Sive could tell Chloe’s mind was already racing about the project, her eyes dancing with excitement.
‘Well, you’ll know best what’s manageable. We can go over the figures properly later, but it’ll be a big order. We’d need at least one pie for every member of the audience.’
Chloe nodded. ‘With a few more for contingency.’
‘If by contingency you mean me scoffing half the stock, then you’ll definitely need to factor that in,’ Sam said.
‘How many does the theatre hold?’ Chloe asked Sive.
‘A hundred and thirty-eight.’
‘And this would be every night of the run …’
‘And two matinees,’ Sive said. ‘So it’ll be a lot of work. Do you think you can manage it?’
Chloe nodded. ‘I’ll need to take on extra help, but I can definitely do it. And Leah will be glad of the extra hours coming up to Christmas.’
‘Maybe we should just stick to the normal mince pies that everyone’s used to. The fewer options we have, the better.’
‘You’re right. Best to keep it as simple as possible.’
‘Well, like I said, we’ll hammer out the details and make it all official later. I just wanted to ask if you’re interested first.’
‘I’m definitely up for it. Oh, I’m so excited! I may not want to be on stage, but it’ll be fun to be part of the show in some way.’
Sive smiled, pleased that Chloe was so enthusiastic. ‘Maybe you could do some rough costings and then we could all meet up to discuss it?’
‘Great.’ Chloe drained her wine.
‘Another?’ Sam asked, nodding at her glass.
‘No thanks, I’d better head off. There’s some flatpack furniture with my name on it waiting to be assembled.’
‘Well, you wouldn’t want to miss that.’
Chloe stood, pulling on her coat. ‘I’ll see you guys next week – and I’ll get working on those figures for you,’ she added to Sive.
6
‘Wotcher, Sive!’Sive turned to see Jack and Ciara behind her as she arrived at the rehearsal studio the following morning.
‘Hi, Jack. Morning, Ciara. What happened to you?’ she asked, frowning down at Jack, who was walking with a crutch. ‘Nothing too drastic, I hope.’ He wasn’t wearing a cast or boot, so she figured it couldn’t be too serious.
He shrugged cheerfully. ‘No one knows. Could be rickets, innit?’
‘Rickets?’
‘TB, polio maybe…’
‘Goodness! Really?’ She looked to Ciara, who rolled her eyes and shook her head as her son headed for the stairs ahead of them.
‘There’s nothing wrong with him,’ Ciara told Sive in a hushed tone, following Jack as he clambered slowly up the stairs one step at a time. ‘He’s getting into character.’
‘It’s me process,’ Jack called back over his shoulder, breathless from the effort.
‘Oh, right. Well, that’s … very admirable. I’m glad there’s nothing wrong with him, anyway,’ Sive said to Ciara as Jack reached the landing and disappeared into the rehearsal room.
‘It’s a pain in the ass is what it is,’ Ciara said wearily. ‘It took us half an hour just to walk to the bus stop this morning.’
