Hamlet’s Ghost

by Jane Tara

  Rhi felt like a bumbling teenager in the company of a rock star. “Yep. Parents. Brothers. They’ll survive.”

  “Pity.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Pity you left them behind. Your mother must’ve been upset about losing you.”

  “I’m hardly lost.” She should be so lucky.

  “Are you close to you mother?”

  “Do you work for the CIA?”

  He looked confused.

  “All the questions,” she clarified.

  “I’m like Magnum P.I. I always wanted a role on that show.”

  Rhi had no idea who that was, but she enjoyed watching him laugh at his own joke.

  They stared at each other for a moment, his eyes more intense than she was comfortable with. He seemed to sense that. “I’m sorry, it’s just you remind me of someone.”

  “Someone fabulous, I hope,” Rhi said.

  He didn’t answer. Instead, he leaned against a piece of an old set. “Have you thought about what play you’ll open with?”

  “I’m focusing on getting the theater up and running first.” Rhi flipped one of the theater seats down and perched on the edge of it.

  He moved to the front of the stage. “Surely you’ve thought about it.”

  “I have a few ideas.” But it was difficult to think when you didn’t have a brain. Why did she feel like such an idiot around him? Pull it together! “My main priority is to reopen the theater so it can generate an income.”

  “But you need a play. The town needs a show.” He lifted his arms to the sky, as if by doing so, one would magically appear.

  “True. And I’m certainly planning to—”

  “How about Hamlet?”

  “Hamlet? That’s an option.”

  “I think it would be perfect.”

  Rhi felt like she was in a dream. Work brain, work! “Yes, you’re right. The Hamlet Majestic…Hamlet.” It wasn’t a bad idea. A tricky play to stage. She’d research the demographics more first. From what she’d read about the town she was leaning toward an American classic, something that would be popular with everyone, such as You Can’t Take it With You, or Our Town, or something by Sam Shepard.

  “I’ll think about Hamlet. Thanks for the suggestion,” she said evasively.

  “Rhi, are you here?” Annie’s voice rang out through the foyer.

  Rhi spun around. “Annie?”

  “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you soon, Rhiannon.”

  Rhi turned. “How did you know my name?” But he was gone. Rhi shook her head then laughed. Of course he knew her name, from the contracts.

  “Rhi?” Annie’s voice bounced off the walls.

  “I’m in here, Annie.”

  Annie and Tye entered the hall. Once again, Tye was wearing cargo pants and a tight sweater, which said, An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.

  Annie gave Rhi a hug. “How does it feel to be a local?”

  “A little daunting today.”

  “And you’ve met Tye?” Annie asked.

  “Yes, of course. Fabulous coffee.” Rhi’s eyes flickered down to Tye’s bare feet. “No shoes.”

  “We wanted to let you know we’ve organized a posse of helpers for Saturday,” Tye explained.

  Rhi was lost. “What for?”

  “To help clean this place up,” Annie explained. “You can’t do it alone.”

  “Oh Annie, that’s really lovely but I couldn’t possibly put you all out.”

  Tye sat on the stage and stretched her long legs. She exuded laid back. “It’s the way things are done round here, Rhi.”

  Rhi sat in one of the front-row seats. She was feeling a little strange.

  “Are you okay? You look pale,” said Annie.

  “The owner just scared the hell out of me. Turned up to say hi.”

  “Who? Tad?”

  “I thought his name was William.” Rhi couldn’t remember Tad on the contract.

  “William Daniels…everyone calls him Tad. You positive it was him?”

  “Tall, dark…um, rather nice looking?” Rhi blushed again and silently cursed herself for being so obvious. How typical to fall for a pretty face—and broad chest.

  Annie and Tye glanced at each other and burst out laughing.

  “Sounds like Tad to me,” said Tye. “Makes Joe Manganiello look ordinary.”

  “Don’t be embarrassed, Rhi, Tad has that effect on every woman he meets…well, except me, of course,” chuckled Annie.

  “Why not you?” asked Rhi. “Are you blind?”

  “Tad’s my cousin.”

