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.
