Chapter 39
‘Did Hannah tell you she offered me a job?’
Bridie wasn’t surprised. ‘Sorry, but I mentioned to Hannah that you lost your job.’ She wondered what was coming next. She cringed. ‘You weren’t rude to her, were you?’
Kate looked taken aback. ‘Why would I be rude? Especially when the reason I came to Hannah’s shop was to ask if I could apply for the job you mentioned she might have for me.’
‘I’m sorry, run that by me again? I thought you were joking when you said you’d come here about a job. I assumed that you were here to tell me off for telling Mum that you lost your job.’
‘I’m glad you did tell Mum. I ended up coming clean, telling Mum everything – that I’ve been pretending to go to work, when I’ve really been sitting in the library every day, completing online applications and getting absolutely nowhere.’
Bridie nodded. It was just as she’d thought.
Kate continued, ‘Do you know what she said? I should take a leaf out of your book and get myself a job locally just to bring some money in.’
‘She said that?’ Bridie was surprised. She’d always assumed Mum, a GP, was disappointed with all her life choices, especially working in a shop, whereas the sun always shone out of Kate’s backside. Mum had clearly changed her tune from what she’d said to her just that morning outside the theatre.
‘She told me I should be more like you and get on with playing the cards I’ve been dealt. She said, you didn’t see Bridie running back to London and trying to resurrect a career that is over.
Bridie still did want to return to the London stage, although she was becoming less certain, but she didn’t mention that to Kate.
Nor did she mention that she had a plan to get there.
She looked at Kate. It sounded like their mum was intimating that it wasn’t just Bridie’s career that was over, but Kate’s too.
Perhaps their mum had spoken to their dad, who’d worked in London for decades, and he’d been aware that there would be huge lay-offs coming along in the financial sector.
Kate confirmed all that she’d just been thinking.
Bridie asked, ‘So, you’re applying for a job in Hannah’s bridal shop?’
‘Oh, no.’
Bridie sighed in disappointment. For a moment, she’d thought how nice it would have been to have her sister working just next door. After all that Kate had just said, she’d assumed she would be applying for a position. She’d even said that was why she’d turned up there.
Kate said, ‘I’m not applying for the position. Hannah has already offered me the job – and I’ve accepted!’
‘What – really?’ Bridie couldn’t hide her surprise.
‘Yup. The bridal shop isn’t open yet, but I can start helping her with setting up the shop.
She knows I’m overqualified for the job, so she thought that if I were to stay on, she’d hire another member of staff to mind the bridal shop if I wanted to move on and get involved in the business side of things at Somersby Hall.
That’s where she and her husband run the wedding venue. ’
‘Oh, really? She’s offered you the chance to do that already?
’ Bridie suddenly felt a little envious.
She’d thought that she might eventually get involved with the business at Somersby Hall and was surprised that Hannah had offered that possibility to Kate instead when she hadn’t even started work for her yet.
‘Hannah said something a bit peculiar when I said that I thought you might have wanted to get involved with the bridal business.’
‘What did she say?’
‘She said that you would be far too busy running your own business. When I asked her what she meant, she changed the subject. What did she mean by that? Has she asked you to take over her art and craft shop?’
Bridie resisted a smile. So, that was why Hannah hadn’t offered her a different position – because of the theatre.
‘So, you’re definitely going to take Hannah up on her job offer?’ It sounded to Bridie that Kate wasn’t just viewing the arrangement as temporary. But how would she manage with her large mortgage?
Kate nodded. ‘If I’m honest, I wouldn’t want to go back to my old job even if I won the lottery – unlike you.
Staying at Mum and Dad’s has given me time to think, rather than just rowing with Andy over our predicament.
The fact is that I’m not sorry I lost my job.
I hated the commute – although it was made bearable commuting into London with Dad every day.
But since he retired, it’s been horrible sitting on that train for an hour and a half on my own with nothing but my laptop and more work to do.
