The Little Theatre on the Seafront

by Katie Ginger

  He laughed. ‘It was, wasn’t it? Shall we go for dinner?’

  ‘Umm, no. No thanks. I need to get home and …’ She paused. ‘Sort through some of Nan’s stuff.’ She didn’t, but she had to try and figure things out.

  ‘Are you alright?’ Jeremy looked down at her.

  ‘I just wasn’t expecting all this,’ she said, turning the document over in her hands.

  ‘Sorry, force of habit, I do it all the time if I’m looking to buy a property.’

  ‘You’ve obviously put a lot of thought into it.’

  He laughed as he spoke and it sounded slightly patronising to Lottie. ‘Of course I have, it’s a huge sum of money.’

  She supposed he was right. This wasn’t a hobby to him, it was business.

  Jeremy sat down and motioned for Lottie to join him. ‘Listen,’ he said, taking her hands. ‘It’s the way things have to be in business. It’s nothing to worry about.’

  ‘What was all that about “commercial sensitivity”? Why can’t we tell people?’

  He shook his head. ‘I know it seems overly cautious, Lottie, but as I’ve already invested some money—’

  ‘Donated,’ said Lottie.

  Jeremy waved his hand dismissing his last statement. ‘Yes, donated. Sorry, just a slip of the tongue. I don’t want it all becoming public or snippets of misinformation coming out and people thinking you guys on the committee haven’t done things properly.’

  ‘Why would they?’

  ‘They might think that as I made a donation before, then upped it after your accident, this was a done deal. That you, as chairman, were in it with me from the start. Especially as we’re kind of an item.’

  ‘Kind of?’ Lottie removed her hand from his.

  ‘You know what I mean,’ he replied, reaching for her again, but she pulled it away. ‘Oh, now, come on, it was a silly remark that’s all. I’m sorry. Of course we’re an item. We couldn’t be more of an item.’

  Lottie stared at him, deliberately trying to narrow her eyes like Selena did, to show how annoyed she was with him. ‘Then why say “kind of”?’

  He shook his head. ‘I don’t know, I was just trying to be funny I suppose.’

  Comedy didn’t really suit him, thought Lottie. Not like Sid. ‘Well, it didn’t work.’

  ‘No, it didn’t.’ He rubbed that back of his neck. ‘I love you, Lottie Webster, and I’ve told that to anyone who’ll listen. So we are definitely an item and I am definitely an idiot for saying stupid things.’ He reached for her hand again and she let him take it this time.

  ‘And the presentation?’ she asked, hoping he would give the same level of assurance over that. ‘It just seemed like there was more to this than you buying the theatre and us all running it.’

  His thumb stroked her hand. ‘I’ve done it lots of times, Lottie. It really is pretty standard. Please don’t worry.’

  Lottie searched his eyes for signs of lies but found nothing. As she looked at them she couldn’t help but compare them to Sid’s then shook her head to chase the thoughts out. ‘Okay.’

  ‘Great. There is something else though that I wanted to talk to you about.’

  ‘Yes?’ She lifted her hand to her head, pressing her cold fingers down to ease the rising ache.

  Jeremy cupped her cheek. ‘If this all goes ahead, will you consider being in charge of the theatre?’

  Were her ears blocked and making things sound funny, or was it her headache making her hear things? ‘In charge of the theatre?’

  ‘It’ll need a general manager once it’s all up and running and you’ve done so much, I obviously thought of you.’

  ‘I – I don’t know what to say.’ She really didn’t. Her nan’s picture was in her wallet and she wanted to pull it out and shout at it. She wanted to scream and yell and tell her how much her meddling had ruined everything and thrown her life into total chaos.

  ‘Say yes!’ Jeremy replied. ‘You’re wasted on the paper, Lottie. You’re a great photographer but look how you’ve organised the players and the showcase. You could do so much more. I have a talent for spotting potential and you could achieve so much with me.’

  Still shouting at her nan in her head she said, ‘I need some time to think about it.’ Then added, ‘I love my job.’

  Jeremy nodded. ‘I understand. I just thought with your friendship with Sid being over you might like a change? You’ve said working together is really difficult at the moment. And Sid and Selena seemed very happy when I saw them the other day.’

