She walked over and peered in the window, which had frosted glass halfway up so she couldn’t see inside. She spotted the sign outside and realised it wasn’t a shop. It appeared to offer free legal advice. She wasn’t surprised it was open on a Sunday so that people could drop in at the weekend. She could hear conversation inside. An older woman passed by the window and must have spotted her loitering outside. She popped her head out. ‘Hello! I’m Wendy. I volunteer here. Do you need some help?’
Only if you can help me sort my mess of a life out,thought Bridie. But fortunately, she did not need legal advice. Fleetingly, she thought of the theatre where she had been the star of the show until the previous day. Could they sue her or something for not completing her contract, even though she’d been effectively fired?
Bridie had enough problems without that thought entering her head. She brushed it aside and looked at the kind older lady. ‘No, I’m fine. I’m just browsing the shop windows.’
‘Make sure to come back when the shops are open tomorrow. I’m sure you’ll find a lovely book in the bookshop or a bargain in the charity shop. There’s an art and craft next door, if you’re into that sort of thing.’
Bridie nodded and turned away.
She passed the bookshop, noting that the window displays had changed. It had previously been solely a second-hand bookshop with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, but now the window display appeared to tell another story. There were new books – paperbacks and hardbacks of the latest releases. Bridie guessed the bookshop must have changed hands. How sad, she thought. She wondered what had become of Henry, the man who’d run it when she was young. She glanced over at what had once been Joseph’s antiques shop. She’d expected that to have gone. She’d heard he’d passed away and wasn’t surprised the shop had changed hands.
Bridie turned to the bookshop window, thinking how sad it was that everything had to change – although looking around the yard, she still thought it was for the better. The bookshop window had certainly been brought into the present, but she wondered if they’d stock any books on caring for puppies. She thought she’d buy her dad one, along with a novel to read. She recognised some of the covers from the new releases displayed in her local supermarket near where she had lived in London.
She turned from the shop window, remembering Reggie’s umbrella. She walked over to Reggie’s shop, still thinking about the books that lined the shelves in her local supermarket back in London. Inevitably, it brought thoughts of Julian and the life they’d had together, now all gone. Bridie stood in front of the music shop, staring at the instruments – guitars, violins, and a handsome cello. They reminded her of the theatre orchestra, which just made her feel worse. She wiped tears from her eyes, wondering how she’d face Reggie – she knew he’d want to strikeup a conversation again – when she noticed aClosedon the inside of the door, along with a scribbled note:Gone to lunch.He’d said he was opening for a few hours that day, but she’d missed him.
Bridie felt mean for hanging the umbrella on the doorknob, but what could she do? She turned from the music shop and caught sight of the charity shop. A woman was standing in the window, staring back at her. It was one of the sisters – she was sure of it.
Bridie quickly turned away and was about to hurry out of the yard when something caught her eye; one of the shops looked new, as though it was soon to open. She could see packing boxes in the window and realised that someone must be in the middle of unpacking the boxes and creating a window display. She didn’t see anybody in the shop. But what she did see in the window brought unexpected tears to her eyes – it was a beautiful bridal gown.
Bridie touched her finger where her engagement ring had been until she’d pulled it off in a fit of anger when she’d stormed off the stage and had thrown it at Julian. ‘I’m never going to be married,’ she said in between sobs, feeling sorry for herself. She dragged her eyes away from the beautiful bridal gown and stepped up to the art and craft shop window next door, hoping the woman from the charity shop stopped staring her way.
There was a painting in the art and craft shop window. Bridie stood there, staring at it in bemusement, the bridal gown she’d just seen all but forgotten. The oil painting in the window was of the little theatre in Aldeburgh – she was sure of it. She scratched her head. But the theatre in the painting didn’t look run down, closed, and forgotten, with peeling paint and boarded-up doors. The theatre was lit up for an evening show, with people gathered outside, presumably waiting to go in, and through the windows could be seen the theatre lobby brightly lit with achandelier, ushers in blue uniforms with gold braid waiting for the theatregoers to enter.
A head suddenly popped up in the window display, catching Bridie’s eye. She hadn’t noticed that someone – presumably the shop owner – had been there the whole time rearranging things. The young lady smiled and waved, beckoning her inside.
Bridie glanced over her shoulder and saw the older lady opening the charity shop door, looking in her direction. She hesitated. She knew that if she left Cobblers Yard, it would mean passing the charity shop. She didn’t want to risk one of the sisters – if it was still them running the place, which she was pretty sure it was – catching her as she passed by. She would rather go unrecognised for now. However, there was no look of recognition on the young woman’s face in the window. And Bridie didn’t recognise her, either.
Bridie decided against leaving Cobblers Yard and dived into the art and craft shop instead, shutting the door a little too forcefully, the bell jangling loudly above her head.
She still couldn’t believe that at the same time the previous day, she had been about to step on stage for the matinee production of a London show. But there she was, only a day later, revisiting her past. Seeing the bridal gown in the window hadn’t helped one bit; it just reminded her of a future with Julian that would never be.
What a difference a day makes,she thought miserably, wondering what she would have thought the previous day if she’d had a crystal ball. She could feel her eyes welling up at the thought of the life she’d lost.If only I hadn’t flipped out on stage in front of everyone, I’d at least still have the job I loved. And I wouldn’t be here, hiding in a shop, away from a gossipy old lady.
She suddenly burst into tears. She quickly wiped her eyes, catching the surprised look on the young woman’s face. ‘I’m sosorry,’ she said, turning quickly to the door. She was surprised when the young woman dashed forward, slapping her hand against the door and shoving it closed. She put the Closed sign in the shop window and pulled down the blind.
‘What are you doing?’ Bridie asked.
She also locked the door. ‘I thought it best nobody else walked in.’
Bridie could still feel the tears streaming down her face. She couldn’t understand it. She’d held it together in front of her parents, in front of Oliver. And now she’d broken down in front of a complete stranger. Through the tears in her eyes, Bridie reached for the door handle. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said again, sniffing. She was so embarrassed.
‘I’m Hannah. Please don’t go – not like this.’
Bridie stood at the shop door, unsure what to do.
Chapter 15
‘You’re obviously very upset about something. Let me make you a cuppa.’
Bridie stared at the kind young woman. ‘I don’t want you closing your shop just for me.’
‘I don’t normally open on a Sunday, but as I’m here doing a stock-take, I thought I might as well open the shop. But it’s lunchtime. I was going to stop for a break. I’m Hannah, by the way.’
‘I’m Bridie.’
‘What a lovely name,’ commented Hannah. ‘Please, come and take a seat in the cosy corner.’
‘Cosy corner?’
