Bridie stared at the photo. Swallowing, she said, ‘I … I think that’s me.’
Reggie said, ‘I think we should return Isobel’s locket.’
Maisie snapped the locket shut and reluctantly handed it over to Bridie.
Bridie wanted desperately to meet Isobel Raine, if that was the person who was sitting in the ambulance. But then again, her stomach was doing somersaults. She thought she might be sick. It was one thing seeing her resemblance to the young Isobel Raine in that poster, because it was just that, a picture, and everybody had a doppelgänger – didn’t they? But to come face to face with a woman who might really be her mother was a much bigger thing.
It took a moment for Reggie to get through the cordon and over to the ambulance.
Bridie stared after him. Of all things, she’d never expected Isobel Raine to be alive, and well, and living in her theatre – if that really was her sitting in the ambulance.
‘I still can’t believe it’s her,’ said Jack. ‘I thought it might be, because of the locket, but in all the commotion I never had a chance to ask her name.’
‘You didn’t ask her name?’ Oliver turned to look at him. ‘Well, how stupid.’
‘Don’t call me stupid!’ Jack shot back. ‘I’m the hero here, you know.’
Bridie sighed heavily. It was starting again, the tension between them, and it had nothing to do with Isobel Raine.
Bridie said, ‘Please, please don’t get into another argument over me. Can you do just one thing for me, just one?’ Bridie pleaded, looking at them both.
They both turned to look at her, and said in unison, ‘Anything.’
‘Just bury the hatchet. You were best friends once. Can’t you just shake on it, and … and just be friends again?’ Bridie knew she was being selfish, but she much preferred it that way.
Jack surprised her by immediately holding out his hand. He looked at Oliver. ‘I haven’t got a problem with that.’
Oliver frowned at Jack. ‘Well, you would say that seeing as you got the girl.’
Bridie rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh. Mabel and Marjorie weren’t backward in voicing their disapproval at Oliver’s choice of words. ‘Do not speak of Bridie as though she’s a prize one of you won at a fair.’
Jack looked at the sisters, and added, ‘Yeah, you can’t go saying things like that, Oliver.’
‘Yes, Oliver,’ Bridie added, ‘especially as Jack did not, as you put it, get the girl.’
Jack turned to Bridie. ‘What are you talking about?’ Jack didn’t give her a chance to answer – typical Jack. He immediately turned to Oliver. ‘Oliver, what is she talking about?’
‘How do I know? I’m just as surprised as you.’
‘What do you mean, you’re just as surprised as me? Did something happen you’re not telling me about?’
Yes, thought Bridie, although the question wasn’t directed at her. Bridie shook her head at both of them, bickering again. Some things just didn’t change. They didn’t notice her walk off towards the ambulance. She walked up behind Reggie. The back doors to the ambulance were wide open. She spotted a slim older lady, around her parents’ age, sitting on a bed in the back, wearing colourful clothing as though she was in a stage play. She was about to approach when she heard her name.
‘Bridie!’
‘Kate?’ Bridie recognised her sister’s voice calling her name. She turned around and searched the crowd. Then she spotted her.
‘Let me through!’ Kate demanded.
‘Oh, no!’ Bridie’s heart skipped a beat when she spotted who was following Kate. They hadn’t seen her yet, but she heard herdad say, ‘What’s all this about? Why are there fire engines and an ambulance here? Is the theatre on fire? What’s this got to do with Bridie?’
‘Let us through!’ Kate said, making her way through the crowd gathered on the promenade. ‘We’re the relatives of the owner!’
‘The owner?’ Rufus exclaimed in loud voice. ‘Will someone please tell me what is going on!’
‘Oh, Bridie. There you are.’ Claire ran up to Bridie and immediately threw her arms around her.
Kate said, ‘You had us so worried.’ She hugged Bridie too.
