She didn’t know the ins and outs, but after some years, Henry had come back, and clearly whatever had happened to Henry, and his family, in those intervening years, they had found each other again and had reopened the bookshop.
Henry turned to his daughter. ‘Isn’t it time you got ready for school?’
Thea was well past school age, but fortunately Hannah had told Bridie about his condition. Dementia. He could function very well in his shop in the yard – nothing had changed, apart from his daughter, who was all grown-up now. But if he left the yard, it would be a different story.
Bridie had seen the carers, who looked after Henry overnight, arrive when the shop closed, before Thea left for the day.
‘And you, young lady,’ said Henry, turning to Bridie, ‘isn’t it time you were off to school too?’
‘Who – me?’ Bridie looked at him in surprise. ‘You remember me?’
‘Remember you? You are a daft brush. You’re here every weekend with your two friends. Thick as thieves you three are. Where are Jack and Ollie?’ He looked around as though he expected them to walk in at any moment.
‘Oh, er … Ollie and Jack have already left for school.’ Bridie didn’t like telling fibs, but she quickly understood that for a moment he had been in the present, but now he was back in the past, where he lived most of the time.
‘Now, which one are you sweet on?’
Bridie could feel the colour rising in her cheeks. She really wanted the end this conversation. ‘It was … it’s Jack.’
‘Oh yes, of course. Poor Ollie. I see the way he looks at you. Such a dear boy, quiet and thoughtful. Doesn’t have a chance though, does he?’
Bridie stared at Henry. She hadn’t realised at the time the possibility that her quiet, thoughtful best friend just might be in love with her. That wasn’t the case – was it?
‘Quite the opposite to your Jack,’ commented Henry.
He’s notmyJack – not anymore,thought Bridie. She hadn’t seen or heard from him in years; not since she was a teenager. She wasn’t surprised. It hadn’t exactly ended well.
‘How are the rehearsals going? I heard you’re quite the star in the drama club at school.’
Henry was still talking about the past. ‘Yes, it’s er … going very well.’
‘Isn’t it just fantastic they’re opening the theatre in town for the school play to be performed there? It’s the talk of the town, don’t you know. Everyone comments when they come into my shop. People are looking forward to the theatre reopening and going to see the first play performed there in years.’
‘Oh, I never knew that. I mean, I didn’t know that.’
‘Oh, yes. Everyone is hoping the theatre stays open.’
‘Do you know who owns the theatre, Henry?’
‘Owns it?’
Bridie waited with bated breath.
‘Now, there’s a mystery if ever I heard one.’
Bridie let out a disappointed breath.
‘You know, I asked Reggie that question once. Reggie and that theatre go way back. He used to star on the stage there in a theatre group.’
‘What did he say?’ Bridie asked.
‘You know, I can’t remember. How silly of me. I only asked him the other day.’
Bridie exchanged a glance with Thea. She expected Thea was thinking the same thing; it was probably years earlier that he’d had a conversation with Reggie about the theatre.
‘Why on earth can’t I remember?’ Henry was getting agitated.
Thea said, ‘It’s all right, Dad. I’m sure it will come back to you.’
