Chapter Twenty-Three #2
‘That’s right. I think you’re a talented draughtsperson who found yourself on the multimedia and fine art course when you should have been honing your illustration skills.
I’ve spoken to the tutor on the illustration course here at Truro and she would be delighted to have you.
I want to stress that I will work with you on your final piece if that’s what you want and do my very best to hone your work.
But I think it might be a good idea, given the work you’ve produced this past few weeks, to reconsider the course.
The illustration tutor thinks, and I agree, that it is really quite extraordinary. ’
‘Really?’ whispered Ivy. ‘You don’t think I’m a failure?’
‘Far from it. You’ve got a flair for illustration, and clearly, a strong eye for atmosphere and character. Now, tell me more about this show.’
‘It just finished,’ Ivy said, laughing shakily. ‘We’re having the after-party. But it was great. I painted backdrops, made costumes, even made a big … er, papier-maché fish pie.’
Jess laughed. ‘A Stargazy Pie, by any chance?’
Ivy nodded. ‘That’s the one.’
‘Well, Ivy, it’s a big decision, so I’ll give you a few days to decide.
’ Jess’s voice down the phone was warm and encouraging.
‘But I will say this. You’re clearly talented.
You’ve got strong instincts, and it’s obvious that, whatever happened last term in Truro, you’ve reconnected with what inspires you. That matters more than you realise.’
Ivy let out a breath. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered. ‘So, you won’t fail me?’
Jess laughed. ‘Not after this project. I have a feeling you’ve only just got going.’
Ivy felt something bloom in her chest. Not just relief – that the tutors still thought she had talent – but excitement. At all the ideas to come, the projects to embark on, the dust-filled, held-together-with-masking-tape shows she could see through to their joyful end.
‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘Really. I was worried you’d think it was silly. Just drawings of the people in my town.’
She could hear the smile in Jess’s voice. ‘The world needs artists who can find the extraordinary in the everyday. Speak soon, Ivy. Now go and enjoy yourself at that after-party.’
As she walked back into the hall, Ivy sensed a shift in the atmosphere. A buzz, bigger even than the one accompanying Lou and Simi’s announcement. The excited chatter was almost at fever pitch, but she couldn’t work out what it was about. She caught snatches.
‘… Filming starting next spring!’
‘Do you think the stars will come into the café?’
‘Or take surf lessons?’
‘Ivy, get over here,’ said Erin, waving frantically from the stage. ‘This is important.’
‘What?’ said Ivy, heading over and hopping up to sit beside her.
‘Have you heard?’ Erin looked even more animated than usual. ‘Did you know?’
‘Heard what?’ asked Ivy, bewildered. ‘Know what? What’s going on?’
‘Brooke!’ Callum cried. ‘She’s a secret agent. Sort of.’
‘Make that a secret top Hollywood exec,’ said Erin. ‘Slow down, Cal, and tell her from the start.’
‘I follow Kathleen Lee on insta,’ Callum said breathlessly, ‘and look at this! Posted just now.’
He held out his phone. It was Kathleen Lee’s account, showing a picture of something that Ivy recognised – white sands, peaceful water.
‘Read the caption,’ Callum said.
Ivy read it aloud. ‘The moment I’ve been waiting for – and I know you all have too. Filming for Ocean Deep starts in the spring! But I bet you can’t guess where we’re filming …’
Ivy looked up. ‘Hang on. But that’s …’
‘The hidden cove here at Fox Bay!’ Erin replied. ‘I cornered Brooke just now and she confirmed everything. Brooke’s been here in Fox Bay on a mission! For Hollywood! All this time. Can you believe it?’
Ivy tried to gather herself and failed. This was all too much after the call she had just had. ‘Wait, what? Brooke is a Hollywood exec?’
‘She’s big-time Hollywood,’ Mei said, eyes wide with conspiratorial excitement.
‘They’re in production for an adaptation of Ocean Deep and she’s been secretly scouting the town.
Kathleen Lee described it as exactly how she imagined the town in the book, so Brooke came to Cornwall to check it out.
Apparently she went to other places too, but Fox Bay won. ’
‘She said it was perfect.’ Callum waved his phone at Ivy. ‘Look. There’s a Variety article up. Shooting is set to begin next spring on the hotly anticipated new adaptation of Kathleen Lee’s biggest book to date, Ocean Deep.’
Ivy took the phone and began to read:
Fans of Kathleen Lee can rest easy. Not only has the location been announced but it’s one that Ocean Deep fans will be very happy about: Fox Bay, in picturesque Cornwall, a name familiar to those in the know.
