Katy waited impatiently at the tube station for Nina's arrival. Glenda had wanted to come with her, but Katy had persuaded her grandmother to take the food she'd brought and stock the fridge in the flat their friends would be staying in. She guessed they wouldn't have money to do it themselves. Preventing Glenda being there to greet them also meant that Katy could have a few words with her friend in private.
Finally, causing a commotion as they pushed their way through the barriers with their bags, Nina and Riley appeared. Katy smiled, hugging them both in greeting, before shouldering a couple of the bags and leading them towards Albert Square. They looked around as they, clearly finding their surroundings overwhelming. Katy had to admit it was a far cry from where they'd come from.
"OK, this is Number 5." She explained, leading the way up the steps to the front door. "My dad owns the building and I've got you the keys to 5D, OK?"
"Does your dad know?" Nina asked, already knowing the answer.
Katy rolled her eyes. "He's away at the moment, but I'll tell him when he gets back."
"Yeah?"
"It'll be fine." She promised, climbing towards the flat in question. "Gran's done some shopping for you, so I'll leave you to settle in and stuff. If you give me a text later I'll bring her and the kids round to say hi."
Seeing that Nina seemed to be finding the situation a bit daunting, she squeezed her arm gently and ruffled Riley's hair, leaving them alone. On her way back across the Square she phoned Glenda, informing her that they were safely in the flat.
"Can I speak to Dad?"
Katy looked up with a frown as Ruby made her request. She closed the lid of her laptop and watched her daughter carefully. Ruby was shifting her weight from foot to foot and avoiding meeting her mother's eyes.
"Why? What's happened?"
"Nothing. Can I?"
Katy sighed. "Of course you can, but if something's happened–"
"Nothing's happened!" Her daughter complained. "I just wanna speak to Dad."
"Ruby–"
"Mum!"
"After dinner, OK?" Katy promised.
The seven-year-old narrowed her eyes. "Are you going out?"
"I've got a meeting."
"Tonight? What kind of meeting would you be having at night?"
Arching an eyebrow at her, Katy raised the lid of her laptop once more. "I'm going to see a guy who might be interested in doing some promotions and events at the bar."
"What does that mean?"
"I thought you'd know that. You seem to know everything else." Her mother retorted quickly.
"Is Granny looking after us?"
"No, she's going out with Kathy." Katy replied, distracted by an email that had just popped up on her screen.
"Grandad?"
"Hmm? No. He's not back yet."
"Aunty Whitney?"
"She's coming with me."
"Then who?" Ruby complained, pushing the lid of the laptop to get her mother's attention.
"Nina said she'd watch you."
The seven-year-old furrowed her eyebrows. "Is that a good idea?"
Katy laughed. "She'll be fine and besides, you'll keep an eye on her for me, won't you?"
"What's it worth?"
"You are such a Mitchell." Katy told her, pulling Ruby into her arms and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Holding her at arms length, she studied her closely, tucking a stand of wavy blonde hair behind her daughter's ear. "What would I do without you, eh?"
"I really don't know." Ruby sighed theatrically, shaking her head seriously. "So... can I speak to Dad now?"
Nodding with reluctant agreement, Katy started a video call with Tyler and handed her phone over to her daughter. Hearing Ruby starting to chatter happily, she glanced towards where the rest of the children were still contentedly watching TV and then headed into the kitchen to make a start on their dinner.
"Come on, Katy. You've gotta try these cocktails." Whitney nudged her, pushing a drink into her hand. "They're amazing."
"Yeah?" She took a sip and smiled broadly, taking another, longer drink. "Oh my god, they are!" Her eyes fell on the bartender who was whipping up another cocktail. "D'you reckon I could convince him to relocate to the R&R?"
"Stop thinking about work!"
"That's literally the reason we're here, Whit!"
"Is it?"
Katy laughed at her confusion, nudging her with her hip. "Yes, babe. The guy running this event is a promoter and I wanna see if he'll do some stuff for me."
"Stuff?"
"God, Whitney. Promotions and events and that." She furrowed her eyebrows, deep in thought. "Maybe he does freelance stuff?"
"Bloody hell, you're boring." Whitney complained, motioning for the barman to bring her another drink. "Get that down you and lighten up a bit."
"I'm here for a reason, babe." Katy shook her head and pushed the glass away, craning her neck to try and see through the door that was marked 'private'. "I'm gonna go and see if I can speak to him and you… you keep testing the cocktails, alright?"
"I'm surprised you didn't ask your mate to come with us…"
Sensing the jealousy behind her friend's words, Katy sighed. "Look, she's a mate who needed my help. But you're my best friend, Whit. I love you the most, you know that."
