The Little Theatre on the Seafront

by Katie Ginger

  Chapter 31

  Sid unlocked the door to his flat and went through to the kitchen. He chucked the carrier bag onto the counter, retrieved his unappetising looking ready meal and stabbed it repeatedly with a knife. After throwing it into the microwave he rested his hands on the edge of the worktop and closed his eyes, unable to shake the picture of Lottie from his mind.

  The drive back to Greenley had been unbearable and he was sure he’d get a speeding ticket. He had no idea his old car could even reach eighty miles an hour let alone keep it up. And when he ran into the theatre that afternoon his throat had closed over and he’d frozen to the spot. His eyes had focused in the inky blackness to make out something slumped on the floor, the water lapping against it. An involuntary noise had escaped from his mouth – a grunt mixed with a sharp intake of breath – and he’d run to her, the water soaking his shoes and feet.

  Though he pretended he didn’t, he had to admit now that he still loved Lottie. If anything had happened to her he had no idea how he’d live his life without her. Even though they hadn’t spoken for weeks, just knowing she was alive had been a comfort. If he didn’t have that he didn’t know what he’d do.

  Sid had turned Lottie’s face towards him, her pale white skin lined with the blood that ran down from her head. He’d called an ambulance and they’d taken her off to hospital. The sound of the siren still rang in his ears when he lay down at night and tried to sleep. When they’d said she’d be okay he almost fist pumped the air but he hadn’t wanted to let go of her freezing cold hand. Lottie would have been proud of him going into a hospital, she knew how much he hated them.

  The microwave pinged just as there was a knock at the door. His eyebrows shot up as he saw Selena stood there. ‘Can I come in?’ she asked in a quiet subdued voice.

  Uncertain as to why she was there he said, ‘Sure.’

  Apart from some lengthy voicemails berating him again and again, he hadn’t seen her since leaving her at the hotel. Selena went through and sat on the sofa, pulling her legs up and cradling them. He, meanwhile, stayed in the doorway of the living room.

  ‘I thought you might call to let me know how Lottie is?’ she muttered.

  ‘You didn’t seem to care the last time we talked about her.’ He tried to keep the anger from his voice but it crept through. He wanted to shout that Lottie could have died and if she hadn’t grabbed his phone off him he could have got there sooner. If he’d answered that first call he’d have told her to get out of there and none of this would have happened.

  ‘Sid,’ her voice cracked. ‘I’m so sorry for how I behaved. I was really out of order and I should never have made you choose between us.’

  For a second Sid didn’t move, then seeing the tears in Selena’s eyes he edged over and sat next to her on the sofa, his heart full of sympathy. She pulled out a tissue and sniffed. ‘Sid, I’m so, so sorry. Can you ever forgive me? I was so wrong – so wrong. I didn’t used to be like this. It’s all because of my last boyfriend. He cheated on me so many times. He would lie to my face that there was nothing going on and then I’d find out from friends that there was. It’s made me paranoid and jealous.’

  Selena leant against him, sobbing. His feelings for Lottie hadn’t really changed and with Selena not calling he’d assumed they’d just stop seeing each other, and that would be that. Now he’d have to end it and he didn’t know how.

  ‘You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,’ Selena continued, dabbing at her eyes. She lifted his arm and rested it on her shoulders. ‘I don’t want to lose you. I’m sorry for what I said about Lottie. I didn’t mean it. You know how much I like her, and I hoped one day she might learn to like me too. I just got insecure and lashed out. Please say you’ll forgive me?’

  Sid closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. What the hell was he supposed to do now? If he was realistic, Lottie wasn’t going to suddenly leave Jeremy and have feelings for him. For Lottie, nothing had changed between them. Was it worth throwing it all away because he’d had a setback? That’s what it was after all. He’d been happy with Selena before all this and could learn to be again.

  Lottie was still in love with Jeremy. If he told Selena it was over, all that would happen was that he’d be alone. He had as good a chance with her as anyone, more so because they’d already come so far. He could learn to love her as deeply as he had Lottie, given time.

  ‘Sid?’ she asked, a single tear running down her face. ‘Please say you’ll forgive me for being so stupid?’