  “Your cousin owns this theater?”

  Annie looked sheepish. “Yes.”

  “Does your family own everything in town?”

  “Not yet.”

  “No wonder you got him to sign it over to me.”

  “Are you serious? When I asked him if he wanted to rent this place to you, his exact words were, ‘When hell freezes over.’ So I got Tye to speak to him. He listens to her.”

  Rhi felt an annoying tug of envy in her gut. “Are you and Tad…?”

  “Together? Doing the wild thang? Good god, no,” laughed Tye. “We grew up together. And we’re in a band together. He’s like my brother.”

  “Sounds like one big family,” Rhi said.

  Annie drifted off to the side of the stage. “I’m surprised he came here.”

  “He wanted to make sure he’d rented it to the right person,” said Rhi.

  “I guess there’s a first time for everything.”

  “First time?” Rhi looked from Annie to Tye.

  “Tad hasn’t set foot in this place for over twenty-five years,” explained Annie. “There’s a history here.”

  “What sort of history?”

  Annie and Tye gazed at the patch in the ceiling. Tye turned away, silent.

  Then Annie sat back down on the edge of the stage. “Tad’s father, my uncle, died here. The ceiling collapsed. I was only three and I can’t remember it—or him. Tad was five. He was standing in the wings and saw everything. His mother closed the theater down and kept it for him. When he turned twenty-one, she gave him the keys and told him to sell it. He couldn’t sell. He hasn’t been able to let go…but he hasn’t been back here either. So we thought.”

  “What about you?” asked Rhi, horrified.

  Annie’s black curls bounced as she shook her head. “No. I’m fine. As I said, I can’t remember the accident or my uncle. It only affects me because I love Tad. I would never have suggested that he reopen the place, but then you bounded into my office, full of life and enthusiasm, and I figured it was just what the old Majestic needed. It needs to come back to life.”

  “Are you sure this is okay? I feel like I’m stirring up the past.”

  Tye looked Rhi straight in the eye. “Sometimes you have no choice.”

  Chapter 11

  Annie and Tye arrived as promised, bright and early on Saturday morning. Annie was decked out in overalls, her hair pulled back in a baseball cap. Tye was in old patched jeans and her usual ‘statement’ sweater. This one said Fur is Dead. The woman was a walking Greenpeace billboard. They were carrying coffee, cake and two bottles of red wine.

  “The coffee is for before two o’clock, the wine is for after two and the cake is for any time,” explained Tye.

  “Or was it the wine is for any time?” Annie asked in mock confusion.

  Tye looked around at the theater. “Perhaps we should crack open a bottle now, to help with the job ahead.”

  Rhi laughed. “It would take more than two bottles.”

  “So what do you want done?” asked Annie.

  Rhi led Annie and Tye into the front office and pointed out a huge mound of hardware supplies.

  “My, what a lot of tools you have,” Annie said.

  “Elijah down at Henderson Hardware delivered for me.”

  “You obviously made an impact. He doesn’t deliver for his mother.”

  “His mother never spends that much mon
ey at his shop,” Tye pointed out.

  “He sure liked me more once he knew what I was buying.” Rhi had forked out a small fortune on tools and cleaning equipment. She’d also got a quote on some paints. It wouldn’t be cheap but she didn’t care. “It’s about time I spent money on something worthwhile, rather than purses and shoes.”

  “We hear you, honey,” Annie said. “I collect real estate and Tye doesn’t even buy shoes.”

  “I do…I just rarely wear them.”

  “Don’t your feet get cold?” Rhi had to ask.

  “Sometimes. And when they do, I put boots on.” Tye grinned at Rhi. “I have shoes with me. I don’t want a rusty nail in my foot.”

  Annie marched over to the hardware and started looking through it. “You have everything you need here.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I’ve renovated four places now.”

  “So I’ll just leave this to you?” Rhi said.

  Annie laughed. “No thanks. All yours. Just means I have an idea of what you’re in for.” She flicked on a light switch. “You got the power on.”

