One Night Only (203 page)

Rut
h
kne
w
exactl
y
wher
e
sh
e
wa
s
comin
g
from
.
“Me too.
”

“I’v
e
learne
d
tha
t
yo
u
ca
n
liv
e
wit
h
someon
e
an
d
not
reall
y
kno
w
the
m
a
t
all
.
Jame
s
talke
d
t
o
me
,
Ruth
.
A
t
last h
e
talke
d
t
o
me
.
T
ol
d
m
e
he
’
s
bee
n
sufferin
g
fro
m
severe
depression
.
I
ha
d
n
o
ide
a
wha
t
h
e
wa
s
goin
g
throug
h
and i
t
too
k
a
nigh
t
awa
y
,
a
nea
r
-mis
s
wit
h
a
strange
r
an
d
the traged
y
tha
t
coul
d
hav
e
com
e
fro
m
Gina
’
s
acciden
t
to mak
e
m
e
realis
e
wha
t
reall
y
i
s
importan
t
i
n
m
y
life
.
It
’
s
bee
n
a
frightenin
g
experienc
e
bu
t
I
thin
k
I’v
e
com
e
ou
t
the othe
r
side.
”

Rut
h
wa
s
delighte
d
fo
r
Poll
y
.
“An
d
yo
u
als
o
learned
neve
r
t
o
thro
w
stiletto
s
a
t
a
strange
r
,
”
sh
e
sai
d
wit
h
a
chuckle
.
The
y
ha
d
ha
d
enoug
h
doo
m
an
d
gloo
m
an
d
she
fel
t
lik
e
the
y
shoul
d
lighte
n
th
e
mood
.

“O
r
cha
t
u
p
a
ho
t
youn
g
Sta
g
whe
n
you’r
e
ful
l
t
o
the
throa
t
wit
h
shot
s
an
d
vodka!
”

“I
t
wa
s
a
grea
t
night
.
Thank
s
agai
n
fo
r
invitin
g
me.” Rut
h
checke
d
he
r
make-u
p
i
n
th
e
mirro
r
o
n
th
e
su
n
viso
r
.
“
I
don
’
t
kno
w
ho
w
I
woul
d
hav
e
cope
d
ove
r
th
e
pas
t
few
day
s
i
f
yo
u
hadn
’
t
take
n
m
e
unde
r
you
r
wing
.
I
really
appreciat
e
it
,
Poll
y
.
”

Poll
y
reache
d
acros
s
an
d
gav
e
Ruth
’
s
ar
m
a
squeeze.
“
Y
o
u
don
’
t
hav
e
t
o
than
k
me,
”
sh
e
said
.
“
Y
o
u
hav
e
taught
m
e
ho
w
stron
g
a
perso
n
ca
n
b
e
i
n
th
e
fac
e
o
f
adversit
y
,
Ruth Monaghan
.
I
t
too
k
gut
s
an
d
courag
e
t
o
leav
e
you
r
hom
e
i
n
Londo
n
an
d
star
t
agai
n
here.
”

“
W
ell
,
I
migh
t
a
s
wel
l
b
e
i
n
Londo
n
becaus
e
m
y
family
ar
e
onl
y
dow
n
th
e
roa
d
i
n
Belfas
t
ye
t
the
y
migh
t
a
s
well
b
e
i
n
Oute
r
Mongolia.
”

“Ho
w
d
o
yo
u
mean?
”

Rut
h
realise
d
tha
t
sh
e
stil
l
ha
d
s
o
muc
h
t
o
fil
l
he
r
new frien
d
i
n
on
.

“Let
’
s
jus
t
sa
y
,
yo
u
ar
e
s
o
luck
y
t
o
hav
e
you
r
famil
y
,
Poll
y
,
”
sh
e
said
.
Sh
e
didn
’
t
fee
l
thi
s
wa
s
th
e
righ
t
tim
e
to
stres
s
Poll
y
ou
t
wit
h
mor
e
drama
.
“
I
env
y
you
r
relationsh
i
p
wit
h
T
es
s
s
o
much
.
T
o
cu
t
a
lon
g
stor
y
short
,
m
y
brother
hasn
’
t
spoke
n
t
o
m
e
fo
r
year
s
an
d
don
’
t
eve
n
star
t
m
e
on
m
y
mothe
r
.
Sh
e
reall
y
hate
s
m
e
an
d
I
fee
l
s
o
alone
.
It
’
s
a
horribl
e
feelin
g
t
o
b
e
isolate
d
fro
m
th
e
peopl
e
wh
o
are suppose
d
t
o
lov
e
yo
u
unconditionall
y
.
”