  His heart beat hard sending a vibration through his body. ‘Of course I’ll forgive you,’ he whispered.

  ‘I love you,’ she said and buried her head in his chest.

  Sid opened his mouth to speak but wasn’t sure he could say the words. The thought ran through his mind that he’d always assumed he’d be saying them to Lottie and he felt a shudder in his chest. Selena lifted her head and he looked down into her almost pleading, tear-stained face. He hesitated and her eyes pinned him to the spot, waiting. As if the words were being forcibly pulled out of him, his voice wavered and he said, ‘I love you too.’

  Chapter 32

  Lottie spent the next three days reading books she’d read a dozen times and watching terrible daytime television on the tiny screen by her bed. It was a relief when Margaret told her she was to be discharged the next day and sent home in a taxi.

  Jeremy hadn’t been able to visit again, and her neighbour had brought her some clothes to travel home in, but Sid had stayed away. Watching the familiar streets go by Lottie shook her head in disbelief. How could things have gone so far between them? She bit her lip, reluctant to let the tears fall again but her heart felt empty without him in her life. She was just happy she had Jeremy to help her patch it back together.

  The taxi pulled up outside Lottie’s house and she clambered out, careful not to bang her head. Lottie didn’t care that the paint still peeled from the front door or that the steep steps made bringing in the shopping such a chore, this was her home. It was where she belonged and she loved it more than anything. Sid had been right when he’d said that sometimes you just had to appreciate what you’d got.

  A creeping dread inched into her heart. She missed her nan and didn’t want to be surrounded by her things. Maybe it was time to start sorting things out. Touching the plaster on her head as a reminder of what had happened she looked again at the house and with aching legs trudged up the steps.

  ‘Now, remember, lovey,’ Margaret had said as she completed the paperwork, ‘just because you’re being sent home doesn’t mean you’re one hundred per cent. You’ve had a head injury and a nasty concussion. And a touch of hypothermia isn’t like having a cold. Take care of yourself and get lots of rest.’ Lottie liked Margaret’s motherly nature and kind but no-nonsense bedside manner. It reminded her of her nan.

  Lottie’s fingertips traced a patch of bare wood on the front door, then she opened up and made her way through to the kitchen. She’d felt inexplicably cold since being released from hospital and was unsure if it was a reaction to the ridiculously hot temperature they kept the ward, or the after-effects of the hypothermia.

  Just as Lottie poured hot water onto a tea bag and was watching it float around in her cup, there was a knock on the door. She considered ignoring it but decided against it in case it was Sid.

  ‘Oh, hello, Sarah,’ said Lottie.

  ‘Hello.’ She was stood on the step nervously hiding behind a large bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates. ‘I bought you a few bits to cheer you up.’

  ‘Oh, thank you.’

  The sky threatened more rain, and though Lottie didn’t want to see anyone but Sid or Jeremy, she couldn’t leave Sarah standing on the doorstep. ‘Would you like to come in? I was just making tea.’

  Sarah’s tense face relaxed into a smile. ‘That’d be lovely, thanks.’

  Lottie showed Sarah to the living room and came back with two cups of tea.

  ‘How are you feeling?’ Sa
rah asked, taking hers.

  ‘My heads a bit sore, but I’m okay.’

  ‘We’re looking forward to having you back. They’ve all been arguing over who should come to see you first. Mrs Andrews thought it should be her, obviously, and Gregory and Cecil thought it should be them, as they’re much more sensitive and just, you know …’ She shrugged. ‘Nicer, really.’

  Lottie laughed. It was nice to be appreciated. Though she was surprised after the telling-off she had given them.

  ‘When do you think you’ll be back with us? We’re all desperate to talk about the showcase.’ Sarah sipped her tea.

  ‘The doctor said I’m not allowed back to work until next week, I still need to rest. But I’m pretty sure I’ll get bored before then.’ She eyed her nan’s figurines in a glass cabinet in the corner. She could start packing those up for the charity shop if she got restless.

  ‘We really have missed you, but you should only come back if you’re sure you’re up to it. And if I can help at all, I’d be happy too.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Lottie. The warmth of her cup thawed her cold fingers.