  Was their friendship over? It’d been a tough few months but surely this wasn’t it? Did Sid think so? If it was, why stick around at the paper? Perhaps she did need a change. ‘I just need to think it through. I wouldn’t want people to think I’ve only been given the job because of you.’

  Lottie felt a niggling in her soul. Her old insecurities were starting to push back through, affecting her ability to make decisions, to think clearly, or trust her own judgement. She didn’t want to go back to how she’d been, so scared of life. But the ground was shifting beneath her feet so fast she couldn’t get her bearings.

  ‘Okay,’ said Jeremy. ‘Oh, and one last thing.’ He cupped the back of her head and drew her towards him for a kiss. ‘I love you,’ he said when they separated.

  Though not normally snarky, Lottie was still angry about the item thing. ‘Do you kind of love me, or really love me?’

  ‘Ouch.’ He smiled and his hand moved to her cheek. ‘I deserved that though. I really love you. When I saw you in the hospital I realised we don’t know what life has in store for us and we can’t let people go or waste a single second. That’s partly what made me want to help the theatre too.’

  Lottie’s mind was a sea of crazy thoughts swirling around, knocking into each other.

  ‘Do you love me?’ asked Jeremy.

  Realising she hadn’t said it back, Lottie looked into his eyes. She did love Jeremy, didn’t she? What wasn’t to love? An image of Sid’s face flitted across her brain but she ignored it. Of course she loved him. ‘Yes. Yes, I do,’ she replied more firmly than she’d intended, as if her brain was trying to convince her it was true.

  ‘Good,’ he said, planting another kiss on her lips. ‘We’re going to do great things with the theatre, Lots, you’ll see.’ He let go and stepped back, bouncing on his heels.

  Lottie kept her eyes on the ground. ‘Do you mind not calling me Lots? It’s just that Sid calls me Lots and I don’t—’

  ‘Oh, you don’t like it?’ he asked, confusion on his face. ‘I always assumed you did. Did you want me to tell Sid not to—’

  ‘No, no it’s fine,’ said Lottie. How could she tell him she only ever wanted Sid to call her Lots? And she wanted, more than anything, to hear it right now.

  Lottie packed the booklet into her bag as the skin on the back of her neck prickled. She couldn’t shake off this horrible feeling of dread. A heavy weight in her stomach told her something wasn’t right and for once it didn’t have anything to do with Sidney Evans or his demon girlfriend.

  Chapter 40

  Sid beeped the horn to let Lottie know he was there. She was normally out of the door before he’d even put the handbrake on, even in the cold, but he’d waited a few minutes and she still hadn’t come out. At this rate they would be late. He was writing an article about the panto to get everyone interested and hopefully get some advance bookings so he was off to watch rehearsals with Lottie. He checked his watch again then turned off the engine and climbed out, mounting the steep steps to her house.

  When the door opened Sid almost called a doctor. Lottie’s eyes were puffy and rimmed with dark circles. She was pale and tired and looked like she hadn’t slept. ‘What’s wrong?’ he asked, knowing concern was written all over his face.

  She looked down and in barely more than a whisper said, ‘You’d better come in.’

  Sid went through to the living room, fear growing with each step. If she was pregnant or something he didn’t know what
he’d do. He’d have to leave town and live at the arse-end of the world on his own.

  ‘What is it, Lottie? God, what’s the matter? Do you need anything? You should sit down. Here.’ He moved out of the way and pointed at the sofa but Lottie didn’t move.

  ‘I need to tell you something.’

  ‘Oh, God, are you ill?’ He felt his throat close over. What if she was dying?

  She finally looked at him. ‘No, Sid, please.’

  ‘Okay.’ He ran a hand through his hair and tried to steady his breathing but his heart was beating too fast. ‘What is it?’

  Lottie met his eye. ‘The council has sold the theatre to Jeremy.’

  Sid didn’t move as coldness froze all his muscles. He should have felt relief that she wasn’t engaged or going to have Jeremy’s baby but instead he felt his hands ball into fists. ‘What? When did this happen?’

