Chapter 46
Sunday morning arrived softly in Cobblers Yard. It was the sort of morning that usually made Bridie acutely aware of how quiet her flat felt when she was alone.
She was halfway through her first cup of tea when she heard voices downstairs – high-pitched laughter, a child’s whoop of excitement, and Barney’s unmistakable yaps echoing up through the floorboards.
Bridie smiled despite herself. She’d let Barney run downstairs, when she heard them arrive. A moment later there was a knock, brisk and familiar, and Hannah appeared at the top of the stairs, shrugging off her coat.
‘I hope you don’t mind,’ Hannah said, breathless. ‘We were passing, and I thought why not text and see if you wanted some company. I thought you shouldn’t be rattling around up here on your own all day.’
Downstairs, Maisie’s laughter rang out again, followed by Rupert’s low voice telling both child and dog to shush.
‘Come in,’ Bridie said warmly. ‘It’s really lovely to see you.’
Hannah took in Bridie’s face with a look that was far too perceptive for nine o’clock on a Sunday morning. ‘Right,’ she said, sitting down firmly on the sofa. ‘Now. Tell me everything.’
Bridie sighed, sinking down opposite her.
‘So,’ Hannah said, folding her arms. ‘Oliver did get your text and did read it. Why on earth didn’t he reply? Why leave it all day, then turn up in a thunderstorm after dark to see you?’
Bridie rubbed her forehead. ‘Turns out his mother wasn’t well. He was on his way to see her when he got my text.’
Hannah’s expression softened briefly. ‘So why didn’t he reply?’
‘He said he didn’t want to text me back and say he couldn’t meet.’
Hannah stared at her. ‘Why? His mother was unwell.’
‘Stupidly, he thought it might sound like he was fobbing me off. Like he was just coming up with excuses. So he decided he’d pop round instead. Surprise me. With cake.’
‘With cake,’ Hannah repeated faintly.
‘Yes. From the bakery. Except it didn’t exactly go to plan. He was there far longer than he expected, and by the time he got back to Aldeburgh it was too late – the café was closed.’
Hannah leaned back, considering this. ‘But he still came to see you. Waited in a thunderstorm, outside your door. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.’
Bridie frowned. ‘Hannah—’
‘There’s more to this story than you kissing and making up,’ Hannah said gently. ‘Isn’t there?’
Downstairs, Maisie shrieked with laughter again, and Barney responded with a volley of excited yaps. Hannah grimaced and glanced at the floor. ‘Sorry about that.’
Rupert’s voice floated up moments later, calm and amused, telling them both to keep it down. Bridie smiled.
‘Don’t be sorry,’ Bridie said. ‘It was really kind of you to come. And to invite me out later. But I won’t be great company.’
Hannah said. ‘What happened?’
‘There was no kissing. No making up,’ Bridie said firmly.
‘Of course there wasn’t,’ Hannah said, dryly. ‘Because you spent the evening with Jack.’
‘That wasn’t intentional.’
‘And all the while,’ Hannah continued, ‘your other admirer was standing outside your flat, thinking you were in, knocking on the door.’
‘Yes.’ Bridie told her about Reggie popping in too and making them coffee. She decided not to repeat what he’d said about Jack, or their conversation about her dad and Isobel Raine.
‘So,’ Hannah prompted, ‘then Reggie left, and …?’
‘Yes. Reggie left. I’d just asked Oliver a stupid question – what he was doing there – when someone knocked on the shop door. I assumed it was Reggie coming back to dispense another piece of advice.’ She paused, then added quietly, ‘It was the last person I expected.’
Hannah nodded. ‘Jack.’
Bridie winced. ‘Yes. And the first words out of his mouth – loud enough for Oliver to hear – were, I know I shouldn’t be here, but please, let’s have that nightcap after all.’
Hannah let out a long breath. ‘Oh dear.’
‘I was thinking about it,’ Bridie admitted, when he’d walked me back to Cobblers Yard. ‘But I changed my mind.’
