Bridie frowned. ‘That was years ago, and besides, we were just kids. It wasn’t serious.’
‘Wasn’t it?’
Bridie bit her lower lip.
‘Have you asked him how he felt about you leaving like that?’
She didn’t have to ask him. He’d already told her, surprising her with his strength of feeling over what had happened.
‘You don’t think it’s him, do you?’ Bridie said flatly.
‘He’s married, Bridie.’
‘I know!’ Bridie recalled her mum saying that too. Why did everyone think there was something more going on between them than just the theatre?
‘And from what I’ve heard,’ Kate continued, ‘his wife is very money-orientated. Married couples make decisions together – certainly financial ones.’
‘You mean like you and Andy did when you lost your job and chose not to take up the job they’d offered you,’ Bridie said sarcastically. She immediately regretted it. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.’
Kate shrugged it off. ‘No, you’re right. It’s true. But that was a big mistake. That’s obviously why we had a massive row, as you know, because I went ahead and made that decision without discussing it with him first. Look where that’s got me – back living with Mum and Dad while we patch things up.’
Bridie pursed her lips. ‘Sorry.’
‘Don’t be. But that is my point. I don’t see Jack’s wife agreeing to him just handing over a prime property that would be worth a lot more money if he developed it.’
Bridie stared at Kate, really wishing she didn’t have a point.
‘And besides, why would he give you the theatre? You haven’t been back five minutes, and it’s not as though you’ve exactly kept in touch over the years, like old friends. I know you’ve had some bad luck, having to leave your stage career in London. But really, why, if he’s been after getting his hands on the theatre for years, like Oliver said, would he just hand it over – to you, the person who walked out on him? It would be very strange indeed.’
Bridie was starting to get very concerned over just what she’d signed. She desperately wanted to change the subject, but she had to ask, ‘If it isn’t him, then who doyouthink it is?’
‘Honestly, Bridie, I haven’t got the faintest idea. I mean who do we know who had connections with this theatre? Nobody.’
Bridie looked down at the shoebox in her hands.
Kate noticed. ‘Bridie?’
‘There’s something else … follow me.’ Bridie started towards the stage.
Kate stood rooted to the spot. ‘Something else besides someone appearing out of the blue and handing you a theatre?’
‘Yeah, I’m afraid so.’
Bridie came to a stop when she noticed Kate wasn’t following. She turned around.
Kate said, ‘I get the impression I’m not going to like it.’
Bridie thought,that’s putting it mildly.Bridie waved her sister to follow. ‘Come on.’ Bridie walked to the stage and up the short wooden flight of steps to one side. She checked Kate was following.
‘You know, I’ve never, ever set foot on a stage before.’ Kate stood there staring into the auditorium. She looked at her sister, her expression one of awe. ‘I could never do it. Takes some guts and talent to entertain people.’
Bridie smiled. ‘Yes, I know.’ She was just so happy that for the first time in her life, someone in her family had acknowledged this. She said, ‘It’s not easy, being a theatre actress. I’m not goingto lie, it’s been in the back of my mind what happens when I get too old to dance and sing and have the energy to work in West End shows.’
‘I think the answer is right here,’ Kate said. ‘You produce them instead.’
‘A producer, like Julian?’
‘Yes, why not? You probably know a lot more than you think, living with Julian over the years, and you’ve got lots of experience starring in shows.’ Kate looked at her for a long moment. ‘Hannah knows, doesn’t she? About the theatre. That’s why she said what she did about you running your own business. She was talking about the theatre.’
