Chapter 6 | Holly
SIX
Holly
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SUSAN AND I STOOD IN the front foyer, Mother in her wheelchair between us. Holding hands, we said goodbye to the house that held so many cherished memories.
“If that Baker person thinks that he’s going to get a fully furnished house,” Mother said, her eyes hard and her lips in a grimace, “he’s in for quite a surprise.”
“I hate this,” I muttered. “I hate having to leave this behind, but I hate having to leave this to a total stranger even more. Who does he think he is? What is he going to do with it now? A hotel? A museum? Does he have a family... children? Will they move in and create new memories in a house that isn’t rightfully theirs.
” I stomped my foot. “Oh, I hate it all!”
We had no idea why we were losing our home. Mr. Baker had made no mention of how he’d acquired our home. All we’d been told at the reading of Father’s will was that the title to the home was no longer his and therefore, could not be ours.
I wanted to question Susan more on her relationship with Bradley and how it had led to us being expelled so unexpectedly, but she was unusually quiet and sullen, and I thought it best to leave her to her thoughts.
“Let’s get out of here before I say something I’ll regret,” Mother said.
Susan and I knew she was angry with Father, upset that he should let this happen. He’d always said his family was his priority, but we now knew that wasn’t quite true. No. It was not true at all. Had it ever been?
We turned and Susan opened the door. I wheeled Mother to the van where the waiting driver helped us get her inside.
The hired van was to take us and all our luggage to Derbyshire.
Mother and Susan each had three suitcases that fit neatly at the back of the van.
I, however, having a more extensive wardrobe, had five large suitcases plus a trunk filled with shoes and handbags, leaving us to sit side by side on the cramped middle seat of the van.
I had tried to convince the driver to let one of us sit in front, but he maintained that his trusted dog, Butler, was the only one allowed that privilege.
Clearly, he didn’t want to be bothered by having to converse with a chatty passenger at his side. Pity; he was kind of cute.
The ride out of Bath left Mother teary-eyed, but as we crossed the luscious countryside and neared Derbyshire, her spirits rose.
“This is quite lovely,” she said. “Oh, and look at that country home. Very nice, indeed.”
It pleased me to see her in good spirits. The past week and a half had been difficult. Getting rid of Father’s things had been excruciating. She’d wanted to keep every shirt. Then she’d chosen only a few of her favorites. In the end, she knew there was no point keeping any of them.
“We’ve now entered the property of Moon Manor,” the driver called out.
“Oh, Mother,” I said, suddenly overflowing with excitement.
“Isn’t this fabulous? Look at the spectacular grounds.
Those lakes and that one with a bridge. Oh my!
Wasn’t that in Pride and Prejudice? It is all so grand.
It’s like living in a Jane Austen novel!
Enough to forget the heartache of leaving Selma Sanctuary behind. ”
Mother nodded, her gaze set straight ahead, waiting for the first glimpse of Moon Manor itself.
And then there it was, majestic under the sharp rays of the evening sun. The home was large and imposing. Some might even say it was cold and austere... uninviting. But judging by the number of cars parked at the front of the building, the Manor was, indeed, welcoming.
The van came to a stop, and we stepped out, the driver once again helping us as we got Mother out and settled her in her wheelchair.
We looked up at the wall of cut stone and the dozens of windows that peered down on us.
“Every single window on the higher levels have yellow curtains,” Mother marveled. “I suspect they wanted to lighten up the place. The ivy growing along the walls and flowers...just lovely.”
“Let’s go inside and see,” Susan suggested.
She’d made a quick call to Keely to tell her of our immediate eviction, and she’d assured Susan that Moon Manor was ready and waiting for us.
Keely must have told Ayra of our mother’s condition for a makeshift ramp was set securely over one side of the steps to make it easier to get Mother in and out of the home. I wheeled her up the ramp to the front door.
Susan lifted the heavy knocker off the wooden door and let it fall with a loud bang. Seconds later, the door opened.
A beautiful young woman, her jet-black hair in a thick braid that trailed over her breast and onward to her waist, smiled at us. Her big, green eyes took us in for a confused second and then she realized who we were.
“Oh, my,” she said. “You must be the Selmas. Yes. Yes. Keely told me you’d be arriving today.”
“I hope we’re not too early,” Susan said.
