‘How do you mean?’
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, Rufus, what do you think I mean?’
‘Oh, right.’
‘Yes – oh, right. One of these days he’s going to say something, I just know he is.’
She heard her dad in a hushed voice say, ‘We really shouldn’t have these conversations now she’s returned.’
Her mum said sarcastically, ‘Oh, you think? But while we’re on the subject, you need to have a word with your dad, remind him of the promise he made to keep your secret.’
‘It’s not just my secret. It’s ours.’
Bridie stared at the door. What on earth …?
‘Yes, I know that,’ her mother snapped. ‘But it wasn’t my fault you—’
‘For goodness’ sake, darling, she could wander in here at any time. In fact, she could be on her way in here as we speak.’
Bridie crept away from the door, afraid one of them might open it and find her standing just the other side. She remembered to take a breath. Like all couples, they had their secrets. Whatever was going on with them, she reasoned that she had enough of her own issues. And she realised something else. She wasn’t being fair on her parents. They shouldn’t have to tiptoe around and not speak their own minds in their own home.
Bridie crept to the stairs, walked up five, then stomped down, calling out, ‘Mum, Dad – I’m off out.’
Just as she got to the bottom stair, the lounge door opened, her parents exchanging glances, looking uncomfortable. ‘Great, love.’
She jangled her car key. ‘All right if I use my car?’ She was just checking it wasn’t in for a service.
‘Yes.’ Rufus nodded. ‘I’ve been looking after it just as I promised.’
Bridie skipped up to her dad and gave him a kiss. ‘Thanks Dad.’
Her mum asked where she was going.
‘I fancied going into Aldeburgh.’ She looked pointedly at her dad. ‘I might do some shopping.’ She wondered if her mum would get the message that she was thinking of something for her dad’s retirement party, maybe some balloons or decorations, and perhaps a retirement present too, although she had no clue what to get a man who basically had everything he’d ever wanted. Although, did he, really?
Perhaps he was going to have too much time on his hands. It would never surprise her if her dad announced he wanted a little job, something part-time to get him out of the house.
Rufus asked, ‘Are you going to look for some work in Aldeburgh?’
Bridie half expected him to ask if he could go with her.
‘Rufus, darling, I think she’s going to need a bit of time before she starts job-hunting.’
‘But you were the one who brought up Bridie getting a job this morning over breakfast.’
‘Yes, I’m aware of that. But I don’t expect her to go out and get one right now. Let’s at least give her a few days, maybe a week, to settle in.’
‘Guys, I’m right here!’
‘Of course you are, dear,’ said her mum walking over and giving her a kiss goodbye.
Rufus said, ‘Do you need some money for petrol and wotnot?’
Bridie held back tears. ‘No, Dad. I’ve got some savings.’ Actually, she had just been paid, and now she didn’t have to give up most of it for her share of the running costs of the flat, it meant she had one month’s wages to fall back on. But she didn’t tell them that. It just sounded so much more grown-up and responsible to tell them she had some savings tucked away. She had no such thing. She lived paycheque to paycheque – not something her parents would understand.
They both walked to the door to see her out. ‘You will tell us if you need anything, won’t you, dear?’
Bridie eyed her mum and almost joked, Yeah, of course – how about a time machine so I can change my reaction in the theatre to finding out my fiancé was cheating on me? She would still have moved out of the flat, but at least she’d still be in the job she loved, not in Suffolk wondering what she was going to do with herself.