Producer Brooke Wakefield, who chose the location after an intense search, says, ‘I can see why Kathleen fell in love with Fox Bay and I did too. The landscape, the locals, the charm. I can think of no more perfect setting than this in which to bring Kathleen’s book to life.
’ Fox Bay won’t know what’s hit it when filming starts next spring – but one thing’s for sure, with a cast tipped to include some of Hollywood’s hottest up-and-coming stars, things in the sleepy little town won’t be the same again! ’
Ivy looked up, dazed, and handed the phone back to Callum. ‘But why didn’t Brooke tell us?’ she said.
‘Apparently, she had to keep it an absolute secret in case anything was leaked and ruined things. But she told us she went to London last week to pitch it,’ Erin chimed in, ‘and meet with some actor. And they’ve got the green light!
Hollywood is coming to Fox Bay!’ She smoothed her hair. ‘I wonder if they need a runner.’
‘Casting has not yet been confirmed,’ said Mei, reading on, ‘but up-and-coming actress Madison White, hot off TV’s coolest teen drama, Joyride, is tipped to play the Captain’s daughter Lily …’
Ivy pressed her fingers to her forehead, trying to process what she’d just heard.
Fox Bay. A film location. Brooke, here on a secret mission. Hollywood.
All at once, it clicked into place. The trip to London. The half-truths, the secrecy, Brooke’s forensic approach to sightseeing. And Madison White, the gorgeous girl on Instagram. The whole visit had all been about pitching Fox Bay as a location and meeting with actors.
She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned.
‘I’m guessing you’ve heard the news,’ said Brooke, shifting awkwardly.
‘Um, yeah. It’s all anyone is talking about.’
‘Sorry, Ivy,’ Brooke said. ‘I couldn’t tell you.
I wasn’t sure we’d pull it off and I really didn’t want anyone to be disappointed.
The higher-ups weren’t sure about us filming on location like this.
It’s a big risk …’ She drew a deep breath.
‘But Kathleen was insistent that this place was magic and she convinced me in the end. Or rather, Fox Bay did. It won me over – all thanks to you, Ivy, showing me all the local spots. I met with the execs last week in London and showed them photos and they agreed too. Especially when I texted them pictures of the cove. How could they not?’ She gestured around the hall.
‘It’s literally the most charming place in the world. ’
Ivy opened and shut her mouth again. Her gaze landed on Trip, chatting away to Melissa, hands flying enthusiastically. ‘I thought you were dragging Trip off to London because you were worried I’d hurt him,’ she said bluntly.
‘Well, to be honest, I was,’ said Brooke.
‘But I might have changed my mind on that one. My brother’s an adult; he can make his own choices.
I’ve treated him like a little kid for too long, I think.
And besides,’ she gave a wry smile, ‘I think he could do a lot worse. You were a good friend to him today, Ivy. Thank you. I’m sorry I was so wary. Talk about overprotective.’
Ivy blushed. ‘It’s okay,’ she said. ‘I can see how I might have come across as a bit …’
‘Moody? Solitary? Standoffish?’
‘Yeah, all of those.’ Ivy laughed ruefully. ‘And I’ll probably always be a bit grumpy, to be honest. But your brother seems to have brought out what there is of my optimistic sociable side.’
Brooke’s eyes crinkled as she looked at her brother.
‘He tends to do that for people,’ she said.
‘I can’t live Trip’s life for him, Ivy, I’m starting to realise that.
He’ll make his own choices and on reflection I think he’ll do a pretty good job of it.
’ She smiled. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and talk to Simi and Lou.
I want them to take on the catering for next spring – and take on some Hollywood house guests too, if they’re not too busy with the baby. ’
As Brooke walked away, Ivy found herself smiling stupidly into space.
She could hear the shrieks of surprise and confusion as Brooke’s news made its way around the room.
Hollywood in Fox Bay. How wildly unlikely, she thought.
How unexpected. And how absolutely right.
Because Brooke was on to something – it probably was the most charming place in the world.
Suddenly Ivy felt excited that the rest of the world would realise it too.
She felt Trip before she saw him, his hand brushing gently against the small of her back, his voice warm at her shoulder. One word murmured in her ear.
‘Beach.’
Ivy turned to him. He held up two wedges of Fin’s celebration pasty. ‘I come bearing snacks.’ His expression was hopeful. ‘I thought maybe we could go for a walk.’
And Ivy, for once, didn’t hesitate.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Let’s go.’