Chapter 51
Bridie returned to the foyer, Oliver’s coat still draped around her shoulders. She was shivering, not from the freezing fog but from what she thought she’d seen – or rather who she thought she’d seen.
She turned to Oliver. ‘I think we should call it a day. Everyone has worked really hard, and I’m worried that the weather isn’t great for people getting home.’
Oliver agreed. ‘That fog has rolled in so quickly.’ He added, ‘Do you want me to announce that we’re calling it a day on the last rehearsal?’
‘Yes, please.’ Bridie rubbed her forehead.
‘Headache?’
‘Yes, too much wine,’ she admitted.
It took a bit of time for all the people at the rehearsal to troop out.
It was surprising how many people were involved in even a small, local production, from the performers on stage to the sound technicians, the orchestra in the pit, and the wonderful set designers – including Maisie, the only one not of working age.
Like Oliver, the director, and herself doubling up as the producer and stage manager, everyone involved had a day job and was volunteering their time, their expertise in different fields, and of course their artistic talent.
She couldn’t have pulled it off without each and every one of them, so despite her headache, she thanked them all just like she always did as they left the rehearsal. Without the local community of lovely people, so loyal to ensuring the little theatre made a huge comeback, there would be no show.
Bridie, the last to leave the theatre, walked out to find her fellow shopkeepers from Cobblers Yard waiting for her, along with Layla, Andy and George. ‘What’s going on?’ she asked. I thought you were all heading home?’
‘We thought it would be nice to stop by your shop and have a cup of coffee before we did.’
Bridie knew what they were up to; making sure she didn’t go home and open another bottle of wine. That wouldn’t be possible because she had downed her last bottle.
She overheard Mabel behind her, even though she couldn’t see her through the thick fog as they walked along the promenade. ‘We’ll make Bridie a nice strong cup of coffee.’
Bridie was feeling a little embarrassed. She was getting the idea that she’d been ambushed.
Oliver fell in step with her. Bridie glanced at him. ‘I can’t believe our first performance will be next weekend.’
‘Me neither. So, is a casting agent coming from London, do you think?’
Bridie wished he hadn’t brought up that phone call. ‘Yeah. The agent I spoke to used to represent me, so she said she’s doing me a huge favour and sending someone to see me in the show. I’m still persona non grata in the West End, apparently. So it’s a big ask.’
Oliver grimaced. ‘When that Julian fellow you were with said you’d never work there again, he wasn’t joking, was he?’
Bridie pursed her lips. ‘No. I don’t want to talk about all that.’
‘Funny thing,’ said Oliver sarcastically, ‘but neither do I. I wish you wouldn’t go back. Are you sure it’s what you want?’
Bridie pursed her lips. She looked at him shyly. Of course it wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted him. She wanted Oliver. But why would he believe her now, after everything that had happened? Why would he not think she was just on the rebound if she said she wanted to be with him?
It wasn’t long before they were all ensconced in the cosy corner of the art and craft shop.
Mabel and Marjorie were in the easy chairs, and Lili, Hannah, Thea and Bridie were squeezed on the sofa.
The guys – Joss, Oliver and Nate – perched on the arms of the sofa and chairs.
Maisie and William sat on cushions on the rug in front of the sofa, along with George. Layla and Andy were perching on stools.
Bridie sat there with a very, very strong coffee, Oliver’s question – are you sure it’s what you want? – still hanging in the air. Bridie looked around and thought of all the people she’d met and the new friendships she’d forged as a result of the theatre.
And her friendship with Oliver in particular that could be so much more if only her past with Jack hadn’t got in the way and confused her terribly. Now she felt that all she could do was put distance between herself and the man who could really break her heart – Oliver.
‘The tickets sales have been phenomenal,’ commented Joss.
Mabel said, ‘The posters certainly worked. We put them up everywhere.’
‘I think Layla’s social media posts might have had a little something to do with it too,’ commented Hannah. She turned to Bridie. ‘Aren’t you worried about your dad getting wind of this? I thought you wanted it to be a surprise.’
Bridie, consumed with the mess she’d made of things with Oliver and Jack, had lost the thread of the conversation.
All she could think of was that she’d had a chance of happiness, of her own happy-ever-after, and that she’d blown it because she’d looked back at her past, rather than at what, who, was right in front of her.
‘Bridie?’
Bridie looked up. ‘Huh?’
‘You were miles away,’ said Hannah. ‘Dreaming of your big day – opening night when we stage the first performance?’
‘Not exactly.’ Bridie stole a glance at Oliver before asking Hannah, ‘What were you saying?’
‘Oh, yes. About Layla’s social media posts. I was wondering if you were worried your dad might get wind of this. I thought you wanted it to be a surprise.’
