The Little Theatre on the Seafront

by Katie Ginger

  ‘I try to.’ He ran a hand through his hair. ‘I really love it here. The city’s great, and I’m so busy I don’t have a chance to get lonely during the week but at the weekends, well, it’s different, isn’t it?’

  ‘I’d have thought you were out every weekend with friends?’

  ‘It may sound silly but most of my friends are either getting married and having kids, or the single ones still behave like students, getting drunk. It’s just not my scene anymore. I want something more … more—’

  ‘Stable?’ offered Lottie, surprised by how open he was being.

  ‘Yes, exactly.’ He smiled. ‘I’ve never felt as settled as I do here. This is where I could see myself getting married, raising a family. Taking the kids on bike rides along the beach, that sort of thing.’ His eyes had taken on a far-away quality and Lottie wondered if he was picturing it as clearly as she could and feeling the same rush in her chest.

  By the end of the meal, Lottie had told him all about her life with her nan and Jeremy was generous with his compliments but not insincere. After a second bottle of wine between them, Lottie felt intelligent, beautiful and funny, as if the wine had magnified all the tiny, average things about her and placed them centre stage.

  ‘So when’s your next committee meeting?’ asked Jeremy.

  ‘Thursday,’ Lottie said but it took all her concentration to remember the days of the week in the right order. She took a bite of her chocolate torte. It was delicious. The dense dark chocolate swirled in her mouth and she savoured it before replying. ‘I don’t think we’re going to find investors very easily, or anyone to just give us money. I mean, who’s going to shell out for our tiny leaky theatre in our boring little town?’

  ‘I would.’

  ‘Sorry?’ Lottie held her spoon in mid-air. The wine must have gone to her head because she could have sworn he’d just said he’d like to give some money, but that couldn’t be right.

  Jeremy set his glass down and smiled. ‘I want to donate to the theatre.’

  She had heard correctly. Lottie’s ribs squeezed around her heart taking her breath away. ‘Seriously?’

  ‘Of course.’ Jeremy’s leg brushed against hers under the table but she didn’t move away. ‘Listen, Lottie, I love this town more and more every time I come down. I’ve never felt at home anywhere before. London’s great and I’m not giving it up, but I love coming here at weekends and seeing how the community is behind this. It’s just … well.’ He shrugged. ‘I just thought that sort of thing was long dead. I think the theatre will be a huge success and if I can help, I’d like to. I feel like I’m investing in my future, not just the town’s.’

  Lottie finally raised her spoon to her mouth and swallowed the last piece of torte. ‘But what does that mean exactly?’

  ‘It means I’ll provide some money to get the place back on track.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Lottie, trying to work out if this was a good or bad thing. She didn’t know how these things worked and was so worried about making the wrong decision she couldn’t say yes or no at the moment.

  Jeremy’s expression was reassuring. ‘Don’t worry. I just want to provide enough money for the roof to be fixed and Roger mentioned you had some vacant seats on the committee. I’d love to be involved in that if I could.’

  ‘I — I don’t know what to say.’

  ‘Just say you’ll let the committee know how much I want to help. I’m happy to come and present my offer formally if you need me to.’

  Lottie again tried to figure out this new situation. Her instinct was to trust him and say yes straight away but her old nervousness was flaring up. ‘I guess the mayor will have to ask the council.’

  ‘Great.’

  The conversation moved on and by the end of the night Lottie was glowing. She’d been on a real date and so far she hadn’t completely embarrassed herself. They’d chatted and laughed and it had felt so easy, almost like being with Sid.

  When Jeremy offered to take her home, she had no problem saying yes. They wandered along the quiet roads to her house under a heavy sky streaked with purple and navy. The birds were silent, asleep in their nests, and only the odd car passed them as they walked. Streetlights lit the night and the heavy smell of lavender filled the air. They stopped outside Lottie’s house and she turned to face Jeremy. Even in her heels she was at least a foot shorter than him and she raised her head up to see his face.

  ‘Thank you for a lovely evening,’ she said, trying to shift from one foot to another without him noticing, her feet aching in her high heels.

