‘The flat is just sitting there empty as I can’t really let it as it’s above my shop. So, you can just look after the place.’
‘I will,’ Bridie assured her.
‘Great! Then it’s agreed. If I can have your bank details to pay in your salary, we can do the paperwork. You don’t have to worry that you’re tied into the job. I understand you’ll be looking to return to London and to the stage when you can.’
‘Yes, absolutely,’ said Bridie, although for some reason she didn’t feel quite as sure as she sounded.
Hannah flicked on a small lamp that bathed the shelves in warm light. ‘Let me show you around once more.’
Bridie nodded, taking in the layout. Rows of paper, canvas, pens and notebooks, along with paints, paintbrushes, and a wall of frames displaying local artwork. The shop felt carefully curated, loved. Hannah showed her the till, the storeroom again, the glass cabinet where the more delicate pieces were displayed. Bridie listened, absorbing everything, grateful for the distraction, grateful for the steady feeling blooming in her chest.
‘You’ll get the hang of it quickly,’ Hannah said. ‘And you’ll like the people here. Cobblers Yard looks quiet, but it’s a little community.’
Bridie ran her fingertips along a row of painted mugs. ‘I think I could like it here.’
Hannah smiled. ‘Good. That’s the idea.’
Chapter 22
Sunlight filtered through the thin curtains of the flat the next morning. It was Tuesday, and a soft golden glow coaxed Bridie awake. She had drifted in and out of sleep for most of the night, still adjusting to having the large double bed all to herself, and the unfamiliar quiet. But when she opened her eyes properly, Barney was already wide awake, tail thumping the side of his crate in a steady, hopeful rhythm.
‘All right, all right,’ she whispered, stretching. ‘New life, new morning. Let’s see how badly we can mess this up.’ She was feeling nervous about her first proper day at work. The previous day had gone well, but then Hannah had been there the whole time checking she was okay and offering encouragement and helpful hints.
Bridie didn’t feel she’d done much at all, apart from restock some paintbrushes from the stock room, and make copious cups of tea and coffee for herself and Hannah, and her customers.
Today she’d be on her own, although Hannah would be just next door, setting up her new shop, so she was on hand if Bridie needed her. She hoped that wouldn’t be the case. Bridie wanted to prove to Hannah, and herself, that she could man the fort with no problems. That was, after all, what she was there for.
Hannah had said she’d pop in, now Bridie was settled, and introduce her to the other shopkeepers in the yard. Bridie was feeling a bit anxious about meeting them all.
Barney barked once as if to reassure her before she clipped on his lead and carried him downstairs. They’d played this game several times during the night. She’d brought his crate into her bedroom soon after she’d retired to bed.
She’d been reading a book from the bookcase in the lounge. They were all romantic fiction paperbacks. On her way to bed, Bridie had picked one up, despite the fact that she was feeling cynical about romance. She’d wanted something to take her mind off her intrusive thoughts about being a failure at relationships, work – everything.
Surprisingly she’d enjoyed reading the book, until a howl had made her jump and drop it on the floor. She’d got out of bed and done just what she guessed you weren’t supposed to – looked in on the puppy. As soon as he saw her, that was it. She’d tried telling him there was nothing to worry about, and she was just in the next room. But Barney wasn’t having any of it. As soon as she left, his howling became incessant, until she returned. Now she knew why her mum hadn’t wanted him upstairs. Of course, in a flat she didn’t have the luxury of leaving him downstairs, and wherever she was in the small flat, she’d hear his lonely howling pulling at her heartstrings.
She’d moved the crate beside her bed where he could see her. Then followed several trips downstairs, through the back storeroom and out into a small private yard, which surprisingly had a lawned area with decking and a table and chairs. Hannah had shown her the small garden through the back window during her tour of the shop.
Bridie had asked her permission to take Barney out there to do his business, promising to clear up after him. Hannah had said the little garden actually came with the flat; she could accessit from the external fire escape stairs, although she wouldn’t recommend it with the puppy.
Bridie couldn’t believe her luck – a flat and a little garden too. She pictured sitting out there in nice weather.Not that I’m going to be here that long,she’d thought to herself. The novelty of her own little patch of garden soon wore off after standing outside in the freezing cold waiting for Barney, who seemed to spend a ridiculously long time sniffing around before finally settling on a suitable place to relieve himself.
‘Why didn’t Dad’s work colleagues get him a cat?’ she’d finally said in exasperation, standing outside with her coat over her pyjamas for the fourth time that night.
Now that she was getting up, Barney decided to have a nice, long nap. Bridie frowned at him. ‘Some people have to go to work,’ she’d said irritably. It was her first proper day at work and she was feeling dog-tired.
Dog-tired. Bridie frowned some more at her flatmate.
Hannah was already unlocking the shop. Although Bridie had a set of keys, Hannah had said she’d stop by early to take her on a tour of the yard.
‘Morning!’ she said brightly. ‘Sleep okay?’
‘Kind of.’ Bridie said casting her gaze heavenward.
‘Ah, I remember those nights when I first got Marlowe. He howled, so I let him sleep in the bedroom.’
‘Yeah, that – and numerous trips downstairs to the loo. Goodness, their bladders are hopeless.’
Hannah grinned. ‘Ready to meet the neighbours?’