  “And had the wiring checked. Annabelle was right, the wiring is good.” Rhi raised her hands to the sky. “And now we have light.”

  “I notice Dan delivered the dumpsters.”

  “Yep.”

  “Then let’s get to it. This place needs to be cleared.”

  Tye and Annie looked at each other and nodded.

  Rhi led them back into the theater. “The roof and foundations are rock solid. The craftsmanship is incredible. There are a few areas where the wood has rotted and needs fixing, plus there’s the…ceiling above the stage. I’ll rebuild it properly.”

  “Good idea,” said Annie.

  “We can rip the curtains down. I bought some material in New York and took the measurements to the shop on Lincoln Street here. The lady said she’d have them finished early next week.”

  Annie nodded approvingly. “Glenda could sew the ear back on Van Gogh. She’ll do a good job. What about the windows?”

  “The boards need to come off and I’ll get Glenda to make black curtains. They’ll keep the theater dark when we need it and can be pulled back when we want some light.”

  Annie walked over to one of the windows. “Who’s your contractor?”

  “Harris and Sons.”

  Annie nodded her approval. “Bobby Harris will check to make sure none of the windows need to be completely replaced.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Heating bills in winter. If this place is secure, it will be easier to heat it…and if it’s warm, people will still come to the theater.”

  Rhi was impressed. “How do you know so much?”

  “Real estate is my thang.”

  “And she’s like the Rainwoman of renovation,” Tye added.

  Annie turned and looked up at the tech box. “Can’t help you with that though.”

  “I’ve organized a guy I know from New York to come up and help with the tech box, but that won’t be for a few weeks.

  “The whole place needs to be checked for lead,” Annie said.

  “I’ve already spoken to Bobby and he’ll organize that.”

  Annie smiled. “We’ve got a big job ahead of us.”

  “I don’t expect you to…”

  Tye and Annie shared a look and then beamed at Rhi.

  “We want to help,” Annie said. “It’s going to be fun.”

  Tye rolled her eyes and scanned the theater. “Let’s not exaggerate.”

  “By the way,” said Annie, “I’ve roped in some help and they’ll be here around noon.”

  “Oh, I’d hate to put anyone else out,” said Rhi.

  Tye gave a snort. “It’s only Sam and Jake Knight and they’ll do anything to be near Annie.”

  “I grew up with them both. Jake was in my year at school, Sam a year above us.”

  “And both have been mooning over her since back then,” Tye said.

  “That’s only because there is a tragic lack of available women in Hamlet. Perhaps Rhi might be interested in one of them.”

  “Or both.”

  Rhi shook her head. “No, thanks. I’ve just left one relationship and have no desire for another. What about you, Tye?”

  “Single and intending to stay that way.”

  “Rubbish,” Annie said. “You’re just waiting for that guy you dream about.”

  “You dream about someone?” Rhi asked.

  “Yeah, and I figure I’ll know it when I meet him.”

  “If you meet him. I dream about Johnny Depp and he’s yet to visit town,” Annie said.

  Rhi laughed. “These Knight brothers are all yours, Annie.”

  Sam and Jake Knight rocked up right on the dot of twelve. They were similar in looks and character: tall, broad shouldered, blond and partial to clowning around. Sam was a couple of years older and seemed slightly more laid back than his rambunctious younger brother. Rhi liked them both immediately, but she wasn’t attracted to either of them. Besides, it was immediately obvious that they both only had eyes for Annie.

  “You just tell us what to do, Rhi,” Sam said as he shook her hand.

  “Because they like being bossed around,” Tye said.

  “Only by a pretty lady,” said Jake.

  Annie turned her head and picked up some pliers.

  The five of them barely drew breath all day. They carried debris out to the dumpsters, tore old boards away from windows, cleaned vents and swept floors. Jake and Sam kept the women entertained, and were always on hand to lift something heavy.