Bridie sighed. She’d all but forgotten about that. ‘He’s not on social media, and Mum and Kate won’t tell him.’
‘Where is your sister, by the way?’ Thea asked. ‘I thought she’d be at the last rehearsal with Andy, Layla and George.’
Bridie nodded. ‘Kate couldn’t make it because Mum asked her to go over to discuss Dad’s retirement party.’ Bridie rolled her eyes. She wished her sister had been at the rehearsal too. She’d missed her.
‘Your sister could give you a run for your money on the stage.’
‘Marjorie – really,’ Mabel chided her. ‘You don’t have to say everything that comes into your head.’
‘Well, it’s true,’ said Marjorie.
Bridie smiled. ‘Honestly, I don’t mind at all. I’m just as surprised as anyone.’ She smiled at Layla.
Layla had persuaded her mum to audition for the play.
It was only a small part, and Kate had tried to get out of it.
But in the spirit of trying new things – and she did have plenty of time on her hands in the evenings and weekends – she’d auditioned and surprised everyone with her lovely singing voice.
She was also a natural dancer, amazing everyone, most of all herself.
Bridie had grinned at her, and said, ‘See, you take after Dad – a natural performer.’
Bridie sat chatting as she watched Barney running from one person to another, wagging his tail, unable to contain his excitement.
He didn’t know who to go to first for fusses.
He hadn’t been attending the rehearsals.
He was still a pup and needed quiet time for naps.
And he rather did like to be the centre of attention.
She watched him shaking in excitement. The theatre was no place for Barney just then.
She thought how her dad was going to be very surprised, when he did eventually see his dog, at how much he’d grown in the last few weeks.
It had been a stand-off. Bridie was refusing to visit her parents.
Her dad was avoiding Cobblers Yard – and Aldeburgh in general.
‘Barney – down!’
Of course he’d suddenly gone deaf, certainly to her voice, but not to everyone else who called him over to give him attention.
Mabel was just insisting on making Bridie another very strong coffee when they heard a siren.
William said, ‘That sounds like a fire engine.’
Maisie turned to her brother. ‘It could be an ambulance or a police car.’
William shook his head. ‘It’s a fire engine.’
‘But how do you know?’
‘Because I’m a boy, and we know this sort of thing.’
George sat nodding at William.
Lili butted in, admonishing him for saying that.
Bridie just smiled at the sweet little boy who, although he wasn’t blond like the traditional star of the show, more than made up for it with his beautiful singing voice and his amazing acting. He made everyone cry when he sang the songs. He made the perfect Oliver.
Her eyes drifted to his exceptionally talented sister, Maisie. She wasn’t just talented; she was a prodigy. Bridie imagined it made a huge change for William’s hidden talents to be taking centre stage – quite literally.
Bridie smiled at Reggie who was looking adoringly at William. Reggie had had to be coaxed out of acting retirement to play Fagin. Bridie couldn’t imagine anyone else playing that role. She was Nancy, and her sister was one of Nancy’s friends who worked in the local pub.
There was one part they’d filled that Reggie had said would have been perfect for her dad – the role of Oliver’s grandfather – but that position had now been filled by one of Reggie’s friends.
Bridie still couldn’t believe that opening night had almost arrived.
But it was bittersweet. The show marked the beginning, and the end, of her time there.
She knew that now. Everybody had commented on what a performance Bridie had given in the rehearsals.
Was it any wonder? She was playing someone who had been hurt by the person whom she thought she loved.
Although her situation wasn’t the same as Nancy’s – Jack hadn’t physically hurt her – she felt that he might as well have; her heart still felt bruised and battered, made worse by the fact that he was still trying to sabotage her play.
And she felt even worse still now after realising that all along it wasn’t Jack she’d been in love with; he’d just muddied the waters, and kept her from seeing clearly who her true love had been all along.
‘When will it stop?’ Bridie had asked Oliver, on the way back to Cobblers Yard, thinking of the sabotage. She didn’t want to bring it up again, but it was playing on her mind.
‘On opening night. It’s a sell-out show. Then there will be no going back. No amount of sabotage is going to stop us,’ he’d said.
Another siren passed by out in the high street. ‘Wow, unusual to hear that around Aldeburgh,’ commented Joss. ‘Must be quite a fire, if they need two.’
‘Might not be fire engines,’ commented Maisie.
William rounded on his sister. ‘They are!’
A hushed silence fell in the room. Bridie looked around at her friends. Were they all thinking the same thing? Bridie swallowed. ‘Jack wouldn’t – would he?’
Suddenly everyone was out of their seats and rushing to the door.
Maisie said, ‘Where are you all going?’
They all stopped in a bunch at the door.
Andy said, ‘I’ll stay with the children – and Barney. Now go!’