  ‘I’ve had a wonderful time,’ Jeremy replied. He’d hooked his jacket on a finger and hung it over his shoulder. The small gap between them felt thick was anticipation.

  Lottie brushed her hair behind her ear. ‘You didn’t have to pay for dinner. I would’ve happily split the bill.’

  ‘I know,’ said Jeremy, putting his free hand in his pocket leaving Lottie disappointed he wasn’t taking hers. ‘But what sort of a gentleman would I be if I let you pay?’

  She looked up wanting to see his face once more before they went their separate ways. She wanted to step into the gap and be closer to him but it felt almost too thick to enter. ‘Goodnight then.’

  ‘I’d love to do this again, Lottie. Can I call you sometime?’ He finally reached for Lottie’s hand and bent his head towards hers. Lottie raised hers upwards and stared at the pale yellow moon as he kissed her cheek.

  ‘I’d love to do this again too,’ she said and after saying goodnight, Lottie forgot the pain in her feet and tottered up the steps, and into the house.

  Chapter 16

  ‘Do you want to get a bag of chips and sit on the beach?’ asked Sid, as they left the office the following Monday. ‘It’s a nice evening. Or are you dashing off somewhere?’

  He couldn’t actually remember the last time they’d spent an evening doing some of the things they used to do before all this theatre business started. He missed just watching TV with Lottie and the way they used to laugh at whatever was on. He missed going shopping with her and eating together. Elsie’s letter was meant to shake up Lottie’s world but had Elsie known she’d be shaking his up as well? He wouldn’t have put it past her. She was a mischievous old bugger.

  ‘No, I’m not dashing off anywhere,’ Lottie replied, packing her camera away. ‘Are you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Then if you can bear to be in my company,’ she teased, ‘yes, please. I would love a bag of chips.’

  They headed down to their favourite fish and chip shop and Sid ordered. He took the steaming hot chips wrapped in newspaper and coated them in a little bit of salt, and lots and lots of vinegar, just the way Lottie liked them.

  They walked along in companionable silence to one of the old wooden benches on the promenade. Seagulls hung on the breeze above the gently ebbing tide. It was a beautiful evening and the slowly setting sun cast long shadows on the pavement. Lottie, who had brought her camera bag, snapped a shot of a lone seagull hanging in the air and Sid smiled.

  Sid stretched out his legs and crossed them at the ankles. ‘I can’t believe the paper’s circulation has gone up so much since the theatre thing started. David’s so chuffed.’

  ‘I know,’ Lottie replied, happily, putting the lens back on and placing her camera back in the bag. ‘I think people are really getting behind us.’

  ‘I guess it makes a change from reading about planning application disputes and the latest large fish to have been caught.’

  Lottie giggled. ‘Definitely. It’s nice to be busy, isn’t it? Here.’ Lottie took a large brown envelope out of her bag and handed it to Sid.

  ‘What’s this?’

  ‘Open it.’ Lottie smiled at him.

  Sid lifted the flap and pulled out a T-shirt with Chewbacca’s face on it. A huge grin spread over his face. ‘Thanks, it’s great. But why did you get me this?’ He suddenly worried he’d forgotten something important.

  ‘Because I’ve missed you an
d because I saw it and thought you’d like it.’

  Knowing Lottie still thought about him and missed him warmed his soul. Sid handed Lottie the chips, took off the T-shirt he’d been wearing all day and put the new one on. Lottie looked away while he changed. ‘There what do you think?’

  ‘I like it,’ she said, popping a chip in her mouth and handing back the packet. ‘How’s Selena?’

  Sid heard the tension in her voice. ‘She’s fine. How’s Jeremy?’

  Lottie smiled at the mention of his name. ‘Fine.’

  They fell into an awkward silence. The easy rhythm of their friendship seemed to flounder whenever one of them mentioned the new people in their lives.

  That morning, when Lottie told him she’d been on a date with Jeremy, Sid found himself tensing up so much he nearly dribbled his tea. It wasn’t that it was weird someone should find Lottie attractive, it was that Jeremy was too flash, too sophisticated. For goodness’ sake, he even clearly whitened his teeth. Not that Lottie wasn’t sophisticated, she was just a low maintenance kind of girl, easy going and relaxed, and he’d always thought she’d pick a low maintenance kind of guy. He caught Lottie studying him.

