Page 68 of Summer at Croftwood Cinema
When he put it like that, she agreed with him but she had promised Rosemary in that moment of weakness after she’d been so helpful. It seemed safer to have her at the dry run than risk there being any actual customers around the first time she saw the place.
‘I thought it’d be a nice gesture after her helping me out. And she did tip us off about the balustrade.’
Oliver raised an eyebrow. They were all in love with the balustrade. ‘Okay, I suppose you’re right. You’re giving her the grand tour though, not me.’
‘Alright. Now get your bloody apron on and start doing some work. I’m doing you a favour filling in so Jack can have the day off.’
‘A favour so he can work at the cinema tonight? For the person who didn’t think gate-crashers could be a possibility,’ he teased her.
‘Oh shut up. Bet you a deep-clean of the coffee machine that we don’t get any gate-crashers.’ Patsy and Oliver both hated that job and sadly hadn’t got around to teaching Jack how to do it yet.
‘You’re on.’ Oliver slapped the laptop closed and stashed it under the counter before he donned his apron and started grating cheese. ‘I’m looking forward to tonight.’
‘Yeah, me too. I’d rather be enjoying the night than in charge of it but if it goes smoothly enough hopefully it’ll be a bit of both.’
‘I’m glad we’re doing this. It would have been so stressful if the first thing we did was the launch event next week.’
‘We need to see how the kitchen’s going to run, that’s the most important thing.’
‘Fair play, Pats. I thought tonight would be a hard deadline to meet.’
Patsy blushed but was chuffed to bits. ‘Once we got started it was just making sure everything got done in the right order and having a plan.’
‘I know that, but some of the best project managers don’t manage to hit deadlines as tight as that and it’s your first project. It’s a massive achievement.’
‘Thanks, Ollie. That means a lot.’
‘Once tonight is over we can start marketing and promoting. Oh, I meant to tell you, I’m paying that photographer from the paper to take some publicity shots at the launch. Hopefully we’ll get into the paper again.’
Patsy shuddered. The last time she’d been in the paper it hadn’t worked out that well for her but she recognised the huge value it would bring to the cinema to have the launch publicised.
‘Look, you don’t have to be in any photos, if you’re worried,’ said Oliver.
‘It’s okay, it makes no difference now. He knows where I am and I think if he turned up again, it’d be okay.’
‘Well, as long as you’re happy. Have a word with Pete at the start and let him know if you want him to avoid you in the shots.’
‘I think I’m past being scared, Ollie. I’m not going to be forced into looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life. I don’t know whether it’s the cinema or what, but I feel strong.’
‘I don’t know what it is either but you’ve got stronger by yourself. You took on this massive challenge and it’s been a triumph.’
‘Okay, steady, we don’t know whether it’s a triumph yet, let’s hold off on the self-congratulation for now.’
But Patsy was proud of what she’d done. And proud of how she felt. The cinema had seemed like a huge step outside her comfort zone when Oliver had first landed the idea on her but it had been the making of her and she could see how she had been hiding from life since she’d come back to Croftwood. And she still would be if it wasn’t for Oliver encouraging her out of her comfort zone with the cinema.
‘I’m just going to drop the lunch sandwiches round to Jess’s.’
She packed the sandwiches in a large paper bag and without bothering to take her apron off, left the shop and ran straight into Toby.
‘Patsy, good to see you,’ he said with a smile. ‘How are things?’
‘Oh, good thanks. I’m sure Oliver will mention it but we’re having a dry run at the cinema tonight. You’re welcome to come along if you’d like to? It’s a test night for friends and locals.’
‘Thanks, I’d love that.’
‘Cool. I’ll see you later then.’
Patsy carried on to the Haberdashery, pleased that Toby was coming. Hopefully Oliver wouldn’t mind; they needed plenty of friendly faces.
