Chapter 5
On the Tube, Bridie stared at her reflection in the darkened window, pale under the harsh strip lights.
Her thoughts wandered back to old memories of her grandfather’s flat: the cluttered shelves, the faint smell of pipe smoke, his warm grin when she’d recited a monologue for him at fifteen.
He’d always said she belonged on a stage.
Maybe he was the only one left who still thought so.
By the time she reached his street, drizzle slicked the pavement. She wheeled her case up to his door and knocked. Fortunately, he lived in a flat on the ground floor, his front door accessed directly from the street. There was no answer.
That was strange. It wasn’t late. Just gone five, but in early January it was already dark. He didn’t usually go out after dark. She rang the bell, waited, knocked again. Nothing.
‘Looking for your grandfather?’
The voice came from above. Mrs Hughes, his neighbour, leaned out of her upstairs window, her hair wrapped in a scarf.
‘Hello, Mrs Hughes.’ Bridie could feel her cheeks growing hot in embarrassment at the thought that her grandad’s neighbours had seen her excruciatingly embarrassing fight on TikTok or whatever social media sites the audience had uploaded their videos to.
Bridie remembered to breathe. Of course Mrs Hughes hadn’t been on TikTok. She doubted she was even connected to the internet.
‘I saw him go out, dear, soon after you left earlier in the day. Not like him to be out this long. He’s usually pottering about in the evenings.’
Bridie’s chest tightened. Where was he? ‘Do you think he’s had a fall or something?’
‘He’s probably fine. You know he goes to the theatre with his friends. Normally a matinee, though.’
Bridie knew that. He hadn’t been known to go to evening performances. She said as much.
‘Probably went to a matinee and stayed out for a meal or something.’
Bridie nodded. ‘Yes, I’m sure you’re right.
’ Annoyingly, her grandfather didn’t have a mobile phone.
He refused to have one. It will be just an excuse to check up on me, and if I don’t answer the newfangled thing, you’d be getting all in a flap.
We did survive without them before, you know.
Don’t know why I have to change my ways now.
You can contact me on the house phone, or just stop by.
Mrs Hughes disappeared, then moments later opened her door. ‘Come in for a cuppa while you wait. Can’t have you standing there in the rain.’
The flat was warm, with the scent of baking lingering in the air.
Mrs Hughes bustled about making tea while Bridie sat awkwardly at the table, suitcase at her feet.
That was when she spotted it – a laptop sitting open on the kitchen table.
She didn’t know why she was so surprised.
There were millions of silver surfers around the world.
Why shouldn’t Mrs Hughes be one of them? Still, she couldn’t hide her reaction.
‘Ah, you’re surprised I’m connected. It’s my grandson who persuaded me I needed to be online. He ordered a laptop for me, and a hub, whatever that is. They were delivered today. He’s going to come round at some point and set it up.
‘Oh, so it’s not up and running yet?’
‘Oh, dear me, no. I unpacked it, but haven’t a clue what to do with it, although I can’t wait to get online and find out what all the fuss is about.’
Bridie looked up sharply. ‘What do you mean?’
‘The internet. Why everyone raves about being online.’
‘Oh, right.’ Bridie’s relief was short-lived. She made a point not to bump into any more of her grandad’s neighbours.
‘You know,’ Mrs Hughes said, setting down a steaming mug, ‘Your grandfather used to have a young lady visitor years back. Pretty thing, always laughing. Young enough to be his daughter, mind you. They were just friends. But she was such a regular, I thought she was family.’
Bridie blinked. ‘Really? I don’t remember him mentioning her. When was this?’
‘Oh, years ago.’
‘What was her name?’
‘I don’t remember. I’m not sure he told me her name.’ The old woman tilted her head, studying Bridie. ‘Funny thing is, you remind me of her. Something in the eyes, maybe.’
Bridie laughed it off, though the words struck a chord.
She’d always been Grandad’s favourite – why was that?
Was it just because they had a shared love of the theatre that no one else in the family, apart from Layla, had – or was it something more?
Was it because she reminded him of the mystery young woman who used to visit years earlier?
They chatted for another half-hour, with Mrs Hughes mentioning that she had seen him going out in his best suit – something he normally wore when he was going to the theatre – but disappointingly her grandad’s flat stayed dark.
Bridie had nipped downstairs to knock on his flat door a couple of times, but there was still no sign of him.
She had kept an ear out for the sound of someone downstairs, but there was nothing.
The clock ticked loudly, and Bridie felt the weight of exhaustion.
It was getting on, and the humiliation of her day still hung heavy on her shoulders.
The thought of explaining her downfall to her grandfather – tonight, of all nights – felt unbearable.
She was starting to think it was for the best that he hadn’t been in when she’d turned up.
Mrs Hughes said, ‘I’m wondering if he did indeed go out to an evening show instead.’
Bridie thanked Mrs Hughes, promised she’d check in again soon, and hauled her suitcase back into the rain.