‘I’ll have to sell it to him,’ Bridie whispered. ‘But that doesn’t make sense.’
‘It makes perfect sense,’ Oliver said, his words reinforced by nodding heads around him. ‘Sorry, Bridie, I really didn’t want to be the one who had to tell you.’
‘No, this can’t be right.’ Bridie still didn’t believe it. ‘He was doing all this for me.’
‘Is that what he led you to believe?’ Hannah said softly.
‘Don’t you see? It can’t be him. He bought me the theatre so that—’
‘Bridie,’ Kate interrupted, ‘you think Jack is your mystery benefactor?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh, Bridie,’ Thea said. ‘If he wanted you to have the theatre, why apply to tear it down?’
No one spoke.
Then Joss said, ‘I didn’t see him here today. Did any of you?’
‘I don’t think he’d do the dirty work himself,’ Reggie replied.
And suddenly, a memory snapped into place. Jack’s voice.You’d be surprised who you can get hold of at short notice, if the inducement is right.
The truth became clear brutally fast. She had thought he wanted her to stay in Suffolk, but he hadn’t been helping her, out of love or guilt or nostalgia. He’d been using all of it. Her past. Her hope. Her trust. Using her to get what he really wanted – the theatre; the place where she’d found her second great love, the place she’d chosen over him. He’d held a grudge all these years and had become a bitter man who blamed The Little Theatre by the Sea for what had happened – for her leaving him.
Kate leaned closer. ‘Are you all right?’
‘How could I have been so blind?’ Bridie whispered.
‘Love does that,’ Thea said quietly.
Oliver stood abruptly. ‘We should check the rest of the building. Make sure there’s no more sabotage.’
‘I second that,’ Mabel said.
‘I concur,’ Marjorie added.
Bridie hadn’t even seen the dressing rooms yet. The thought of going backstage made her chest tighten. She was still processing what Oliver had told her about Jack, still finding it hard to believe.
Everyone stood up and headed down the row of seats into the aisle.
‘Do you mind if I do this alone?’ she said suddenly.
Everyone froze.
Kate said gently, ‘We’ll wait here.’
‘No. I’d prefer you didn’t.’
After a beat, they nodded. All except Oliver. ‘Bridie—’
Reggie placed a hand on his shoulder. ‘Leave her be.’
She turned around and saw Oliver lingering by the door.
Reggie reappeared and put an arm around his shoulder, guiding him into the foyer.
She heard them file out of the theatre. William protested faintly about wanting to explore again but was quickly shushed.