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me you had a girlfriend?’ she asked and he could sense the hurt even though she kept it from her voice.

  Sid shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’ He was surprised she even cared. ‘You didn’t tell me you had a date with Jeremy until today.’

  Gentle creases formed on her brow. ‘But that’s because you don’t like him.’

  Sid didn’t know what to say so stayed quiet. At least he and Selena were having a really nice time together. After he’d cleaned up and had someone in to professionally clean that weird stain off the carpet he’d let her come to his flat. He still didn’t know what the stain was or how it got there. He wasn’t going to sniff it and find out. But they’d snuggled on the sofa watching TV and the best thing was she’d loved the flat and the views out over the beach.

  ‘Sid?’

  ‘Hmm?’ he replied through a mouthful of delicious potato.

  ‘Did you hear what I said?’ Lottie’s voice was calm but Sid could always tell when she was acting and the way the intonation lifted at the end he knew he’d missed something important. ‘Jeremy wants to donate some money to the theatre.’

  He swallowed quickly and the vinegar stung his throat. ‘What? Are you joking?’

  ‘No, I’m not joking. Why are you pulling that face?’

  ‘I’m not pulling a face,’ Sid replied, hastily rearranging his expression to something more natural.

  The gentle lines of her forehead were now deep wrinkles as she scowled at him crossly. ‘Yes, you are.’

  ‘I’m just not sure why he wants to. Don’t you think it’s a bit quick?’

  ‘No.’ Lottie’s voice rose. ‘He’s a businessman, he’s used to making decisions. He wants to help the theatre and take one of the places on the committee. He sees it as investing in his future and the town’s.’

  Something about this didn’t sit right to Sid. He couldn’t put his finger on exactly what and told himself it wasn’t jealousy. ‘But why?’

  ‘What do you mean “why?” Because he thinks the theatre will be a success, and he likes what it’s doing for the town.’

  ‘Really,’ replied Sid, scornfully before he could help it.

  ‘Yes, really. Why is that so hard to believe? I wanted to know what you thought about it but I don’t know why I asked you now.’

  Sid scratched his cheek. If he told her the truth she’d have the hump with him but if he didn’t she’d know he was lying. She always knew when he was lying. She had some weird spidey-sense. ‘After we met him at the Big Clean, I told you I didn’t trust him.’

  ‘But why not?’ She turned to him and her large blue eyes held him in a steady gaze. ‘You only met him for, like, two minutes.’

  ‘He’s just one of those suited and booted London types who comes down here—’

  ‘And steals our homes, yes, I’ve heard it all before.’

  ‘Well, you asked,’ Sid replied, staring at the sea. ‘And you used to believe it too.’

  Lottie kept her eyes down and her tone was conciliatory. ‘I know I did. But maybe I was being a bit judgemental.’

  Sid shoved another chip into his mouth and rattled the bag at Lottie. So he was judgemental now? Nice. She took a chip from the bottom, soggy with vinegar. This wasn’t going to go down well, but he couldn’t pretend it was something else. He wanted Lottie to be on her guard. If something went wrong, she’d never forgive herself.

  ‘He’s a property developer, Lottie. I know what you said about him not doing this type of property but what if he’s looking at branching out? Or what if he’s checking it out for someone else?’

  ‘That’s a bit farfetched,’ said Lottie.

  ‘Is it? I don’t think so. You can’t trust people like that, Lottie.’

  ‘People like what?’ He felt her eyes boring into him. ‘Better dressed and more successful?’

  Sid went to place a chip in his mouth but his heart and hands fell. He’d never known her to be so cruel.

  ‘I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I just meant—’

  He knew exactly what she meant. Someone more grown up, more serious, more together. The complete opposite of him.