"God… no need to get soppy. Just go and do what you came here to do so we can start having fun."
Rolling her eyes, Whitney took a sip of her drink and turned around to survey the dance floor as Katy moved away in search of the promoter. She smiled at the doorman who was hanging around the area she wanted to sneak into, going up on her tiptoes to speak to him. Unsurprised when he shook his head and refused to let her past, Katy shrugged and moved away to wait for the man to appear.
"Hey!" She pushed herself away from the wall as he stepped through the door. The doorman shot her a look, but said nothing. "You're Alex Ronan, right?"
The man looked at her suspiciously. "Who wants to know?"
"I'm Katy Mitchell." She held out a hand and shook his quickly, her grin widening at the bemused expression on his face. "I'm opening a bar just off Albert Square and I was wondering whether you might be available for a bit of promo work? Running a few events and that?"
"I'm quite busy here."
"Yeah, I thought you might say that." She grinned at him, shrugging her shoulders. Pulling a business card out of her pocket, she held it out to him. "Look, if you change your mind – or just fancy a nose around my bar – let me know, yeah?"
Turning on her heels, Katy strode back in the direction she'd left Whitney and swiped the cocktail out of her hand. Her friend arched an eyebrow at her, before snatching her drink back. Glancing over Katy's shoulder, she let out a low whistle.
"He's fit for an older guy."
"I have no interest in that, Whit." Katy reminded her. "With four kids under seven, Amy and Ricky, Gran and the R&R to contend with, I ain't got time for anything else."
"Maybe you should make time?" Whitney suggested, trying to catch the barman's attention again. "You're twenty-six, babe. You ain't dead yet."
She snorted. "Not for my body's lack of trying."
"Katy!"
"Well… if I can't joke about it, who can?" Leaning on the bar, she waved at the young, slightly nervous looking barman. "Same again?"
"Let's branch out and try something else." Whitney suggested, perusing the cocktail menu thoughtfully. "Hey, you know what? I reckon I could replicate some of these…"
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, I reckon so." She nodded, pulling out her phone and taking a quick snap of the menu. She peered at it for a moment, checking she could read the ingredients properly, before nodding. "Easy."
"So… you'll come and work at the R&R?"
"Part-time." Whitney agreed with a grin.
Katy let out a delighted squeal and hugged her tightly. "Really? Oh my god, babe, this is brilliant!"
"You sure you want me there?"
"Of course I do." The blonde frowned. "You're my best mate; there's no one I'd rather work with. If only Lauren was here… the dream team back together."
"Reckon we could convince her to come home?"
Katy screwed up her nose, thinking it over. "She'll be back at some point. I mean, I said I was never coming back and here I am."
Whitney smiled, pulling her into a tight hug. "It's really good to have you home, Katy."
"It's good to be home." She agreed, pulling away and turning to grin at the barman. "Now let's get drunk."
"Wakey wakey."
Katy groaned, flinging a pillow at her grandmother. Glenda leant against the doorframe and laughed at the sight of the young woman in last night's clothes and the other pillow over her head.
"Gran, no."
"Katy, yes." She moved over to the bed and tugged the duvet away from the younger woman. "You need to get up."
"What time is it?"
"Half ten."
"Oh god!"
"It's fine." Glenda chuckled as her granddaughter shot out of bed. "I've sorted the kids. But don't you have that meeting with the promoter for the bar?"
"Shit, shit, shit!"
She laughed again as Katy rushed around grabbing clothes and running into the bathroom for a shower. Lazily wandering into the kitchen, Glenda had just made a pot of coffee and was settling down to flick through a magazine when Katy reappeared, looking panicked. She grabbed the mug out of her grandmother's hand and took a long gulp, before pushing it back towards her.
"I'll be back in time to collect the kids, OK?" Katy assured her, dropping a kiss into Glenda's hair. "Thanks, Gran."
She rushed out of the house and turned along Bridge Street, waving distractedly at Shirley as she almost ran past, glancing at the time as she went.
"Hey, Katy?" Jay pushed his hands into his pockets as he approached, grinning at her brightly. "Whitney said that you and her went to see some events promoter the other night? You looking for someone to do events at the bar?"
She nodded, pausing reluctantly. "Yeah, thought I might get someone professional in to raise interest in the place. We need to build a brand fast, so I thought a promoter might be a good idea."
"You know Ruby is in events, right?"
Katy frowned at him in confusion. "Ruby?"
"Yeah, my… Ruby." He rubbed the back of his neck. "You know, Stace's mate… my girlfriend?"
