As she’d gotten older, in describing Jo to other people, the word sister seemed completely wrong, but mother wasn’t right either, not at all. Most of the time, it was easier not to talk about it. And then there was the fight, when Marianne’s true feelings were well and truly aired. And that was that as far as Ruby was concerned. A full stop, but a good one. An end to all of the bullshit.

“So no, Jo. I’m not going home. Not after what she said.”

There was a short silence. “I think that’s … fine,” said Jo. “It’s wonderful news, actually. You’re old enough now to get your own place.”

“That’s right. I’m twenty-six. Hardly a babe in arms.”

“Sure. I guess I always think of you as a baby.”

“Well, you would, wouldn’t you?”

Joanna made a small choking sound.

“So anyway, you don’t need to worry about me being homeless or whatever. You can tell Marianne that. And tell her not to keep on calling me. I’ll be in touch, but not until I’m ready.”

“Just speak to her, for goodness sake—she’s in bits.”

Ruby held the phone away from her ear, ready to end the call. Her mouth hung open slightly. She’s in bits, she wanted to yell. What about me? Jo ought to have been on Ruby’s side. Just this once. But no one was on Ruby’s side, were they? They were all too busy looking out for themselves, from the very beginning. From before she was even born.

The tears were coming quickly now. “I was okay until I started talking to you. I’ve got to go. I’ll ring again. But not for a while. Sorry.”

She’d ended the call and taken the battery out of the phone.

Since moving into the estate, Ruby had answered calls from Joanna maybe one time out of every three. From Marianne, never. The phone had become a thing for playing music, and not much more.

There was a bench she liked the look of, next to the gardens. The late summer weather was starting to turn, so she pulled on a sweater, took a cup of tea in a travel mug. The buildings rose up in front and behind, but the square itself was a little suntrap. She plugged in her earbuds and let the music take her away, felt the beams of light on her face as if they were healing her, and closed her eyes so that she didn’t see Gregor coming out of the North Block and walking toward her, until he was almost at her side.

“Hello again.” He held up a hand in greeting.

Ruby smiled, took one earbud out. “Hi.” He was better looking than she remembered, but just as awkward, with a blush already rising to his cheeks.