Jade’s silence said it all – she didn’t believe him.
‘I swear I’m telling the truth.’
‘All right.’ Jade took a seat opposite him. She crossed her legs, leaning forward. ‘Now, suppose you tell me all about thisso-calledbusiness venture?’
Jack pursed his lips and looked at the plans on his desk. ‘I don’t want to.’
‘That’s because you’re lying,’ she spat. ‘There isn’t one, is there?’
‘There is. But you’re not going to like it.’
‘Why – because it might fail and not earn lots of money?’
‘Oh, it’s going to bag me a nice big payback, I can tell you. I’ve got it all planned.’
‘So, what is the problem? Why can’t you tell me what the business venture is?’
Jack closed his eyes and told her about the theatre. Her reaction was just the reason he wanted to keep it to himself – for now.
‘Oh, my god! What is your obsession with that theatre?’ She suddenly stopped. ‘Or is it your obsession withher?’
‘Of course not,’ Jack said, surprised by the comment, although Jade knew their history. They’d all been to high school together. ‘I didn’t marry Bridie, did I? I marriedyou.’
‘Yeah – because she left you and swanned off to London.’
Jack did not need to be reminded. He said nonchalantly, ‘That was years ago.’
‘Yes, it was. So, why has it always felt like there are three people in our marriage?’
Jack looked at her, surprised. ‘What on earth are you talking about?’
‘I’m talking about you and Bridie.’
‘There is no me and Bridie!’
‘Are you sure about that?’
‘Yes. This is purely business. I told you.’
Jade sat in silence for a moment or two. Jack wished she’d leave. He was desperate to call Bridie.
‘I still don’t understand …’
Jack sighed. ‘What don’t you understand?’
‘You’ve always hated the theatre and wanted the place torn down, like it’s personal.’
Jack kept his mouth shut.
‘You’ve been looking for the owner for years to get your hands on that place. Now you’re going to invest in it. Your plan doesn’t make sense.’
Jack looked at her guiltily. He hadn’t told her the whole plan. The trouble was that they’d been married long enough for Jade to guess he was hiding something.
‘What are you not telling me?’
‘Financially, it’s going to fail spectacularly,’ Jack admitted. ‘Who is interested in paying money for a ticket to a local amateur dramatic theatre anymore? It’s a stupid idea to reopen it. She might as well sell to a developer and take the money.’
Jade threw her hands in the air in frustration. ‘That does not answer my question at all. Did you offer to buy it off her so you could redevelop it?’
