We parked the car behind Matt’s and got out, as did the cast and crew that pulled up behind us.
“Welcome to your new home,” Matt said as he got out of his silver Bentley Continental GT and quickly came to us. “I’ve sent word that we’d have a large number of guests, but, as you can imagine, the staff hasn’t yet had time to prepare all the rooms.”
“That’s quite understandable,” I said.
“But your room, dear mother-to-be, is already awaiting your arrival. You are to take the master of all master bedrooms.”
I shook my head. “You don’t have to do that, Matt. I may be a finicky boss lady when it comes to my movies, but my personal needs are quite modest.”
Hugh chuckled. “Don’t believe her. While she may not be as finicky in her personal needs as she is with her movies, she does, indeed, enjoy her many creature comforts.”
“Then, please, Miss Keely,” Matt said, offering me his arm. “Allow me to personally show you to your room.”
With Hugh just a step behind us, we walked into his home and entered a veritable Christmas wonderland. Rich green garlands, massive gold bows, tiny twinkling lights and two large Christmas trees filled with beautiful ornaments greeted us.
“And this is what your place looks like when you’re not expecting guests?”Hugh said with a chuckle.
“Christmas has always been a cherished family tradition,” Matt said as he led us to the wide winding staircase. “Over the years we’ve acquired more and more ornaments, a few more Christmas trees and I do believe we now have enough garland to make it all the way back to Moon Manor.”
We reached the second floor, turned to the right and entered the third door.
“And here is your luxury suite, Madame.”
“Wow,” I let out. “This is, indeed, quite the luxury suite.”
The room was more opulent and luxurious than any hotel room I’d ever slept in. Surprisingly contemporary in its décor, the large room was warm with its soft caramel-colored walls, deep brown hardwood floors and simple trimmings. With a king-sized bed and its silk upholstered headboard, the gray dresser and wardrobe, and the white leather love seats in the sitting area, the space nonetheless had many reminders of years past. The lamps on either side of the bed were clearly antique as was the writing desk by one of the many windows. The walls were unadorned save for one singular but enormous painting; an abstract landscape in brilliant blues and greens.
“Do you think you can be comfortable here?”Matt said as I walked around the love seat and ran my hand over the glass topped coffee table.
“I may never want to leave,” I said.
*****
IT DIDN’T TAKE LONGfor everyone to settle into Barry Park and for the set designers and construction crew to get to work.
“I have to admit,” Abbie said as I watched the workers transforming a drawing room to something a little more modest. “The flood at Moon Manor may actually turn out to be the best thing to happen to this production.”
Ayra joined us. “I heard that,” she said with a teasing chuckle.
Abbie blushed slightly. “You know what I mean.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Ayra said.“I understand...not only that, I agree. This place is so much more lavish than Moon Manor. I spoke to the set decorator who said the place is so perfect, we’ll have only a very few changes to make.”
I pointed to the workers. “And it appears that the changes to be made will be to make some of these rooms more suitable for the scenes that take place in more modest homes.”
Together, we wandered through the home, plotting out which scenes would be shot in which room. We looked at color schemes, lighting, furniture placement and the overall layout of the rooms.
“I think it would be nice if the harp and piano were moved to this room,” I said. “It’s large, the windows offer ample light, and I like the unusual U shape of the room. There’s something soft and relaxing about the space.”
As we moved on, we passed workers painting a wall, covering the bright red with a soft blue. Others were putting up wallpaper that had delicate little yellow flowers. All this was under the watchful eye of the set decorator who guided the necessary transformations.
The bulk of the cast were hard at work rehearsing some of the more intricate scenes. I could hear familiar words and phrases coming from various actors. Jane’s words: some of them just as she had written them, some of them slightly altered.
“It’s as if the flood at Moon Manor had never happened,” I said in a hushed tone as I looked at all the activity around me. “Everything is carrying on as it should.” Realizing what I’d just said, I turned to Ayra. “I’m so sorry. How insensitive of me. Of course, I’ll be sure to send the construction crew back to Moon Manor to help Jai repair Moon Manor.”
“I appreciate that, and I’m sure Jai does as well.” She held up her phone and waved it back and forth. “But he sent me a message a few moments ago and the damage isn’t as bad as it looked last night. Granted, it will still require work, but the remainder of the house wasn’t affected by the water.”
“That’s good to hear.”