  ‘At a special meeting last night.’ Her voice wobbled and she began to speak quickly. ‘It’s not a bad thing, Sid, please believe me. The theatre will be amazing now. We’re guaranteeing its future. The council won’t have to cut other things thanks to the money it’ll receive from the sale, and we can continue on the committee, so it’ll still be the same.’

  ‘You’ve changed your tune,’ said Sid. ‘You were dead set against anyone buying it when you thought that was Mayor Cunningham’s plan, but now it’s your boyfriend you’re all for it.’ Sid couldn’t help his bitter tone. Of course Jeremy would save the day when he couldn’t.

  ‘That’s not fair, Sid,’ said Lottie, folding her arms over her chest.

  He couldn’t believe she’d actually gone and done it and that Jeremy had managed to keep things quiet. ‘It’s right though, isn’t it?’ he replied, pinning her with his eyes. The anger and hurt he’d worked so hard to forget erupted. ‘How do you know he’s not planning to do the same thing as Roger Cunningham? He could sell it on tomorrow and not even stick around for anyone to shake a fist at. He could be back in London before you can say fish and chips.’

  ‘I trust him,’ Lottie shouted. ‘And anyway …’ Lottie’s words trailed away into silence.

  ‘Anyway, what?’ How could anything be worse than this?

  ‘He’s asked me to be general manager of the theatre, when we get to that stage.’

  ‘Oh, has he now?’ Sid scoffed. ‘We’d better not put that in the paper, that’ll really make people suspicious. Or have you already written your resignation?’

  ‘How dare you, Sid.’ Lottie uncrossed her arms bringing them to her sides, her knuckles white. ‘Do you really think that would affect my vote?’

  He shrugged. ‘It might.’

  Lottie shook her head at him. ‘Well, it hasn’t. And how could you even say that? You know me better than anyone.’

  ‘Do I? I’m not so sure anymore, Lottie.’

  ‘Well you did before—’

  ‘Before what? Before Selena? Before Jeremy?’ Sid put his hands on his hips. ‘Before you became a completely different person. You say I’ve changed, Lottie, but have you looked in the mirror lately? Your nan wanted you to get out into the world and you did, only to follow Jeremy around instead.’

  Lottie’s eyes became glassy with tears. ‘This is what Nan wanted, Sid. She wanted me to save the theatre. I’ve considered all the options. I’ve thought about what’ll happen to it if we don’t and—’

  ‘Do you think your nan would have wanted you to sell it to a property developer who doesn’t even live here all the time? And why do it privately if he’s so upstanding and proud of the community? For God’s sake, Lottie, you don’t even really know him. He’s hardly here these days.’ How could she not see this was suspicious?

  ‘I do know him,’ she said loudly.

  Sid threw a hand out at her. ‘So what’s his favourite colour? Favourite drink? Favourite movie? I could tell you all those things about you, Lottie and you could tell me all those things about me. I mean, have you even seen a business plan?’

  She stood still. ‘Not exactly. I didn’t go to the meeting – it was confidential. But the document Jeremy gave the committee said that there’d be some renovations to get in more seats and we’d look at hosting a couple of touring shows a year. He said about creating a pricing matrix and meeting spaces and things, but they’d all fit around the needs of the community. I don’t know if he presented anything different last night,’ she added, but all the confidence had gone from her voice now.

  Sid recognised the flicker of doubt that crossed Lottie’s features. ‘So you’ve no real idea how he’s going to make it successful?’

  Lottie shook her head. ‘He had a special letter from his solicitor in the pack asking for everything to be confidential. Something about commercial sensitivity.’

  Sid rolled his eyes. He wanted to clap his hands in front of her face and wake her up like a magician who’d put someone in a trance. ‘I can promise you, Lottie, if he runs it as a business he won’t make the theatre profitable through the local am dram’s twice-yearly productions. It’s one thing to give some money to fix the roof or change the carpet but another to buy it and run it as a business with the aim of making as much money as possible. What else is he going to do?’

  ‘I don’t know, exactly,’ she shouted, then pressed her hand to her forehead. ‘He said one or two touring shows around the am dram programme, but as long as the community still gets to use the theatre it can’t be bad.’

