‘She recognised me and asked after you – how you were.’
‘Did she mention the theatre?’
‘No.’
‘Great.’ This time Bridie wasn’t being sarcastic. She looked to the door, hoping her mum hadn’t followed Hannah.
Hannah followed her gaze. ‘I did ask your mum if she wanted to come back to the shop and have a coffee with us.’
‘What!’ Bridie nearly spilled her coffee.
‘I said I was buying cakes for you and me to have coffee together back at the shop and felt it rude if I didn’t invite her to come along. Don’t worry. She was with some friends, so she won’t be coming.’
Bridie breathed a sigh. ‘Didsheknow where Oliver was?’
‘Oh, it didn’t occur to me to ask. Do you think she might know?’
‘I think she sees him there every Saturday and says hello.’
‘He might have said something last weekend, if he knew he wouldn’t be there today.’
‘Possibly.’
‘Bridie, why don’t you give her a call and ask? At least that way you’ll know it has nothing to do with you.’
Or I might find out it has everything to do with me,she thought. That wasn’t the only reason she didn’t want to call, though. She was still cheesed off with her mum and dad. Bridie said, ‘Maybe later.’
‘Suit yourself. Now, how about that cake?’
As they sat drinking the amazing coffee and eating the most delicious sponge cake that Bridie had ever tasted, Hannah looked about her. ‘It’s awfully quiet in the shop today.’
‘Isn’t it?’ Bridie agreed. ‘There aren’t many customers.’
‘I wasn’t talking about the customers. Where’s Barney?’
‘Ah, he’s gone on a trip to Southwold for the day with my nephew, George.’
‘That’s nice. His first time on a sandy beach.’
‘Oh, yes of course.’And I won’t be there to see it,thought Bridie.
‘Come to think of it, where’s Kate?’
‘Oh, she wasn’t meant to be working next door today, was she?’
‘No, not at all.’
Bridie hadn’t thought so. The shop next door wasn’t open just yet. ‘Andy came to pick up Kate and her luggage. They’re all going to Southwold for a family day out. Kate’s moving back home today.’
‘That’s right, she did mention it.’
‘Thanks to you, Hannah.’
‘Me?’
‘Yes, the jobs you’ve offered Kate and Andy mean they’ve got their lives back on track.’
‘She seems to like the work. I know it’s very different to what she did before.’
