lounge?’ she asked him.