  Lottie took the bag of chips, ate one, then offered them to Sid. It was her peace offering. ‘He’s offering to fix the theatre roof now, which it desperately needs. And he wants to be on the committee. I don’t think that’s unreasonable considering he’s giving us so much money. He won’t be able to just do what he wants if that’s what you’re worried about. And it would stop the council getting rid of the building. Is it really so bad? I think he’s genuinely interested in helping us.’

  ‘But what if he and the mayor are in this together? You could be out on your ear if you’re not careful and then it won’t be a theatre any more, it’ll either get knocked down, or the building will suddenly become something else. Offices. Flats. I don’t know.’

  Lottie’s eyes held him as she said, ‘Do you honestly think that they’re working together to get me out so they can demolish the theatre and sell off the land? Why pay for the repairs if he’s going to do that?’

  She had him there. ‘I’m just saying you should be careful. He could get on the committee then if the money doesn’t come through, your time is up as acting chairman and they’ll vote you out and tell the council there’s no hope for the building and the community doesn’t care if it goes. I know you’re only a small informal group, Lottie, but you’re still the only hope that theatre’s got.’

  How could she not see there were risks here? Sid bit back his annoyance as his easy-going manner was tested by Lottie’s refusal to see things from his point of view.

  ‘This is Greenley-On-Sea, Sid. Not Washington, or New York, or somewhere exciting where things like that actually happen.’

  ‘It happens everywhere, Lottie, you know that, stop being so blind.’

  Lottie angrily scrunched up the now empty bag of chips and put it between them. ‘I think you’re being a bit—’

  ‘Realistic?’ Sid tried to diffuse the tension by waggling his eyebrows and though Lottie’s tone grew softer he could see she was still annoyed with him for not just agreeing straight away.

  ‘Overzealous.’

  Sid repressed a smile. She’d always been more diplomatic than him.

  Lottie looked out to sea avoiding his gaze but her voice was full of hurt. ‘Do you really think Jeremy is only interested in the theatre and not me?’

  Sid’s heart lurched trying to punch him for being so tactless. ‘No, Lots, that’s not what I’m saying. You need to get used to the idea that you’re actually worth being with and …’ He stumbled over his words. ‘And worth looking at.’ Sid studied the used-up chip bag and his cheeks flamed. Without thinking he said, ‘If he genuinely likes you he won’t min—’

  ‘“If he genuinely likes me
?”’ Lottie parroted. ‘So you do think he’s only interested in the theatre?’

  ‘I’m only saying “if”, Lottie. I hope he’s not.’ He didn’t like saying it but it was truthfully what he was afraid of. He’d never lied to Lottie and he wouldn’t start now. He was jealous of Jeremy’s relationship with Lottie but the guy could still just be using her.

  ‘Well, I know he’s not.’ Her voice was rising now. ‘And I can’t think of anything more hurtful, Sid. You’re basically saying the only proper date I’ve ever had was a business tactic and he’s only seeing me because he wants to swipe away a local grotty theatre to make money. Which I could never see happening anyway.’

  Sid tried to stay calm. He didn’t normally get angry but he could feel it building. She was so determined to defend Jeremy, she wouldn’t admit there was even a chance Sid could be right. ‘You can’t ignore the fact that—’

  Lottie turned to him and her face had gone all red. She narrowed her eyes. ‘The fact that what? He’s a property developer? He’s been honest about that from the start. Why would he tell me that if he had some sneaky plan? That’s not very sneaky. That’s like the worst sneakiness ever.’

  All he was trying to do was get her to slow things down. ‘Lottie, you’re being unreasonable. and you’re not listening to what I’m actually—’

  ‘No, I’m not. You are!’ she shouted. A couple walking past with their dog looked over. ‘You’re being so closed minded about him because he’s posher than you. I never thought you were like that, Sid. You’re being the opposite of a snob, whatever that is.’

  Sid felt his lungs constrict as his anger rose further. ‘How would you know what I’m like now? We haven’t seen each other properly for months. You’re always too busy.’

  Lottie’s mouth fell slightly open then snapped shut. ‘I’m too busy? What about you and your secret girlfriend?’

  ‘She wasn’t secret. I just didn’t tell you until there was something to tell.’