And I hate London. And oh, how I hated my job. ’
‘So, why did you do it?’ Bridie expected Kate to tell her she wouldn’t understand because she didn’t have a family to support. Instead, Kate said, ‘Because I’m an idiot!’
Bridie gaped at her. Had Kate just called herself an idiot?
‘I want to support my family, I do, but I always have to try and be the best at everything, like it’s some sort of competition.
Andy was happy to be the stay-at-home dad, as I had the degree, and I could earn more.
But I was just full of my own bravado, working in a high-powered job, for the status, the kudos, thinking it made me so special – when all it made me feel was miserable.
I never ever thought about what would really make me happy – like you did, Bridie, working in theatre. I envied you that so much.’
If that was how she’d been feeling all along, Bridie wondered if it wasn’t just that Bridie was her dad’s favourite that had made Kate bitter and resentful towards her little sister.
It was also because Bridie had been living the life of her dreams. And Kate had not – far from it, by the sounds of things.
‘I was so dog-tired at the end of the working week, all I wanted was a bottle of wine, soaks in the bath, and to disappear into my childhood with long hacks on a horse from a local stables. I wasn’t interested in the kids one bit. What a horrible mother I’ve been.’
Bridie did not know what to say. She had thought Kate was happy. She had thought her life was perfect. She said as much.
‘Nobody’s life is perfect behind closed doors, Bridie. But mine was a lot less perfect than most, I imagine. I wish we’d bought a lower-key house, with a smaller mortgage, and we’d both worked so that I didn’t have to do such a high-powered job with such long hours.’
‘You could have shared the childcare when the children were younger,’ Bridie said, even though she knew she wasn’t being helpful. That was all in the past now. Or was it? ‘Have you thought about doing that now?’
‘How do you mean?’
Bridie shrugged. ‘You could both work locally from now on. It would mean lower-paid work for you, but with two incomes coming in …’ Bridie trailed off.
Kate nodded. ‘I’ve even thought about selling up and downsizing. That would reduce the mortgage.’
‘But you love that house. It’s what you were working for.’
‘Yes, but I was hardly around to enjoy it – or spend time with Layla and George. I wish Andy and I had thought of doing this years ago. I feel I’ve missed out on so much.’
Bridie wouldn’t dispute that. She said, ‘Why carry on missing out? You’ve got a job now, a future here with us.’
Kate smiled. ‘I just want to do what makes me happy. I’ve done what Mum said and taken a leaf out of your book.’
‘But she didn’t say that, did she? About doing what makes you happy. She just said …’
‘I know, I was talking about taking a leaf out of your book, and not caring what other people think, and just following my dreams.’
By other people, Bridie knew she was talking about their parents. She leaned forward and hugged her sister, realising that it wasn’t that Kate didn’t like her, as she’d thought – it was that she envied her for being true to herself.
Bridie said, ‘What would you really like to do? What is your dream?’
Kate didn’t take long to think about it. ‘I’d love to work with horses.’
Bridie was not in the least bit surprised.
‘But I don’t see how. In fact …’ Kate’s face fell, ‘I don’t know how I’ll even afford to continue riding.’
‘I do. Now you’re working locally, and you don’t have the daily commute, you could volunteer at the local stables, maybe get a free ride after helping out. You’d still be around the horses, and who knows where it might lead?’
Kate grinned. ‘I never thought of that.’
‘What about Andy? Has he had any thoughts about what he could do?’ Bridie asked.
Kate shook her head. ‘He’s been out of work for years. I think that’s going to be a problem.’
Bridie had an idea. ‘Hannah is going to need more help in her bridal business.’
‘Yes, she said she’d get another shop assistant at some point.’
‘Well, what about Andy?’
‘Andy? In a bridal shop? Not to state the obvious – but he’s a guy.’
‘Yes, and guys go to bridal shops to be fitted for their outfits too.’
Kate raised her eyebrows. ‘Yes, they do, don’t they? Andy always said that once the kids were in secondary school he’d return to work, but I know he’d rather not go back to his old line of work as a supermarket manager. But he’s willing to do anything to contribute.’
