‘Ah, that means he doesn’t own any property.’
‘Exactly. And he’s forever on at me to move into his council flat, so he can put my name down for it to be passed on to me when he … moves on. Neither of which is happening on my watch, I might add.’
‘Can’t be him, then.’
‘Nope.’
‘Sounds as though your grandad is worried about you, though, if he wants to pass on his council flat to you.’
‘Yeah, he never liked Julian – my ex. Called him slippery.’
‘He was right, then.’
‘Was he ever!’ Bridie didn’t want to think about how many times Julian might have cheated on her with younger cast members in all those shows he’d produced over the years.
‘Your grandad is going to be so happy when he finds out about this. When are you going to tell him? When are you going to tell your family?’
Bridie clammed up. She looked behind her at her little entourage, and at the people passing by who were stopping to stare at the odd group of people carrying buckets and brooms and all sorts of cleaning paraphernalia along the promenade. Thea had her little hoover, and Joss had brought a half-pot of paint left over from redecorating his premises. Bridie seriously thought it might take more than a clean and a lick of paint to bring the theatre up to scratch, though.
‘Do you think they can all keep a secret?’ she asked Hannah.
Hannah looked at her curiously. ‘Why do you ask?’
She sighed. ‘I just …’
‘It’s your family – isn’t it?’
Bridie nodded. ‘I think they’re all pleased I lost my theatre work – even my grandad was talking about a back-up plan.’
‘You don’t want them to know about this before it’s even got off the ground.’
‘Exactly. I can do without the inevitable negative comments. I’m already feeling trepidation about pulling it off, staging a show here, without my family telling me it can’t be done and trying to persuade me just to sell up.’
And then there was Layla. She really had to have a word with Oliver. If she could get the theatre up and running, then of course they could stage their school play there. But she’d already let Layla down once, and she didn’t want her or her friends at school to know about the theatre just yet in case the plans went sideways and it couldn’t reopen.
‘I understand,’ said Hannah as they arrived outside the theatre. ‘Tell you what, we’ll chat to the others over coffee and explain the situation.’
‘Over coffee? Oh, I didn’t think of bringing a kettle or coffee and tea.’
Hannah held up a heavy bag she was carrying.
Bridie looked at her, then at the bag. ‘You didn’t – did you?’
‘Oh, yes. Not only did I bring the coffee machine, but I remembered the coffee pods too.’
‘That’s so kind of you, Hannah. You guys have thought of everything! I didn’t bring a thing.’
‘Yes, you did,’ Hannah said smiling. ‘You brought the key.’
Chapter 28
Bridie stood outside, staring at the door. Their excited chatter had died down to a whisper in anticipation as everyone waited for her to unlock it.
Bridie stared at the door and shivered slightly. It wasn’t from cold, even though it was chilly. She knew it was something else – the local rumour that the theatre was haunted. She felt foolish for suddenly feeling apprehensive because of an imaginary ghost. Still, what came to mind was the actress who had disappeared during a production there, never to be seen again, and the rumour that she’d fallen, or jumped, into the sea.
She glanced at the gossip girls. Mabel and Marjorie were each armed with a pair of rubber gloves which they had just snapped dramatically over their wrists. They didn’t look apprehensive one bit about the thought of stepping into the theatre. In fact, they looked raring to go, the enthusiasm catching and at the same time comforting.
Bridie knew that there was nothing inside the theatre to be afraid of – apart from the memories that had come flooding back when she’d seen Jack. Had she made the wrong decision all those years ago, giving up her teenage love to pursue her dream of working on the London stage? Bridie decided she was onlythinking that because things had gone wrong and she was back wondering what her life would be like now if she’d never left. Would she be living a comfortable life with Jack, married with children?
