Bridie looked at him agog. How was that possible? She knew it was a small town, but word wouldn’t travel that fast, surely.
‘How did you find out?’
‘I went to call on you in Cobblers Yard.’
‘What – why?’
‘To apologise for what I said when I bumped into you in the café, about your career in theatre.’
She eyed him suspiciously. Was that even true? Or was he just saying that now he’d found out about the theatre, and he wanted to get in her good books, hoping she would sell it to him. She remembered what Oliver had said – he’d been after the theatre for years. She guessed why; he was a property developer, and the theatre was in a prime location nestled between a cottage and a townhouse on the promenade, overlooking the sea. If it was converted into a house or apartments, she imagined there wouldbe quite a tidy profit involved. She got the impression from her conversations with Oliver that Jack was pretty ruthless when it came to tearing down old period properties and putting up something new and bland in their place just to make money.
She looked at him coldly. ‘You didn’t answer my question – how did you find out?’
‘The shop was closed, and when you didn’t answer the flat doorbell, I saw that the bookshop was still open.’
‘No, it wasn’t,’ said Bridie, knowing full well that Thea always closed the bookshop when the carers turned up before she left.
‘No, you’re right, it wasn’t actually open, but the lights were still on, and Henry did answer the door when I knocked. He said you were all off to see a show at The Little Theatre by the Sea, in Aldeburgh, but he couldn’t go because he was entertaining visitors.’
Bridie stared at him. That sounded a lot more plausible. Just the sort of thing she would have expected Henry, living in the past, to think when Thea had told him where she was off to.
And she knew who Henry had thought he was entertaining – friends, although they were really his carers. So, Jack actually had no idea she was the new owner. Hehadcome to apologise.
He said, ‘I thought it was very strange what Henry said. This place hasn’t been open for years. But then I’m aware of his condition. Even so, I thought perhaps there was some truth to it, that you’d all come here for some reason. Although I couldn’t imagine why.’ His eyes drifted behind her to the door to the auditorium, propped open. ‘What is going on here? Are you all cleaning up the place? Where did you get the keys?’
There was some chatter in the background and then Reggie’s voice came across loud and clear. ‘Let’s ask the new owner what she’d like us to do with this?’
Bridie glanced over her shoulder at the sound of Reggie’s voice and saw him walking towards her carrying something. Shecaught Jack looking at her wide-eyed. ‘Did he just say the new owner?’
Reggie appeared by her side holding a small chandelier. He looked at Jack. ‘Oh, I didn’t realise we had more help. Great. I’d like to fix this back up if that’s alright with you, Bridie. I’ve found some step ladders …’
Jack hesitated.
Reggie said, ‘Well, aren’t you going to lend a hand? That’s what the rest of us are here for.’
‘Um, yes. Of course. I’ll be with you in a minute. There’s something I’d like to ask Bridie first.’
Reggie turned on his heel and left them alone in the foyer.
‘The new owner. Wow. Who would have thought …’
Bridie narrowed her eyes.
Jack said, ‘Maybe I could lend a financial hand. This place needs more than spit and polish. Have you got the funds to renovate? I see you’ve got a leaky ceiling …’ Jack marched on the spot, the carpet squelching beneath his feet. ‘And goodness knows what else you’re going to uncover.’
Bridie knew what Jack’s offer ofa financial handwould be. ‘I’m not selling up, if that’s what you’re thinking.’ She hadn’t made up her mind what she was doing with the place in the longer term, but she knew she wasn’t going to sell it to Jack. For the time being, she was going to abide by her benefactor’s wishes and put on a play there before she decided. But she couldn’t do it with the state the theatre was in. It wouldn’t be fair or probably safe to invite the public inside.
Bridie had a sudden thought:I wouldn’t have to stage a play for the public. It could just be my friends – and family. She was thinking about her dad in particular. Still, the theatre couldn’t be used in this state.
There were other problems too, like where she was going to get the sets, the theatre staff, and the stage actors and actresses.Now, she really thought about it, the whole idea of staging a play there seemed impossible.
‘I’m not suggesting you sell the place. When I said giving you a financial hand, I meant to get the place fixed up – the roof and such like.’
Bridie looked at him, taken aback.
‘You haven’t got the money to do that sort of thing – have you?’
Bridie frowned. She eyed him suspiciously. ‘What’s in it for you?’