  Sarah smiled and Lottie saw a kindness in her face she hadn’t noticed before. ‘It’s been a while since your nan passed away, hasn’t it?’

  Lottie shifted uncomfortably in her chair and pushed her hair behind her ear. ‘Yes, it has.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said Sarah, looking away. ‘I always put my foot in it. It’s a beautiful house, I can see why you’d never want to leave.’

  ‘I know I need to get things packed up and get rid of some stuff, but I haven’t quite got round to it yet, with the theatre and everything.’ That wasn’t strictly true. She’d used it as an excuse not to touch her nan’s possessions and face the final hurdle of losing her.

  ‘I remember when my mum died it took me almost three years to get rid of her stuff.’

  Lottie glanced up. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d lost someone.’

  Sarah’s hair was longer and softer now and she looked her age rather than old and stern. She tapped her cup as she said, ‘It was about five years ago but it’s taken me quite a while to get back out there, into the world.’ She was surprisingly matter of fact. ‘You know, if you ever want some support when you go through your nan’s things I’d be happy to help. I know how hard it can be. You can’t do it till you’re ready, but when you do it does help.’

  ‘Thank you. That’s really kind of you.’

  Sarah gave a shy smile then an uncomfortable silence formed.

  ‘How bad are things with the theatre?’ asked Lottie. She didn’t really want to talk about it yet but she had to say something and she couldn’t think what else they might have in common.

  Sarah scowled at her cup. ‘The mayor’s demanded a full report on your accident. Between you and me I think he’s trying to get the place closed down as a health hazard.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘It’s okay,’ reassured Sarah. ‘Don’t worry. Jeremy won’t let him. The roof’s coming along nicely now and the water’s been drained out but it’s all cost a lot more than we first thought.’

  ‘I suppose it would, wouldn’t it?’ Lottie hadn’t had time to think of all these practicalities. She’d been too busy wondering where Sid was and what he’d been up to. ‘Who’s footing the bill?’

  ‘Jeremy. He says it’ll be fine for the showcase. He’s got some extra people in to make sure.’

  ‘Jeremy?’ asked Lottie. They’d talked on the phone but he’d never said, probably not wanting to worry her.

  ‘Yes. When your friend told us what had happened to you, I saw Jeremy at the hospital, and he asked me to contact him if Mayor Cunningham started doing anything.’

  Lottie looked up and Sarah’s face reddened. ‘You were at the hospital?’

  She blinked then dropped her eyes to her cup. ‘Well, you’ve been very nice to me, and I wanted to make sure you were okay. I didn’t realise you and Sid had known each other for such a long time.’

  ‘Sid?’ Lottie tilted her head. She didn’t understand what Sarah had just said and her brain was beginning to hurt.

  ‘Yes, your partner on the newspaper? That’s his name isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, it is. How – how did you get talking to him?’

  Sarah looked quizzically at Lottie. ‘He was with you nearly all the time at the hospital. He said he’d found you and went with you in the ambulance. Poor chap must have been exhausted. He stayed with you as long as he could that first night until the hospital chucked him out.’

  Lottie’s unblinking eyes watched Sarah. Her heart was beating erratically and her stomach squeezed so tight Lottie was surprised she hadn’t suddenly become a size ten. That was another thing Jeremy hadn’t told her.

  ‘He only went home because that tiny, bossy nurse told him to. Apparently he was stinking out the room from the dirty water on his jeans.’

  ‘Oh,’ replied Lottie, completely lost for words.

  ‘Are you okay? You seem a little out of it. Maybe I should go?’ Sarah put her cup down and picked up her handbag.

  ‘Yes. Maybe,’ said Lottie. She shook her head trying to shake her brain into working order but all it did was ricochet off her skull and begin to ache again. ‘Sorry. I’m just feeling quite tired.’

  ‘Of course you are. I’ll head off and, umm, if you like, I thought, maybe I could drop in again?’

  ‘That’d be nice,’ Lottie replied. Having chatted with her, Lottie realised how quiet and vulnerable Sarah was. A bit like her actually.

