‘It’s not technically my cottage. Well, it is for as long as I want to rent it.’
‘Oh, I thought …’
‘No, I haven’t bought it. I would love to buy a home. It has always been my dream, somewhere to raise a family.’
‘Well, now your dream has come true. Our dream has come true.’
‘Thanks to Jack,’ Oliver said. He looked downcast.
Bridie looked at him. She guessed what he was thinking. He wanted to provide them with a home himself. ‘No, thanks to The Little Theatre by the Sea.
‘But Jack—’
‘Like you said, Oliver, life has a funny way of taking you where you’re meant to be. Jack might have bought the cottage next door, but it was the theatre that led to him gifting the property to us – and don’t you forget it.’
‘I won’t.’ He smiled. ‘You can be quite bossy when you want to be.’
Bridie grinned. ‘Oh, you have no idea.’
‘That’s why you make an exceptionally good theatre producer and business owner. The theatre is going to be quite the success. I just know it.’
‘Funny thing is,’ said Bridie. ‘So do I.’ With the love of her life by her side, Bridie knew she could achieve anything.
She moved closer to Oliver on the sofa.
‘I can’t believe it’s just you and me, here, together,’ said Oliver, leaning towards her.
‘Yes it’s just you and me.’
A howl pierced the air.
Oliver raised his eyes to the ceiling. ‘And Barney.’
Bridie laughed. ‘Yes, and Barney.’
There was a sudden rap at the shop door. Bridie looked at Oliver. He said, ‘You weren’t expecting anyone, were you?’
She shook her head and walked over to the door. When she opened it, Reggie and Isobel were standing outside. Reggie said, ‘We wanted to check you were okay after … well, after the revelations today.’
‘Won’t you come in? I was just making coffee.’
‘Oh, we don’t want to impose,’ said Isobel.
Oliver stood. ‘Not at all.’ He waved a hand. ‘Come in and join us.’
‘Yes – come in,’ said Bridie, smiling at them both.
Bridie walked over to Oliver and whispered, ‘As you know, that coffee machine has got quite the reputation.’
‘I suppose I’ll have to get used to this if I’m going to stay here with you until your cottage is renovated.’
‘Ourcottage. Our home.’ Bridie smiled. She liked the sound of that very much –our home. And right next door to her favourite place too.
As she made coffee, she was thinking about the ticket sales which had far, far exceeded her expectations. It appeared that the whole town, along with the outlying villages, had really shown their support for the theatre, and now the first performance was a sell-out show.
But it wasn’t just one performance they were staging. Tickets were still selling out for the other performances; they’d decided the show was going to have at least a three-month run. And then they would plan another show. She was so excited to be running her very own theatre.
She handed mugs of coffee to Reggie, Isobel and Oliver. But who had owned it before? It was still a mystery.
