Julian nodded. ‘Her spirit, I guess. She loved this little theatre so much.’
‘How did she die?’ Bridie asked. ‘Was it here? Did she … did she fall from the sea wall to her death?’
‘What makes you say that?’ Julian asked.
Bridie thought about the rumour that it was what had happened to Isobel Raine. She said, ‘It nearly happened to me.’
‘Seriously?’ Jack said.
She nodded.
‘I’ve seen those fogs that can suddenly roll in from the sea,’ Julian commented. ‘But no, that’s not how she died. She fell asleep, right here, sitting in this theatre – her husband byher side; they were still making plans to reopen their beloved theatre.’
Bridie felt tears in her eyes. That was so sad.
Julian said, ‘Don’t be sad, Bridie. She knew her time had come – they both did. She wouldn’t have had it any other way.’
Now Bridie understood why his grandfather hadn’t wanted to let go of the crumbling theatre and had wanted to ensure it was passed on to future generations. He had hoped that one day his descendants would fulfil the dream that he and his wife had cherished.
‘There was a rumour about the theatre being haunted.’ Bridie didn’t mention that the rumour had involved Isobel Raine.
Bridie had googled Isobel’s stage name, the one Isobel had adopted when she’d left the little theatre, along with Reggie and Rufus, behind. It turned out that she’d been quite well-known on the London stage until she’d suddenly upped sticks and moved to New York. Bridie realised that over decades, the stories of Isobel and Julian’s grandmother had been all but forgotten, but the rumour of the haunting had persisted.
‘Can you forgive me, Bridie – for everything?’ Julian asked.
Bridie sighed. How could she not? This theatre, his theatre, had saved her, given her back her life, and led her back to Isobel, Reggie – and Oliver. ‘Of course I can.’
‘What will you do next – with the theatre, I mean? You will keep it, won’t you, and stage more plays?’
‘Yes, I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be – apart from the cottage next door.’
Oliver grinned.
Julian didn’t have a clue what she was talking about.
Bridie said, ‘I just have to decide which production I’m going to stage next.’
‘I think this show is going to run for some time yet,’ said Julian. ‘Judging by the opening night.’
Bridie agreed. ‘We’re having a party afterwards.’
‘A wrap party after the last performance of this show?’
‘No, actually. This evening we’re having an unwrap party. I’d like you to come.’
‘I’m sorry – what’s an unwrap party, exactly?’
‘It’s similar to a wrap party at the end of a theatre run, after the last performance, but it’s been … well such a journey getting to this point of actually staging a performance, we thought it would be fitting to celebrate opening night, and have an unwrap party, unwrapping the show – get it?’
Julian laughed. ‘I like it! And I will indeed come.’
Rufus chimed in, ‘This evening happened to coincide with my retirement party. So, it’s going to be a joint party.’ He grinned. ‘I couldn’t be happier.’
Bridie smiled at her dad, in his element, back in the theatre. She guessed how, and where, he was going to spend his retirement. She’d never see the back of him – in the nicest possible way, of course. And she had a surprise retirement present for him. It had been hanging in her flat in Cobblers Yard all this time. It had been for sale, but Hannah had taken it out of the shop window and sold it to Bridie for a small amount, payable whenever she was ready, when she’d expressed an interest in the painting.
Although she loved the painting by Maisie of The Little Theatre by the Sea – even more so because Hannah had given it to her when they’d first met – and it marked the beginning of their friendship, and her new life here, she was still going to give it to her dad so when he wasn’t in the theatre, the theatre would always be with him, hanging in his study. He wasn’t getting his dog back though. She had yet to tell him that Barney was staying with her and Oliver for good.
‘Your show was amazing,’ said Jeremy.
