While Barney entertained Oliver, rolling on his back for a tummy rub, Bridie followed Reggie to the door.
Reggie stepped outside and turned around. ‘You haven’t told your father about the theatre – have you? That’s why you asked us all to keep it a secret.’
Bridie shook her head. ‘You were in love with her. Isobel Raine.’
Reggie stared at her. ‘She was my one true love.’
Before she could ask anything more, Reggie said, ‘You need to speak to Rufus, Bridie.’ He looked past her into the shop. ‘Now I think you should go inside and close the door, otherwise Oliver really will catch his death.’
Bridie nodded. ‘Reggie, you will help me stage a play, won’t you? I’d be lost without you.’
‘Of course I will. We should meet at the theatre and make a plan.’
Bridie grinned. ‘You’re a good friend, Reggie. I wish you and my dad …’
She trailed off, not wishing to bring up the subject of Isobel Raine again.
Reggie changed the subject. ‘When shall we meet at the theatre?’
‘I’ll let you know.’
‘Great.’
Bridie said, ‘You are going to be in for such a surprise when you see the theatre next.’ She lowered her voice. ‘Jack is sending in professional cleaners once the works are completed next week.’
Bridie was about to close the door when she noticed Reggie hesitating. He had something on his mind. ‘Reggie?’
‘What is he getting out of investing in the theatre? Because I presume that’s where the money has come from to do it up.’ Reggie added, ‘I hope you know what you’re doing, Bridie, because Jack has a ruthless streak. He is not the same guy you once knew.’
Bridie begged to differ, but she wasn’t about to stand there and tell Reggie that, especially with Oliver just behind her in the shop.
‘Oliver,’ Reggie added, ‘hasn’t changed. He is still the same sweet guy he’s always been. Just be on your guard, Bridie.’
‘I’m fine,’ Bridie said, smiling. When it came to their assumptions about Jack, she couldn’t wait to prove them all wrong.
Behind them, Oliver sneezed again. Bridie said, ‘I’d better go inside and find out why Oliver’s here.’
Reggie raised his eyebrow. ‘I thought that was obvious.’ And with that he headed home across the yard.
When Bridie went back inside, Oliver was sitting with Barney sprawled across his lap. He was smiling weakly.
‘Now,’ she said gently, ‘tell me what you were doing standing outside in a thunderstorm.’
Oliver looked at her, eyes earnest.
‘I thought,’ he said softly, ‘that was obvious.’
Chapter 46
Sunday morning arrived softly in Cobblers Yard. It was the sort of morning that usually made Bridie acutely aware of how quiet her flat felt when she was alone.
She was halfway through her first cup of tea when she heard voices downstairs – high-pitched laughter, a child’s whoop of excitement, and Barney’s unmistakable yaps echoing up through the floorboards.
Bridie smiled despite herself. She’d let Barney run downstairs, when she heard them arrive. A moment later there was a knock, brisk and familiar, and Hannah appeared at the top of the stairs, shrugging off her coat.
‘I hope you don’t mind,’ Hannah said, breathless. ‘We were passing, and I thought why not text and see if you wanted some company. I thought you shouldn’t be rattling around up here on your own all day.’
Downstairs, Maisie’s laughter rang out again, followed by Rupert’s low voice telling both child and dog to shush.