  ‘You tell yourself that, Lots, if it helps.’ Sid tried to control his voice, but it came out as a croak. ‘Tell me one thing, Lottie, if you really believe all this then why do you look so terrible. I can see from your eyes you haven’t slept.’

  She self-consciously tucked a hair behind her ear. ‘I just didn’t sleep well. I wasn’t sure about it at first but I’ve been through it all in my head – round and round, again and again – and I know he’s telling the truth. I know now this is the right thing to do.’

  ‘So you had some doubts?’ Sid asked. ‘What were they?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know, Sid.’ She reached her hand into her hair and scrunched some into her fist. ‘I wondered if this was the best thing for the town, I wondered what would happen if we didn’t approve his offer and what would happen to the theatre. I wondered what Nan would want or think or do. I’ve been through it all a hundred times and I really think this is the right answer. Nan would be happy.’

  The waver in her voice told him something different. ‘You don’t sound like you believe that last part.’

  ‘I do and I love him.’ She looked up. ‘If I don’t trust him, I don’t love him, do I?’

  Sid felt like Lottie had just plunged a knife into his chest. She couldn’t have hurt him more if she’d kicked him square in the goolies. ‘You love him this much, do you?’

  Lottie couldn’t meet his gaze but mumbled, ‘Yes.’

  Suddenly, Sid couldn’t stand to be there anymore. Looking at Lottie was breaking his heart. She’d been all he’d ever wanted and now she was saying those special words about someone else and possibly leaving the paper. If she quit that too he’d never see her. The last thing that had tied them together would be broken and without it they’d completely drift apart. His heart had been bruised and pummelled over the last year and now it was worn out and crushed. He had to leave, had to get out, and pushed past her as he headed for the door.

  Lottie reached out and tried to catch his arm but he wrenched it away. ‘Sid, please just wait a minute and let me explain better.’ As the door swung shut behind him, he could hear her shouting his name.

  Outside Sid gulped in the cold, fresh air before he got in his car and drove, not knowing where. The pressure built in his lungs and he wanted to shout and scream. Sid turned the corner and headed for the motorway. He had the address of Jeremy’s office in London but his telephone enquiries hadn’t given him anything, and he hadn’t had the chance to visit in person. He had to figure out what Jeremy’s real motive was. He never really seemed interested in Lottie or i
n making her happy. And now secretly buying the theatre. Sid had to do something. He wouldn’t let Jeremy break her heart though it might be too late for that.

  There was definitely more to this than just wanting to support the community. It was too much money and had been done too quickly. Jeremy’s vague ideas and assurances weren’t enough for Sid, and the council wouldn’t care – they’d take the money and run. Sid’s instincts were shouting it at him. He pressed the accelerator. Maybe he’d been looking in the wrong place and the answers he was searching for were in London, not in Greenley.

  Chapter 41

  ‘Oh, Nan,’ said Lottie, brushing grass from the base of the headstone. ‘What have I done? What on earth am I going to do?’ She stared unseeing at her nan’s name and tried in vain to keep the tears welling in her eyes from running down her face.

  The sky was dark and rain clouds gathered above. A cold wind cut round the fallen old gravestones and whipped through the churchyard blowing Lottie’s hair all over her face. It rustled the falling leaves blowing them to and fro on the ground and the air was heavy with decay. Lottie pulled the collar of her coat closer and hoped once more for some divine intervention. Lost in her own thoughts she could no longer imagine what her nan would have said to help, had she been alive.

  From the church, positioned as it was at the top of a hill, she could see the sea, a vast expanse of grey that crashed wildly with the rising wind. She knew she had to leave soon from the pinkness of her fingers and the numbness of her toes, but couldn’t bring herself to go home to an empty house and her mess of a life.

  ‘Come on, Nan,’ she said out loud, wiping her tears with the heel of her hand. ‘Can’t you come down and give me one last piece of advice?’ She gathered the dying remains of the last bunch of flowers she’d laid two weeks before. ‘I’m sure you’re having a lovely time in heaven but I could really use your help right now.’

  ‘The first thing your nan would say, dear, would be to go home and have a nice cup of tea to warm up,’ said Gregory from behind her.