He looked at me and smiled. “It’s good to see you so fulfilled, Darling. Despite always being reserved and hidden in the shadows, you’ve always had an artistic flair, and I’ve often wondered where that flair would lead you. This movie...this role is so you.”
I pressed a tense smile, fearful this may be the end of the line for my artistic flair. When would a chance like this come again?
“How can we convince your father to allow us to continue?”I said.
“You said Kenneth was doing much better.”
I nodded. “He is.”
“Good enough to return to California...and bring my father with him?”
I laughed. “I don’t really think he’s that well. I mean, he hasn’t even come down for dinner yet, never mind flying back to America.”
He shrugged and sighed. “You know, I’ve grown quite fond of having this big, old place all to myself...and the cast and crew, of course.”
“Of course,” I echoed with a grin.
He chuckled but said nothing.
“We need to tap into your father’s ego,” I said. “Perhaps one of the prop guys could make a mockup poster centered around Barry Park.”
“Maybe.”
“You mentioned fatigue. Perhaps after a good night’s sleep he’ll reconsider, and we won’t have to fuss at all.”
“That’s wishful thinking if ever I saw it.”
“Okay, what if we set up a meeting...you know, fine cigars and aged whiskey...between your father and Hugh. Then, they could talk it out.”
“I doubt that would work.”
The door to the library creaked open.
“Who enters?”Matt called out.
No response.
Matt grasped the armrests of the chair and prepared to rise. “Who is there?”
He stood when no answer came. “Who...?”
“Don’t get your boxer briefs all in a bunch. It’s just me, little brother.”
I turned to see Britney peeking around one of the many columns in the library.
“What are you doing here, Brit?”Matt said. “We’re not seven years old anymore. Isn’t time you grew up?”
“Oh, stop being such a fuddy-duddy. You would love to be seven years old again.” She glanced at me with that same grin of disdain I knew so well. “Wouldn’t you, Dar-r-ling?”
As a child, I’d quickly learned to hate, positively loath the way she would say my name, and that hatred had not diminished one bit.
She swaggered closer, bright and bubbly in her pink and yellow jumper. “I hear that Father isn’t too happy with you and your band of friends, dear little brother.”
“He’s just a bit confused with everything that’s going on. He arrived unexpectedly, is fatigued and no doubt concerned with Kenneth’s condition.”
“Right. Confused,” Britney said with complete lack of conviction. “Fatigued.”
“Darling and I are going to find a way to convince him to allow us all to stay. This production is too important.”
