Chapter 15
‘You’re obviously very upset about something. Let me make you a cuppa.’
Bridie stared at the kind young woman. ‘I don’t want you closing your shop just for me.’
‘I don’t normally open on a Sunday, but as I’m here doing a stock-take, I thought I might as well open the shop. But it’s lunchtime. I was going to stop for a break. I’m Hannah, by the way.’
‘I’m Bridie.’
‘What a lovely name,’ commented Hannah. ‘Please, come and take a seat in the cosy corner.’
‘Cosy corner?’
‘Yes, over here.’
Bridie let the young woman guide her over to a two-seater sofa.
It was an old sofa, but there were nice new cushions to brighten it up, and even a couple of throws.
A coffee machine sat on a small table under a floor lamp, and an armchair that didn’t match the sofa was to one side.
There was a bookcase with some old paperbacks.
She wondered if they’d come from the bookshop or perhaps the charity shop.
‘Now, do you want tea or coffee?’
Bridie eyed the coffee machine. She’d smelt the most gorgeous aroma of coffee as soon as she’d walked inside. ‘May I have a coffee?’
Hannah grinned. ‘Good choice.’
A moment later, Bridie was sitting with a cup of coffee and a chocolate digestive biscuit, which she was enjoying very much. ‘I haven’t had one of these in an age. Julian was a bit of a health freak and didn’t let me buy biscuits.’
‘Who’s Julian?’
Bridie winced, wishing she hadn’t mentioned him. ‘My ex.’
Hannah said, ‘My neighbour across the yard supplied me with that amazing coffee machine. I think it was an excuse to pop along every day for a coffee and a chat while she supposedly checks it’s still working. And her sister pops over too, supplying me with chocolate digestives.’
Bridie stared at her, relieved that she hadn’t asked anything more about Julian.
Bridie knew that it must be the sisters who ran the charity shop that she was talking about.
And she realised why Hannah had locked the door when she’d put the Closed sign in the window.
Even after all these years, she remembered their reputation.
‘Oh, you know Mabel and Marjorie from the charity shop?’
Bridie sat with both hands around her large coffee mug and sank back into the lumpy but comfortable sofa. She nodded. ‘Yes, from years ago when I was a teenager. I grew up in a village not far from Aldeburgh and I used to visit Cobblers Yard with my friends. I’ve always loved the yard.’
Now she regretted not spending more time in Suffolk when she had come down from London to visit her parents over the years and never visiting Cobblers Yard.
She knew who she had to blame for that – Julian.
He hardly visited with her. Her visits had been brief because he’d wanted her back as soon as possible.
And even when she was visiting, he’d always been texting all the time, checking she hadn’t changed her plans.
When she thought about it now, he had been quite controlling.
Bridie could feel tears in her eyes again over the thought of all those wasted years with someone who had just chucked her for someone younger who, when she really thought about it, just looked like a fresh-faced version of herself.
Bridie tried to focus on something else. ‘I used to love visiting the charity shop when I was a teenager. I can’t believe they’re still there.’
‘Yes, two octogenarians, still going strong.’
Bridie had guessed they were in their eighties now.
‘I haven’t seen you in the yard before’, said Hannah, ‘but then I’m fairly new here – like Joss, the solicitor who runs the drop-in centre for free legal advice.’
‘Yes, I saw the sign outside. What about the bridal shop? It looks as though someone is opening another shop in the yard.’
‘Ah, that’s me, actually.’
‘Oh, right.’ Bridie tried not to feel envious. Hannah looked younger than her and she already had one successful business, and now she was opening another. And she had a gorgeous engagement and wedding ring on her finger. She was married too.
Hannah smiled. ‘Some things have certainly changed in Cobblers Yard, but then again, some things haven’t.
Henry still runs the bookshop, but with his daughter, Thea, and son-in-law.
They’ve really turned things around with their new window display, and sorting out Henry’s higgledy-piggledy bookshelves.
Reggie is still in his music shop. He also offers music lessons.
Maisie, my daughter, is learning the violin. ’
‘You have a daughter?’
Hannah nodded.
Bridie was feeling worse by the minute.
‘The flower shop has changed hands, though,’ continued Hannah.
Bridie didn’t want to hear anything more about Cobblers Yard and the success everyone was making of their shops – and their lives.