"Oh!" Understanding dawned on her face and she nodded. "Her."
"So? Any chance you could hire her to do something?"
"Is she any good?"
"Yeah, she's amazing." He grinned proudly. "You saw how good that party was at Walford East."
"Yeah? I also saw her being arrested, Jay."
Jay frowned, shaking his head. "It weren't true, Katy. She never did nothing and them two won't pay her for what she did. Besides, since when did you bother about what the old bill think?"
Sighing, she shrugged. "Look, I'm going to meet a promoter now, but if you can get Ruby to pop into the bar later I'll have a word with her, OK?" When he looked as though he was going to argue, she held up a hand. "Best I can do, Jay, sorry."
"Thanks, K."
"Yeah, no worries." She was already rushing away before the words had left her mouth.
The man she was supposed to be meeting was already waiting for her when she arrived. Seeing him through the window, she composed herself before stepping inside and sending him a wide smile. Before Katy could say anything, he nodded approvingly around at the space and congratulated her on the décor.
"Thanks," she smiled, motioning towards the stairs, "shall we go to my office?"
To Katy's irritation, Alex Ronan was incredibly boring. He talked about nothing but himself and how wonderful he was. Whenever she attempted to cut in and ask a question or make a comment, he talked over her until she gave up attempting to interject at all. Instead, she leant back in her chair and folded her arms, letting her mind wander to other things.
By the time he finally seemed to be running out of steam, Katy's patience had worn completely thin. While he'd been talking, she had made up her mind to take Jay's advice and ask Ruby about running some events for the club. The other woman might not have the reputation of the man sitting opposite her, but at least she probably wouldn't bore her to tears.
"Thanks for coming in," she started, holding up her hand to stop him continuing, "but I don't think you're the best fit for the R&R. While I've got big plans for the place, I'm under no illusions about our capacity. I got the distinct impression that you think planning events for the R&R would be beneath you."
"It's not the sort of venue I'm used to." He admitted, confirming her thoughts.
"Right, so that's that, then." Katy said decisively. "Thanks for coming in."
She motioned towards the door, without moving from her seat and watched as he left. Shaking her head, she pulled out her mobile and found Jay's number, hesitating for a moment and tapping the handset against her lips as she thought carefully about her next move.
Getting out of her chair, placing the phone on her desk, Katy moved to the cardboard box inside the door. Inside, wrapped in bubble wrap, was a large framed photo of her mother and aunt. A lump formed in the young woman's throat as she unwrapped it carefully and stared at the smiling faces; so familiar despite the fact that she hadn't seen them in so long. Something inside her tugged painfully, the smallest flicker of hope, tightly clamped down on but fighting to get out.
One of the carpenters had hammered a nail into the wall weeks before in preparation for the photograph to be hung, but Katy hadn't been able to face the thought of seeing the smiling faces every day. Now, though, she found that she wasn't quite sure what had been holding her back for so long.
A soft knock on the door drew her out of her reverie and Katy jumped slightly. Glancing in the direction of the sound, she hung the picture carefully and composed herself, before turning to smile at the young woman in the doorway. She was familiar, but Katy couldn't say that she would have recognised her without knowing who she was.
"Hi… that must be your mum?" The young woman said, motioning towards Ronnie's smiling facing. "I heard you were the image of her."
"Yeah… my Mum and my Aunty Roxy." Katy agreed with a nod. "Sorry…?"
"Oh, sorry!" The woman exclaimed, blushing slightly. She held out her hand in way of greeting. "I'm Ruby Allen. Jay told me to–"
"Oh, right!" Understanding blossomed across Katy's face and her smile became genuine. "Ruby, hi. Come in. I've just had the most boring conversation of my life with another events coordinator, so you only really need to keep me awake to get the job!"
Ruby laughed. "That sounds like good news to me."
"Well, if Jay reckons I should give you a chance, that's good enough for me."
"You and Jay are close then?" The brunette asked, clearly intrigued about what her answer would be. She glanced down, apparently trying not to look too interested, but her hands twisting in her lap gave her away.
"He's as good as my brother." Katy told her with another grin. "My younger, incredibly annoying brother. But he's got the biggest heart of anyone I know and I trust his judgement, so if you want the job it's yours."
"Really?" She looked astonished. "You're serious? Even after…?"
Katy nodded. "I'm serious. Jay reminded me that I don't give a toss what the old bill think. In another life it could have been me being hauled in for summit I didn't do." She smiled and nodded determinedly. "I need to make this place a success, Ruby, so I'm counting on you to work some magic."