“No. It’s perfect. You’re right in time for dinner. We’ll just get you all settled in, and you can come join us.”
“Are you Ayra?” I said. “The music arranger?”
Ayra smiled. “Yes. That’s right. You must be Holly, our new singer. I’m the one who contacted you. We finally meet.”
“Yes!” I couldn’t hold back a smile.
“Well, welcome to Moon Manor!” Ayra said. “My husband Jai and my home that doubles as a hotel.”
“Your hotel is beautiful,” I said. “Everything looks so well-kept and in good condition, not like Selma, oh, ouch!”
I glared at Susan, whose foot suddenly clamped down on top of my right one.
We followed Ayra inside.
“Thank you,” Mother said once inside the manor. “I have to be honest with you. I’ve never had anyone go to the trouble of setting out a ramp for me. Usually, when faced with stairs, I have to hobble out of my chair, lean onto the girls to get me up the steps and then fall back into my chair again.”
“We want you to be as comfortable as possible, Mrs. Selma,” Ayra said. “And I will tell you right now... if you need anything, day or night, anything at all, you let us know. We have a very good and helpful staff here that is well accustomed to tending to the needs of our visitors.”
“Thank you so much, Ayra,” I said, grateful for her kind ways with my mother.
“Ayra?” Mother said with curious interest. “What kind of name is that?”
“Mother!” Susan said.
“It’s just so pretty and unique. I’ve never heard of it before,” Mother said.
“No worries,” Ayra said. “I am very proud to tell you that I am of Indian heritage. Although I was born in the United States, my mother is from India. As for my name, my mother always told me Ayra meant the breath of life. There are some from other origins who will say it means respectable or honorable. Either way, it’s all good stuff. ”
“Indeed. And where is your father from?”
Ayra smiled and patted Mother’s hand. “How about we keep that story for another time.”
Mother smiled and it was clear she was very taken with the young woman.
“I’ll show you to the elevator,” Ayra said.
“You are all on the third floor, on the back side of Moon Manor where you’ll have a splendid view of the grounds.
Mrs. Selma, you have room 330 and I am certain you will enjoy the oversized windows.
You should have everything you need, but if you don’t. ..”
“I will let you know,” Mother finished with a shy grin.
“That’s right.” Ayra handed her a keycard.
“Holly, since we’ll be working together quite a bit, I put you closer to my quarters in room 377.”
“Great. I can’t wait to get started.” I eagerly took the keycard Ayra offered.
“And as for you, Susan, since you’ll be taking care of the financial aspect of this production, I’ve put you in room 327. You’ll be a few doors down from your mother, but the room has an adjacent office that is well equipped; phones, computers, printers... all that good stuff.”
“Thank you,” Susan quietly said.
“I’ll have your luggage brought up to you and my husband, Jai, and I will meet you for dinner in our private dining room. See you then.”
She left us and we boarded the elevator.
On the third floor we stepped out. Immediately opposite the elevator was a large floor-to-ceiling window that left us all in awe.
“Look at that,” Mother said as she wheeled her way to the window.
The grounds of Moon Manor were on full display below us.
The gardens were immaculate and filled with brilliant colors.
Beyond the gardens was the forest and beyond that the town of Derby and beyond that, Birmingham or Coventry, if we faced the south.
Or perhaps Sheffield or Manchester if it was the north we were looking out at.
I looked at the sun and determined that the window faced the east.. . towards Nottingham then.
“I bet on a clear day we could see Selma Sanctuary from up here,” I ventured.
Susan smiled but said nothing. Susan was pretty quiet on most days, but today Susan was being a little bit more quiet. Hard to explain, but something was off.
“I do believe that’s Selma Sanctuary right there,” I ventured again. Of course, I knew it was impossible to see our home from this far away. We were miles away.
Surely, I was way off course and Selma Sanctuary was in no way visible, but Susan said nothing to correct me.
“I think I may spend the better part of my days just sitting here looking out at all this splendor,” Mother said.
“Well,” I said, all glee and excitement as I skipped away. “I’m going to go see my room. See you later.”
*****
I STRUGGLED TO FIND the appropriate outfit to wear to dinner. Our quick expulsion from our house had left me with no time to change into anything adequate. Besides, the long drive out would have left me crinkled and wrinkled all the same.