Before she could thank him, a familiar voice cut through the hum of the café.
‘Bridie?’
Her stomach flipped. Slowly, she looked up.
Jack stood beside their table holding a tray, staring between her and Oliver. His blond hair was shorter now, neater, and he looked tanned, polished and irritatingly handsome in chinos and a pale blue shirt with a jumper draped casually over his shoulders.
Her heart skipped a beat. ‘Hello, Jack,’ she said, feeling the colour rising in her cheeks. She cursed herself for coming over all shy.
‘Ollie, you didn’t mention she was back.’ Jack eyed Oliver accusingly.
Bridie blinked. ‘You’re still friends?’ Oliver hadn’t mentioned that.
Oliver’s expression shifted into something strained. He shook his head. ‘I teach his son.’
Bridie’s mouth dropped open. She looked up at Jack. ‘You have a son?’
She looked around for a teenager but saw no one. Instead, a woman approached the table – a woman Bridie recognised from school. Jade. She’d been in the year below them.
So, he’d moved on quickly. All those years she’d felt guilty for breaking his heart after their A-Levels – guilty for choosing London, choosing the stage, choosing a dream he’d never understood – only to find he’d built a whole life without her.
Jack turned back to Oliver. ‘Yeah, I left him at home to sulk. You and your blasted drama club. I told him no, he’s not joining, and that’s final.’
Bridie raised her eyebrows.What was wrong with people and drama clubs?First her niece’s issue, and now this.
Jack faced her again. ‘So, you’re back.’
Before she could answer, Oliver said, ‘Yes, Bridie’s working in Cobblers Yard.’
Jack’s jaw twitched. ‘Are you back for good?’
Jade reached them then, slipping seamlessly against Jack’s side. Recognition flickered in her eyes when she looked at Bridie.
‘Jack?’ she prompted impatiently.
‘Oh, um – this is Jade,’ he said stiffly.
Bridie said nothing, feeling irrationally jealous. She didn’t need an introduction.
‘You remember Bridie?’
Jade shrugged, indifferent. ‘Yeah. Course. I thought you were getting a table?’ Jade added.
‘Yeah, I am,’ Jack muttered.
‘Well, come on then!’
But Jack didn’t move. He just stared at Bridie, something sharp in his gaze.
‘I’m not surprised you’re back,’ he said coldly. ‘After that embarrassing episode on stage.’
Bridie’s breath caught as Jade’s lips curved in a small, satisfied smirk, like she’d been waiting to watch this exact moment. ‘Oh yeah,’ Jade said lightly. ‘That.Doubt you’ll ever work in a theatre again.’
Under the table, Barney suddenly growled and jumped on Jade’s shoe, his jaws closing around Jade’s designer trouser leg, yanking and growling like he was playing tug of war.
‘Bloody hell!’ Jack said, ‘get your bloody dog off her!’
A waitress who had been clearing a table intervened. ‘I’m sorry, but if you can’t control your dog, you’ll have to leave.’
