‘So, this is while you set up the shop next door.’
‘Precisely. So, I won’t be far, if you need anything. But this position can be for as long as you need, because I’ll be opening the bridal shop soon. Oh, and there will be the odd occasion that I’m working at the hall.’
‘The hall?’
‘Oh, excuse me. I forget that we don’t really know each other that well yet. I run a wedding venue at a place called Somersby Hall in the Suffolk countryside.’
Bridie hadn’t heard of Somersby Hall.
‘That’s my second job. I’m a wedding planner.’
‘But how did you go from running an art and craft shop to being a wedding planner too?’
‘Now that is a long story.’
‘For another time, then,’ said Bridie.
‘Long story short, I started renting Gatekeeper’s Cottage in the grounds of Somersby Hall, met the grandson of the lady who owns the house. We fell in love, and we started a business turning Somersby Hall into a wedding venue, which we run together.’
‘How romantic.’
‘Not to start with, I can assure you. That was the truncated version of events. I made it sound like a fairytale, but believe me, it didn’t start off like that. My husband and I did not get along when we first met, I can tell you.’
‘Then you came together over the wedding planning?’
‘Yes, we both wanted to save the hall – I did because I lived in the cottage in the grounds, and he did because he didn’t want to lose his inheritance.’
‘Your business must be flourishing, given that you took on the shop next door to sell wedding gowns as well.’
‘I’ve stretched myself. I was going to close this shop and change it over to a wedding dress shop, but I just couldn’t do it. I have regular customers, school children, and local artists, mainly retired people who buy canvas and paints and visit the Suffolk coastline and countryside to paint, especially in the summer. I just feel I’d be letting them down if I closed the shop just because I can make more money selling wedding dresses. And besides, my daughter loves this shop.’
‘She likes art and craft?’
Hannah hesitated. ‘Ah, you could say that. I want to keep the shop going if I can for Maisie in the future, in case she wants to take it over. I’m not sure what she will do with it – perhaps she’ll run it as an art gallery to showcase her work in the future and offer art lessons.’
‘Her work. She wants to be an artist?’
Hannah smiled. ‘Sheisan artist. You’ve just bought one of her paintings. Might end up quite the investment if she does go on to be a full-time artist.’
Bridie’s mouth dropped open. ‘I thought it might have been your husband who painted it. How old is your daughter? Sorry, but you look no age to have children.’
‘She’s nine.’
Bridie looked at her agog. ‘For real? A nine-year-old painted that?’
‘Only my relatives and closest friends know this.’
‘And you’ve told me?’ Bridie said incredulously.
‘You seem like a decent sort, and you understand the damage social media can do. I can’t let word get out. She’s leading anormal childhood for a child prodigy, and I want it to stay that way. Who knows, perhaps she’ll want to lead a normal adult life too.’
‘Running this shop?’
‘Yes. Perhaps selling a painting or two. I don’t know. But I want her to have a choice. You understand?’
‘I do,’ Bridie said without hesitating. ‘I’d love to meet her.’
Hannah grinned. ‘And you will. She pops in after school and helps out in the shop most days when she’s not visiting her grandmother for tea or her music lessons with Reggie.’