  Lottie showed Sarah out, waving a cheerful goodbye, but once she closed the door she leaned back against it, feeling exhausted.

  So Sid had got her message and come to her rescue. A smile crept over her face and she was so happy she wanted to laugh out loud. It didn’t mean things were okay between them. She still had a lot of making up to do but at least now there was a chance.

  ***

  The next evening, Lottie waited nervously for Jeremy to arrive. Having been delayed in London it was now Saturday evening and though she was looking forward to seeing him, she had some questions too.

  She’d changed a few times trying to find something both casual and attractive but her overwhelming wardrobe of baggy T-shirts and cardigans weren’t quite right. When her head started to ache after pulling off yet another top she gave up, he would just have to take her how she was. After all, she was still recovering from her accident. Well, not quite, but it was a good excuse.

  At eight-thirty and with Lottie’s stomach rumbling, Jeremy arrived. His knock was always loud and authoritative and she pulled herself off the sofa to let him in.

  ‘Hello, sweetheart.’ Jeremy wrapped his hands around her waist and gave her a squeeze.

  Lottie eyed the brown paper bag of food. ‘How was your journey?’

  He planted a kiss on her lips. ‘It was good. Straight through this time. And I brought dinner.’ He waved the bag at her.

  ‘Great. What it is?’ She was praying for fish and chips. Crispy battered haddock and thick salty chips with lots of vinegar, maybe even mushy peas.

  ‘I stopped off at this amazing deli around the corner from my office and I got us two gorgeous asparagus and Gruyère tarts and a big green salad.’

  ‘Oh, lovely.’ Lottie tried to hide her disappointment.

  Jeremy stepped further into the house and dropped his work bag. ‘Well, we don’t need to eat chips every day, do we?’

  ‘No, I suppose not,’ she replied, but in Lottie’s opinion, it was perfectly acceptable to eat chips, or at least potatoes, in some form or another, every day. In fact, it should have been mandatory.

  Jeremy took the tarts from the bag and showed them to Lottie. She gave a resigned smile and he headed off to plate up dinner. She’d have to sneak down and make some toast later. A tiny posh quiche and fancy lettuce was not going to fill her up.

  ‘So, how are you feeling?’ Jeremy asked over his shoulder, dishing out the food. ‘Are you looking forward
to getting back to work next week?’

  ‘Yeah, it’ll be nice to get back to normal. It’s school photos coming up for all the little ones who started school this year. It’s one of my favourite jobs.’

  Jeremy opened the wine and poured them both a large glass. ‘You look beautiful, you know. I think the rest has done you good. How do you feel about getting back to working on the theatre plans tomorrow?’

  Lottie groaned and leaned back against the kitchen unit. ‘I’m not looking forward to seeing what a state the place is in but I’ll be happy to start sorting out the showcase and catching up with everybody.’ She swallowed a large mouthful of wine and the velvety warmth slid down her throat.

  Jeremy wiped his hands on a tea towel and said, ‘Well, about that—’

  ‘Oh no, what now?’ She couldn’t deal with any more bad news at the moment.

  He gave a sympathetic smile. ‘I don’t know if you’ve been told yet, but the roof and associated works ended up costing a lot more because of the torrential rain and storms. The plastic covering that protects a building when roof work’s being done, came flying off and ended up about twenty miles away wrapped around someone’s car.’

  Lottie’s hand covered her mouth.

  Jeremy took a sip of wine and waved his hand dismissively. ‘Don’t worry, it didn’t do any damage. But it has meant that because the work needed finishing, I’ve given more than we first agreed. I’ve got a contact at the council who let me increase my donation without too much paperwork. And we’ve had to literally pump water out of the place and rip up the carpets, but the seats have gone off to be refurbished.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s pretty much a shell at the moment, but I’m assured we’ll be on track for the showcase. We’ve still got just over six weeks, after all. And my chaps haven’t let me down yet.’

  Lottie pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. ‘But a shell with a roof?’

  ‘Yes.’ He laughed. ‘There’s now a fully functioning roof.’

  ‘How much more did it all cost?’

  He shook his head, shrugging off her concern. ‘About another seven on top of the ten I already quoted.’