Reminisce?Bridie looked at him. ‘You knew this theatre before it reopened when I was in high school?’
‘Oh, yes. This theatre and I go way back.’
Bridie was about to ask him more when the heavens opened. He said, ‘Oh, typical. Well, that’s my cue to get going. Best be off, otherwise my customers might wonder where I am.’
‘Your customers?’
‘I run a music shop in Cobblers Yard – I’m normally closed on a Sunday, but I thought I’d open for a few hours today as the shop will be closed Monday morning. Do you know the yard? Oh, of course you do, you’re a local. Although I haven’t seen you hereabouts for years.’
‘I’ve moved back from London.’
‘I’m not surprised.’
Bridie’s eyebrows shot up, her heart racing at the thought that he knew. ‘Why do you say that?’
‘Because almost everyone I know comes back sooner or later. It’s a beautiful part of the world is our sleepy Suffolk. Its villages make you feel you’ve stepped back in time. Everyone gets drawn back.’
‘Oh, right … yeah.’ Bridie breathed a sigh of relief that he had no clue why she had really returned. She put her hood up ready to step into the rain and found herself wishing he could stay and talk more about the theatre. Maybe they could have had a coffee together.
‘I’m Reggie, by the way.’
Bridie shook his hand. ‘Pleased to meet you, Reggie.’ She vaguely recognised him now he’d mentioned the music shop in Cobblers Yard – an old haunt. She wondered if there were any other shops still open in the yard, or whether he was the last one, and it had all closed up. She wouldn’t be surprised. Unless you were a local, you wouldn’t know it was there. She couldn’t imagine they got a lot of passing trade.
Bridie resolved to look in on the yard and buy something there if she could, to support the remaining shops.
She waited for him to leave the doorway of the theatre that was sheltering them from the rain. He put up a large umbrella and turned to look at her. ‘You’re welcome to come back to my shop, have a cup of tea. We can chat some more.’
Bridie’s mobile phone rang at that moment. Her heart leapt at the thought that it was Julian telling her that being away from her had made him realise what a terrible mistake he’d made.
She sighed when she saw who it was.
‘Mum? Yes, I’m in Aldeburgh.’ Bridie looked at Reggie. ‘Yes, I can get some rolls from the bakers … yes, I know it’s raining so I’m cutting short my walk. Yes, I’ll be home soon.’
Reggie stepped out in the rain under his umbrella.
Bridie shrugged in resignation. She would have much rather accompanied Reggie back to his shop in Cobblers Yard and heard more about is memories of the theatre.
‘Pop in and say hello if you visit Cobblers Yard.’
‘I will.’
Reggie was still standing there. He eyed her as he said, ‘Remarkable.’
‘What is?’
‘You are.’
Bridie shot him a look. He wouldn’t think that if he’d seen her behaviour on stage yesterday. But he hadn’t. ‘You mean remarkable that I’ve returned?’
‘No, remarkable how much you resemble someone I once knew. I must admit when I saw you standing in the doorway, and you turned around, my breath caught in my throat. I thought it was her.’
‘Who?’
‘Isobel.’
Bridie thought that maybe the name rang a bell. ‘Was she famous?’
‘She was on the stage, for a while. Then she just … disappeared.’