‘A lovely young woman runs The Potting Shed – Lili. She’s also my best friend. She helped me out a lot.’
Bridie could just imagine Hannah’s best friend helping her out with the flowers at her wedding.
‘It’s good to have friends who can help you out when … when things go wrong.’ Bridie suddenly burst into tears again. ‘Oh, god, I’m so sorry,’ she managed, in between sobs.
Hannah put her coffee cup down, got up from the armchair, and sat down next to her on the sofa.
She reached out and placed a gentle hand on hers.
‘You don’t have to tell me what’s wrong, although forgive me, but I’m guessing it’s to do with breaking up with your ex.
You know, a wise old lady once told me a problem shared is a problem halved. ’
‘I can’t imagine what sort of problems you’d have,’ Bridie blurted, ‘with your successful business, husband and child.’ Bridie’s eyes went wide. She stood. ‘Sorry, I’d better leave. I don’t know why I said that.’
Hannah looked up at her. ‘I do. I know why you said that.’
‘Look, I’m sure whatever problems you’ve had …’ she trailed off deciding it was best to just shut her mouth before she said anything else she’d regret.
Bridie was heading for the door when Hannah said, ‘Yeah, I’ve had my fair share of problems – a prison stint after stealing from my best friend, and my child nearly being taken into care, if it wasn’t for my best friend stepping in.’
Bridie slowly turned around and stared at the young woman. ‘You went to prison?’
‘Doesn’t seem possible, does it, that I’m a convicted criminal?’
Bridie gaped at her.
‘Now, I don’t know you, but I’m guessing by the look on your face that whatever problems you have, you haven’t broken the law or spent time in prison.’
Bridie vehemently shook her head.
‘Or got pregnant at a party, at seventeen, and then went from one bad relationship to another, like me, dumping my child on my best friend whenever I felt like it.’
Bridie stepped towards her, still shaking her head.
Hannah added, ‘It took a very bad decision on my part, leading to a stint in prison, to finally realise I couldn’t carry on the way I was if I didn’t want to lose my child.
My best friend gave me a second chance. And now here I am, having turned my life around completely, running my own business, or businesses, and I’ve finally met the man of my dreams and got married.
But this …’ Hannah swept her arm around the shop, and then pointed at her rings, ‘none of this has come easy. I had help. I needed help. But I did it. And if I can pick myself up, so can you.’ Hannah patted the seat beside her for Bridie to join her again.
Bridie resumed her seat, turning to Hannah. ‘Didn’t you have parents who could help you out?’
Hannah shook her head. ‘I don’t usually tell people I’ve just met about my history, but I wanted to show you that no matter how bad you think things are right now, there is always, always a way to turn things around and find the life you’ve always dreamed of.
But here’s the thing … like I said, I had help.
And whatever is going on in your life right now, and you don’t have to tell me, but I’d like to help you, if you’d let me.
I’d like to be that friend to you that my best friend, Lili, was to me. ’
Bridie burst into tears yet again. After hearing Hannah’s story, she realised things weren’t as bad as all that, really.
She had parents who she could stay with indefinitely, even though it wasn’t ideal.
Even so, she told Hannah what had happened at the theatre the previous day, and about returning to her parents’ house after all those years away, with her life in tatters – her relationship finished, her career in the theatre over, and feeling such an utter, utter failure.
She didn’t expect Hannah to be that sympathetic when she heard that Bridie wasn’t homeless or penniless and wasn’t a single parent. ‘I feel so bad now about bursting into tears, feeling sorry for myself. After hearing your story, I feel really embarrassed. What have I got to be unhappy about?’
Hannah surprised her by taking her hand. ‘You’ve been betrayed by your partner. I know how that feels, believe me. And you’ve lost the career you love. All in one go. And here you are, back where you started. It must feel like a massive backward step.’
Bridie could feel the tears running down her cheeks.
‘I’m not saying that to upset you more. I guess I don’t want you to think that just because you haven’t been through the same as me, that it diminishes what you have been through. Like I said, I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t had some help. I want to help you, Bridie.’
Bridie didn’t want charity; what she needed was a job to earn some money and pay her way. She wanted to pay for her keep at home; money towards her food and even the household bills while she was there.
‘Just tell me how I can help,’ Hannah said earnestly.
‘You wouldn’t have a job vacancy in one of your shops, would you?’
Hannah grinned. ‘Funny you should ask me that …’