A car swept past, tyres hissing on wet tarmac. They paused on the pavement to let it go.
Jack broke the silence. ‘When will I see you again?’
Bridie hesitated. ‘I don’t know.’
‘How about when the cleaners have been in?’ he suggested. ‘You can see if it meets with your approval. Or if you still need your friends to come in.’
She wasn’t sure if there was a hint of sarcasm there or if she was imagining it.
‘All right,’ she said. ‘Let me know when it’s ready.’
Excitement fluttered in her chest. ‘I can’t quite believe it,’ she added. ‘That it’ll actually be ready. Ready to stage a play.’
Jack’s expression didn’t match her enthusiasm.
‘Why the glum face?’ she asked. ‘It’s what you were doing it for, wasn’t it? So I could stage a play?’
He didn’t reply.
They crossed the road together. Jack insisted on walking her down the short lane that led into the yard. It was gloomy there, the cobbles slick and uneven, but ahead the single old-fashioned streetlamp glowed softly, illuminating the centre of Cobblers Yard while the surrounding shops melted into shadow.
Bridie slowed before they reached it.
Although the shops were closed, the place wasn’t empty. There was light in the bookshop – Henry and his carers – and she knew that Reggie would be upstairs in his flat. She’d only told a few people about Jack’s involvement in the theatre, but she wanted to keep it as quiet as possible.
‘You don’t need to see me right to my door,’ she said quietly, unsure why she was whispering.
Jack tilted his head. ‘No nightcap then?’
She frowned at him. The smile that followed told her he was joking – or mostly joking. But the temptation was there all the same.
After a week of sharing the flat with her sister, it was going to feel very empty. What harm would one cup of coffee do?
She was just about to say something – about to ignore Hannah’s warning, echoing loudly in her head – when Jack’s phone buzzed.
‘Is that your phone?’ she asked, instantly regretting how stupid it sounded.
Jack frowned at the screen. For a moment, he didn’t move.
Bridie didn’t voice the other question that flashed through her mind.Is that your wife?Of course it was. Probably wondering where he was. She couldn’t imagine he’d told her about the theatre. Or about Bridie.
For a moment, Bridie had forgotten they weren’t kids anymore; his life had moved on. And yet when they were together ...
Bridie shook herself. That was years ago. ‘So,’ she said firmly, ‘let me know when the theatre’s ready. We’ll arrange to meet there.’
‘You promise?’
‘Of course.’
His gaze flicked towards the yard, dark and quiet. ‘I’d better go then.’
‘Yes,’ Bridie said, lingering all the same.
They both leaned in. Then a light flicked on in Reggie’s shop.
Bridie stepped back at once. ‘Goodnight, Jack.’
‘Goodnight.’
