Bridie wished she hadn’t told Hannah about the theatre, and then she and everyone else in Cobblers Yard wouldn’t have become so involved. She already felt she was letting them all down by even considering bailing on the original idea and just selling the place. However, Bridie was thinking about what Oliver had said; Jack had wanted to get his hands on the little theatre for years. This would be his opportunity. He wouldn’t even have to invest the money and do it up. He could just buy it off her and then do whatever he wanted with it.
Bridie thought it sounded simple, until something crossed her mind; something she’d wondered about when Jack had turned up at the theatre that first time while they were all busy cleaning and gathering up rubbish. She’d wondered if Jack was her secret benefactor. Why would he buy back the theatre if he’d already gifted it to her? It occurred to her that he hadn’t asked one obvious question either time he’d visited the theatre – how had it come into her possession?
‘Bridie, you’ve got such a kind soul,’ said Hannah, interrupting her thoughts. ‘Not everyone would do that for their sibling. You must be really close.’
Bridie laughed. ‘Actually, we’re not. Not at all.’
‘I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t do that if I were in your shoes. I bet your sister wouldn’t do it for you.’
Bridie hadn’t thought about that. She replied, ‘Probably not.’
‘Can’t your sister get another job? She sounds very experienced.’
‘She was offered another job in the same company, but she turned it down.’
Hannah frowned. ‘Why?’
‘My sister is quite big-headed. She said she wouldn’t accept a demotion.’
‘Sounds like she’s landed herself in it.’
‘Yep. The trouble is that she thought she’d walk into another job, just like that.’
‘I’m guessing that isn’t going to happen.’
‘Nope, and she can’t get a redundancy payout because she turned down their job offer.’
‘Oh dear.’ Hannah shook her head. ‘Pardon me for saying this, but she’s made her bed … maybe your parents could help her out, or your brother.’
Bridie hadn’t thought of that. Although they were both now retired, her dad had his pension lump sum, and savings, she imagined. Then there was her brother, Jeremy, a City lawyer on pots of money.
‘I don’t think you should give up your dreams just because your sister lost her job and then made a bad decision. That isn’t on you. You are not her keeper. You’ve already suggested where she might get a job, and I would take her on in a heartbeat.’
‘Thanks, Hannah.’
‘However,youhave got your own life to lead, Bridie, and I’ve got to be honest, like Lili helped me out, and gave me her shop, somebody has done the same thing for you – not given you a shop, but you know, offered you a lifeline. What you make of it is up to you. But look where mine led – to a life I never dreamed of, in the best possible way. This is your chance, Bridie. Not your sister’s. You’ve got to make a go of it, because if you don’t, you’ll never know what might have happened.’
As Bridie listened to Hannah, she suddenly imagined a casting agent sitting in the audience of the first production atThe Little Theatre by the Sea and watching her starring in her own show. It might lead back to a show in London. That would show Julian. He’d said she’d never work in London again.
She started to smile. Hannah was right: she shouldn’t give up her dreams.
‘Is that your phone buzzing?’
Bridie picked it up off the coffee table. ‘It’s Jack leaving me another message. He said he’d call me, but …’
‘You’ve been avoiding him since you bumped into your sister.’
Bridie sighed and listened to the voicemail. ‘He wants to meet up again to go over the business plan.’
‘So what now? Are you going to call him back?’
Bridie grinned.
Hannah’s face broke into a wide grin too. ‘Good. I’m so glad to hear it. You know you’re not alone. You’ve got the whole of Cobblers Yard behind you too.’
‘I know. That’s what I love about this place.’
‘Me too,’ said Hannah.
