She turned to him, fuming. ‘What’s so funny?’ He had called her back, and she’d met him outside the theatre, as arranged, but as soon as she’d stepped inside, Bridie had become inexplicably upset. He’d asked what was wrong, and that was when she’d told him. Her dad had had an affair – at least, that was what that last letter hinted at.
‘I remember your dad. Believe me, he is the last person who would have an affair. Do you know your mum?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I wouldn’t cross your mum, I can tell you.’
Bridie went quiet.
Jack stood in front of her and gently lifted her chin. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make a joke out of what you just said. But listen to yourself. Really, you know your parents. They are the last people to have affairs.’
‘Are they?’ Bridie mumbled, ‘Turns out I don’t know them at all.’
‘What are you talking about?’
Bridie gestured for him to follow her up on to the stage to the old poster she’d seen the previous day.
‘This is what I’m talking about.’
Jack studied the poster. ‘Is that … your dad?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Seriously? Your dad was on the stage?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Wow. I did not expect that.’
‘Exactly – who would have thought my dad, who I’ve assumed has worked in insurance all his life, used to be an actor?’
‘Oh,’ said Jack. ‘I wasn’t talking about that. I was talking about her.’
‘Who?’
‘That woman.’
‘Isobel Raine?’
‘Yes – her.’ He turned to look at Bridie. ‘You look so much like her, do you know that? In fact, you could be her.’
Bridie rolled her eyes. ‘That’s what Reggie said.’
‘It’s uncanny.’ He turned back to look at the poster, studying it closely, one arm folded against his chest, elbow resting in the crook of his arm, two fingers tapping his chin.
Bridie noticed he’d gone quiet. ‘What is it?’
‘Er, nothing.’
She grabbed his arm, pulling him round to look at her. ‘Seriously – what is it?’
He bit his lip. ‘Um, you know you were talking about your dad and Isobel Raine – which at first I thought was ridiculous.’
‘At first …?’
‘Yeah – until you showed me this poster.’
‘What of it?’
