‘You should go and visit the yard.’
Bridie wasn’t sure she really wanted to. She did have to return Reggie’s umbrella, but as he said, he often stopped outside the old theatre. She’d no doubt catch him there again.
She loved the yard, and hoped it was flourishing, but the picture she’d conjured up all these years later was quite the reverse. She’d rather remember it as it had been when she was younger. Then again, she wanted to buy her father a retirement gift. She had thought it would be nice to revisit the yard and spend a bit of money there to support local businesses. ‘I think I will,’ she said.
Chapter 13
There was another pause in the conversation. Bridie was enjoying catching up with Oliver, much more than she’d expected she would, but she couldn’t help thinking again about her embarrassing fight on stage. She didn’t want to tell him about that, but then again, wouldn’t it be more embarrassing if he found out about it before she’d had a chance to explain her behaviour?
She was just about to say something when Oliver asked, ‘How’s your grandad? I remember you were very close when we were kids.’
Her throat tightened. ‘He’s … fine, I think. I haven’t spoken to him yet. I went to his flat, but he wasn’t in. Mrs Hughes, his neighbour, said she’d call me when he got back. But it turned out he was at the theatre.’
Oliver smiled. ‘I remember he always loved the theatre. I was actually wondering why you’ve moved back in with your parents instead of your grandad in London.’ He quickly added, ‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m so pleased you’re back.’
‘Thanks, Oliver. But yes, Grandad was my first port of call. As I said, I haven’t spoken to him yet, but my mum has. She let himknow what happened, why I called round his flat when he was out.’
‘Oh, that’s good. At least he won’t worry.’
But he will, thought Bridie. And she hadn’t had a chance to speak to him yet. Not that she wanted to. She just felt so embarrassed. And she knew he’d be after her moving in with him. She still felt that things had worked out for the best through her leaving London – even more so now she’d visited Aldeburgh and bumped into Oliver. The only downside was living with her parents. But she couldn’t see any alternative for the time being.
She frowned when she remembered the strange conversation she’d overheard between her parents about her grandad before she’d gone out.
One of these days he’s going to say something, I just know he is.And then her mum had told her dad to remind Bridie’s grandad of the promise he’d made to keep his son’s secret.
And most puzzling of all was her dad’s response:It’s not just my secret, it’s ours.
Oliver leaned forward. ‘You know, if living back with your parents gets too much, you could come and live with me.’
Bridie had been staring out of the window, lost in thought when she realised what Oliver had just said. She felt his hand close around hers.
When she looked at him, his eyes went wide. ‘Oh, I meant I’ve got a spare bedroom. You know, like flatmates, except I live in a cottage.’
Bridie didn’t know what to say.
‘Hello, Mr Williams.’
They both turned to see a young child standing beside their table, along with a sulky teenager following close behind, asking a woman who looked like his mum why they always had to go in there at the weekend.
Oliver said, ‘Hello, young man. Are you looking forward to joining your brother at secondary school next year?’
The young boy nodded his head.
‘Mr Williams,’ said the woman, approaching their table. She was staring Bridie’s way. ‘You’re normally sitting on your own when we come in.’
Bridie stared at the pretty young woman, thinking that it was a bit forward of her to say that.
‘Ah, I’ve got company this time.’
Bridie immediately saw their eyes drop to Oliver’s hand clasped around hers. Bridie moved her hand from under his.
‘I can see that.’
Bridie caught her tone of voice, guessing why she dragged her kids into the café every Saturday morning – in the hope of seeing Oliver. A good-looking, kind, gentle man, who was single. She didn’t see a wedding ring on the young woman’s finger. Bridie guessed that if they were seen around together like this, there would be plenty of other single mums from the school feeling disappointed, thinking he was no longer single.
There was an awkward moment in which Bridie thought Oliver would introduce them. He didn’t.
‘Mum, are you getting me a hot chocolate?’ the small boy asked.
