“Abbie and I were on the second floor,” I went on. “We could see how the gargoyles were spewing water at a tremendous rate. However, there were a few that were right above us. They were blocked. Only a few drops came out of them. Jon said he saw broken branches falling onto the roof. Surely those branches damned up the water. You could not have foreseen this, Jai, nor could you have prevented it.”
“Nice try,” he said quietly. “This place ismyresponsibility. Keeping it in order ismyresponsibility. How can I not feel guilty?” He scratched his head and frowned. “Gargoyles aren’t typical to Georgian architecture. Perhaps this is why they failed.”
“Nonsense,” Cliff said. “It’s simply a stylistic choice. Gargoyles do the job of evacuating water from the roof just fine. Georgian homes are typically streamlined with little ornamentation, and they have simpler waterspouts, but the results are the same. Like Keely said, if branches damned up the water, there’s little you could have done.”
“The fact remains; the movie production is doomed now.”
“If I may,” Matt said as he stepped forward.
We all turned our eyes to him.
“I know that Moon Manor is difficult to replace, and I know that it has been your preferred working space, but if I may...I would like to offer you the services of my home, Barry Park. It would be my pleasure to have you move your film production to my home, Miss Keely. It is quite grand, even if I do say so myself. There’s plenty of room for everyone to stay and work.”
Darling quietly came forward. “He’s right.It is quite grand.”
I looked at her, wanting more than anything to accept their offer. But I dreaded hurting Ayra and Jai’s feelings.
“Truth be told,” Darling said. “Barry Park resembles Mansfield Park much more than Moon Manor does.”
Jai stepped forward. “You both are too kind and too modest. Not only is Barry Park grand, it is, without a doubt, much grander than Moon Manor. My home could easily fit into their east wing with room to spare.”
Matt chuckled but showed no haughtiness or condescension.
I looked at Jai, then Darling, then Matt who nodded as if to incite me to take on his invitation.
“Not only would it be a pleasure,” he said, taking my hand in his. “It would also be an honor to have you, your cast and your crew come to my home.”
TWO
Darling
––––––––
MATT AND I SAT IN THEback seat of Penny and Cliff’s car as we made our way to Barry Park. The ride would be short, I knew that. Soon we would arrive at a home for which I held mixed emotions.
I’d initially felt a thrill at the notion of returning to Barry Park. As Matt offered Keely the use of his childhood home, I remembered the lavish manor, so grand, so ostentatious.