‘Well, there you go. When I see Hannah on Monday, would you like me to let her know he’d like to be considered for a position too? I’m sure she’s going to need more help.’
‘Oh, would you?’
‘Of course I would. What are sisters for?’
Bridie immediately saw Kate’s pained expression. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘When you said that, it made me think of how I’ve been a rubbish big sister over the years. Haven’t I?’ Kate avoided eye contact.
Bridie reached out and touched her arm. ‘Hey, how about you start making up for it?’
‘How?’
‘Just by doing this, having heart-to-hearts, and making sure you come in here for coffee and cake on your breaks from work next door.’
Kate smiled. ‘And not keeping secrets from one another. I should have told you what I was up to at Mum and Dad’s. It was such a stupid thing to think I could keep a secret from Mum and Dad – or any of you guys.’
Bridie’s eyes rose to the ceiling, thinking of the shoebox. She knew she had to tell her sister what she’d found out, along with telling her about the theatre.
Kate sighed as she said, ‘But just when one thing is sorted, something else crops up.’
Bridie dropped her eyes to her sister, wondering whether she could read her mind. Bridie asked warily, ‘What is it?’
‘Layla.’
‘Layla?’
‘She’s keeping something from me – I just know it. Call it mother’s intuition.’
Bridie immediately thought of Charlie. She guessed Layla hadn’t told her mum about her first boyfriend. In the spirit of not keeping secrets, Bridie said, ‘Layla’s got a boyfriend.’
‘I know. Not that she confided in me first. Andy found out first.’
Actually, she confided in me first. Bridie kept her mouth shut. Kate didn’t need to know that.
Kate added, ‘I know she’s keeping something from me. Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up. It’s just that on top of everything else, I’m afraid she’s … she’s …’
‘She’s – what?’
Kate was having trouble getting the word out, obviously. ‘Pregnant.’
Bridie had been leaning forward in her chair, on tenterhooks, wondering what on earth she was going to say. Bridie let out a relived sigh. Leaning back in her seat, she said, ‘It’s not that.’
‘How do you know?’
‘It’s me – I told her to keep a secret. My secret.’
‘You?’
‘Yeah.’
‘You’re pregnant?’
‘No, of course not. It’s got nothing to do with babies.’ Bridie frowned, thinking of her dad and Isobel Raine.
‘So, what’s the big secret?’ Kate asked playfully.
Bridie gave her a sideways glance as she stood. ‘It might be easier if I show you.’
‘Is it upstairs in your flat?’ she asked as Bridie headed to the stairs.
‘Not all of it, no. Stay there while I go and feed Barney, unless you want to say hello.’
Kate shook her head. ‘He’ll just get overexcited.’
Bridie headed upstairs. She returned with the shoebox after giving Barney a fuss and a bowl full of food. It would keep him quiet for all of a minute. Then he’d notice she’d gone again.
‘It’s in the shoebox?’ Kate asked.
Bridie smiled. ‘I’ll explain soon. I’ve just got to nip over to see if Reggie is in.’
‘The shoebox is for him?’
‘Um, no. I want to ask if he can pup-sit while we’re gone.’ Barney had already been out on a walk, and she didn’t want to over-exercise his little paws.
Kate rose from her seat. ‘Where are we going?’
‘You’ll see,’ Bridie said, walking to the door.
As Bridie opened the shop door, leaving a bemused Kate staring after her, a howl made them both jump.
Kate said, ‘I can see why you need a pup-sitter.’
Bridie nodded and headed across the yard, hoping she was doing the right thing by letting Kate in on her secret.
Would she agree to keep her secret from their dad?
That was the question, if Mum hadn’t told him already.
But that was a risk she’d have to take. As Kate had said, she didn’t want any more secrets between the two of them – and neither did Bridie.
But did that extend to their parents? She had no idea what Kate’s reaction would be to the theatre, or to their dad’s past.