  Rhi watched as they joked and teased Annie. There didn’t seem to be an ounce of rivalry between the brothers, despite their obvious affection for the same girl. She flirted and deflected their attentions with ease. It was obviously a pattern of behavior perfected over the years. Rhi was tempted to tune in and find out which one of these men would end up with Annie. She felt fate, or perhaps Annie had already made a choice. But before she could, she felt someone staring at her. She turned and locked eyes with Tye, who gave her a small nod before turning back to her work.

  By five o’clock they had only begun to scrape the surface of what needed to be done, yet already the theater seemed different. Everyone agreed a drink was in order so Tye did the honors and opened a bottle of red. She poured the wine into plastic cups then everyone lifted their cups for a toast.

  “To Rhi, for moving to town,” Annie added.

  “To Rhi,” said Tye.

  They clinked cups and Rhi surreptitiously blinked tears back.

  “To the old Majestic and the new Majestic,” Sam said. “We’ll help out whatever way we can.”

  “Because there’s nothing I enjoy more than back-breaking work on my day off,” Jake finished.

  “Hear, hear,” Tye said.

  “What do you guys do?” Rhi asked.

  “We own Knight and Day Music,” Sam said.

  “The music shop on Main Street?”

  “That’s right—you want a big instrument, you come to us,” Jake joked.

  “Yeah, yeah, and we give lessons too.”

  Tye turned to Rhi. “These guys are in my band. We’ve got a gig tonight. You should come.”

  Annie clapped her hands together. “Yes, Rhi, please come.”

  Rhi was so tired she was tempted to just go home to bed but she was also excited by the prospect of spending more time with these people. They had a long history together, yet they were willing to fling open the doors of friendship and welcome her into their lives. It was an odd feeling. There was no reserve with them, no pretence. They were take it or leave it and from what Rhi had seen so far, she wanted to take it.

  Rhi liked Annie. She was a compact ball of energy topped with a mop of curls. Her immaculate clothes, nails and makeup screamed high maintenance, but in reality she was relaxed and fun, with a quick wit and an open mind.

  And then there was Tye, with the body of a Greek war goddess and the eyes of
a mystic. She had the gift. Rhi recognized it in her, and Tye had seen it in Rhi. But she hadn’t said anything and Rhi trusted she wouldn’t.

  Rhi felt an immediate connection to both these women. She wanted to know them more. She was fascinated by, and even a little envious of, their ease and affection with each other. It was a reminder of Victoria’s betrayal, but also had her questioning how close she’d actually been to the woman she’d called her best friend. They’d gone through the motions of friendship for years, but watching Annie and Tye together, Rhi realized she and Victoria had lacked that genuine warmth. These women, and their friendship, left her feeling slightly on the outer, wanting to join in. She felt like she was in high school, without the bitching and padded bras.

  Hamlet, the theater, and these people had switched on a light. Rhi was no longer simply going through the motions. She was actually excited by the moment and the prospect of what tomorrow would bring. Or tonight, for that matter.

  Rhi poured herself another wine. “What time does this gig start?”

  Chapter 12

  Rhi and Annie pushed their way through the crowd to the bar.

  “Is it always like this on the weekend?” Rhi asked.

  “Oh no! In the summer it gets really packed,” Annie called over her shoulder. “O’Reilly’s is a local favorite. And when Ceridwen plays, everyone comes to listen.”

  “Are they that good?”

  “Jake and Sam are decent musicians and could charm a snake, but Tad and Tye are the main event.” Annie waved her manicured hand at the barman. “Stan, has there ever been a barman as handsome as thee?”

  The bartender spotted Annie and headed straight to her. He was huge and red: his shirt was red, his skin had a reddish tint, his large nose was deep red and he had a mop of red hair. “The gorgeous Annie! What would you like?”

  “I’ll have a couple of glasses of that Californian Merlot I like so much.”

  Stan grabbed a bottle of wine and began to uncork it. As he did, he turned to two men slouched against the bar and barked, “Dom, Erich, where are your manners? Off those stools and let the ladies sit down.”

  Dom and Erich didn’t argue. It was obvious that no one argued with Stan.

  “By the way, Stan, this is Rhi.” Annie raised her voice over the noise. “She’s a local now so you’d better get used to her face.”