‘Oh, Bridie.’ Hannah shook her head. ‘I bet that didn’t go down well with Oliver.’
‘No. Not when he realised I’d been with Jack all evening while he was standing outside like a fool. His words.’
‘And I suppose Jack didn’t enjoy discovering that Oliver was already inside, having coffee?’
‘No. I tried to explain. To both of them. That it wasn’t what it looked like. Neither of them were having any of it.’
‘So they both left.’
‘Yes. Arguing. I could hear them as they walked out of the yard.’
They sat in silence for a moment, listening to the muffled chaos below.
‘Is it really okay that Maisie’s playing with Barney in the shop?’ Bridie asked suddenly. ‘I keep worrying something might happen.’
‘It’s fine,’ Hannah said. ‘I could tell you needed to talk. Rupert understands.’
‘He’s lovely,’ Bridie said quietly. ‘I’m glad I finally met him.’ She just wished it had been under happier circumstances.
Hannah smiled. ‘Now. What’s really worrying you?’
Bridie looked down at her hands. ‘I don’t know what to do. About either of them. Or the theatre.’
‘The theatre?’
‘I don’t know if the painters and decorators are still coming next week. Or the cleaners Jack hired. It was so close, so close to being ready for a play. And now I don’t know what’s going to happen.’
Hannah’s eyes sharpened. ‘Did you say there’s still paint there? Overalls? Cleaning things?’
‘Yes. Hoovers too. Henry hoovers, probably in readiness for Jack’s crack team of cleaners.’
‘Stay there,’ Hannah said suddenly, already on her feet.
Bridie listened as Hannah thundered down the stairs, voices overlapping – Hannah, Rupert, Maisie – then the unmistakable sound of Hannah on the phone.
When she returned, she looked far too pleased with herself.
‘I’ve spoken to Rupert,’ Hannah said. ‘And I’ve made some calls.’
Bridie blinked. ‘Calls?’
‘I’ve enlisted help.’
Before Bridie could ask another question, voices drifted in through the open window – laughter, footsteps on cobbles, the unmistakable hum of people gathering. She glanced out of the window, then bolted down the stairs, flung open the door and stopped short.
Everyone was there – all the shopkeepers from Cobblers Yard.
Joss, grinning, with his fiancée Emily. Mabel and Marjorie already rolling up imaginary sleeves. Reggie, flanked by a couple Bridie didn’t recognise.
‘We brought plus-ones,’ Joss said cheerfully.
‘Many hands make light work,’ Marjorie added.
Reggie gestured to the couple beside him. ‘From The Beach House. I thought once we’ve finished painting, we might start some tentative auditions. He sings beautifully. She plays piano.’
‘Can I paint props?’ Maisie asked eagerly. ‘Like scenery?’
Bridie laughed, blinking back tears. ‘Maisie, that would be perfect.’
She wasn’t sure how word had spread so quickly on Sunday morning – she suspected the gossip girls – but by the time they set off towards the theatre, the group had swelled to nearly twenty.
‘I know you’re trying to keep it quiet,’ Hannah murmured as they walked, ‘but if you want to reopen a theatre, and stage a play, word will get out.’
‘I don’t care anymore,’ Bridie said. ‘I just want it ready.’
‘And it will be,’ Hannah said. ‘With this lot. Oh, and I called your sister.’
Bridie stopped short. Standing outside the theatre were Kate, Andy, Layla and George. Bridie hugged them all, laughing through tears.
‘Right,’ Kate said briskly. ‘Let’s get stuck in.’
As Bridie unlocked the door, Hannah lingered behind her, lowering her voice. ‘Oh, and I called Oliver too.’
‘What?’ Bridie spun around.
But Hannah was already slipping inside. ‘Must dash. Things to do.’
Bridie was left standing at the entrance, the promenade stretching away on either side, the sea glinting faintly beyond.
She took a breath.
Whatever happened next, there was no turning back now.