Bridie nodded. Kate had heard that story. Most people had who lived thereabouts.
Kate pointed. ‘Isobel Raine.’
Chapter 41
A door suddenly slammed in the bowels of the theatre.
‘What was that?’ Kate asked, her voice shrill, eyes wide in fright.
Bridie had just been explaining how Layla had discovered her secret.
They both stood stock still. Bridie could feel her heart thudding in her chest.
‘Should we go and investigate?’ Kate asked tentatively.
Not likely,thought Bridie. She was going to leave it to Jack and his tradesmen to explore the rooms backstage and downstairs in the basement.
Bridie shook her head. ‘It’s just the wind,’ she said, and continued with her story about Layla.
‘Layla saw you coming out of the theatre?’
‘She saw me locking up. When you stormed off, she hung back, and I told her I own the theatre, but she had to keep it a secret.’
‘Why – because of Dad?’
‘Yes, but Layla doesn’t know about that.’ She pointed at the poster.
‘You don’t want this all to come to light and blow a hole in your plans to stage a play at the theatre.’
‘Mum has already tried to put me off staging a play.’
‘She would, wouldn’t she? She’s trying to protect Dad’s secret. I bet she just wants you to sell and get shot of it.’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you think that’s why Grandad fell out with them, over keeping Dad’s past a secret?’
‘I think so, Kate.’
‘Well, we’ll show them,’ Kate said. ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing to stage your first production, invite Dad, and then do some sort of ceremony where you invite former actors – those who starred in productions on this very stage before the theatre closed down – to come up on the stage?’
Bridie looked at her. ‘What a brilliant idea.’
‘He’ll never guess we know.’
‘That assumes he comes to the production.’
‘He’ll come for you. He’ll do anything for you, Bridie.’
‘Yeah, except tell me the truth about his past.’ Bridie cast her eyes over to the poster. There was more to this. She really hoped it had nothing to do with her dad and Isobel Raine, even though she suspected it had.
‘It would have made a huge difference, wouldn’t it, Bridie? Knowing you were following in his footsteps rather than feeling like the black sheep of the family because you chose to go into the arts rather than law, or banking or insurance.’
Bridie agreed. ‘And it would have made a huge difference to you, Kate, if you knew that Dad hated his job commuting into London, and that you didn’t have to do it too, all because you thought you ought to follow in his footsteps.’
Kate walked over and stood there shaking her head at the poster. ‘My first inclination was to get out my phone, take a photo of the poster, send it to him, and have it out with him.’
Bridie wasn’t surprised. Wasn’t that just like Kate?
