Chapter 15
15
Later, as they were walking on the vast expanse of Fermoyle beach on the other side of Connor Pass, Jack asked Vi about the Fleurys’ connection with the French family.
‘I sense an interesting story,’ he said, turning towards Vi, his hair ruffled by the strong breeze. ‘Or am I stepping on sore toes with my question?’
‘Not at all,’ Vi said. ‘That old story is something we laugh at now. About five years ago, my grandmother received a letter from a lawyer in France representing the Bernard family, claiming ownership of Magnolia Manor and all the lands around it. This was based on an old gambling debt incurred by my great-grandfather Cornelius Fleury about a hundred years ago.’
‘The gambler in the portrait?’ Jack asked, looking impressed. ‘How exciting.’
‘Not really,’ Vi replied. ‘We thought it was quite appalling. Especially as he had given away everything he owned.’
‘I suppose. But the whole thing was resolved in the end, then?’
‘That’s right,’ Vi said. ‘We finally found a letter from the member of the Bernard family who had accepted the property as payment of the debt, giving it back to Cornelius’s wife. So all was well in the end.’
‘And you all made friends and then got together to turn the manor into apartments for pensioners?’
‘After a lot of toing and froing, yes,’ Vi replied. ‘It was Granny’s idea from the start but Arnaud and his son Henri thought it would work really well and decided to join the business venture.’
‘And Sylvia and Arnaud fell in love and became engaged?’ Jack said.
Vi laughed, looking up at the blue sky, enjoying the memory. ‘Oh yes, they did. That was quite funny, actually. They were arguing about the letter Sylvia had received and she told him off about it and how rude and insensitive it was for the Bernards to claim Magnolia Manor as their property based on an old gambling debt. She gave him hell but he just stood there and took it, admiring her feistiness and her flashing eyes. And then, when she had marched out of the room, banging the door behind her, he told us she was magnifique and how much he admired her spirit. She was already quite smitten, too, with his good looks and charm. Then, later, Granny laid her plans of the senior apartments in front of him and he was so impressed with the idea and they became partners both in business and privately. They’re quite a power couple in their own way.’ Vi drew breath.
Jack grinned. ‘What a great story. Proves that it’s never too late to either fall in love or start a new venture.’
‘That’s very true,’ Vi agreed, thinking of how worried she had been at turning thirty.
Jack looked out at sea and then across the stretch of golden sand lapped by the waves. ‘This is a fabulous beach. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so invigorated.’
‘I love coming here,’ Vi said. ‘Especially on a windy day like today. It raises my spirits.’
‘It certainly did something the same to mine,’ Jack declared.
They walked on in silence. Whipped by the wind, they watched as flocks of tiny sandpipers skimmed the surface of the water before they soared upwards, turning their bodies this way and that in a graceful ballet, their underbellies like flashes of silver in the brilliant sunshine against the backdrop of the turquoise sea and the bright-blue skies. The air was like cold, crisp white wine.
With the salty wind whipping her hair away from her face and the roar of the sea and the cries of seagulls in her ears, Vi forgot all her worries and breathed in the clean air. She smiled at Jack, who, having taken off his shoes, ran into the waves but pulled back as the water soaked his jeans. His hair was ruffled by the wind, his cheeks pink and his eyes calm. He closed them for a moment and turned his face to the sky, as if drinking in the sensations and trying to keep them in his mind forever. She knew then that the magic of Kerry had captured him. Both glowing, they returned to the car for the drive to Cloghane, the nearby village, for a glass of Guinness and a sandwich by the fire in the little pub.
As they sat by the smouldering turf fire, enjoying a bacon and tomato sandwich and a frothing glass of Guinness, Jack gazed at Vi and smiled. ‘You look amazing. Happy, glowing and very beautiful.’
Vi felt her face glow even more. ‘Thank you. You’re not too bad yourself, you know.’
‘That’s high praise indeed.’ Jack raised his glass. ‘Cheers and thank you for a wonderful day. First I fell in love with your granny and now I’m completely besotted with Kerry.’
‘Despite the cold wind and the rain showers?’ Vi asked.
‘Not despite,’ he argued, ‘but because of it. Don’t forget I’m from Yorkshire, where the wind is even stronger in the wintertime. Call me mad, but I love winter, as a matter of fact. Summers are nice, but this time of year, the weather is invigorating.’
‘Oh, absolutely.’ Vi took a bite of her sandwich. ‘Winter is my favourite time of year. Especially now, coming up to Christmas.’ She looked at the little Christmas tree beside the fireplace and the decorations hanging from the beams in the ceiling. ‘The holidays are very special here. There are lovely Christmas concerts all around the villages and we go to the pubs to meet everyone who’s come home from all kinds of places around the world and we have parties and drinks and go for hikes in the mountains.’ She drew breath and laughed. ‘I’m sure Yorkshire is the same.’
Jack looked suddenly serious. ‘Well, yes. In a way. But not really for me. Not any more.’
‘Why?’ she asked, noticing his troubled eyes. ‘Did something sad happen to you?’
‘Yes.’ He drank some Guinness before he met her gaze. ‘I don’t really have a family there any more. My father had a serious drinking problem and spent all his money in the local pubs. The debts started to pile up and he ended up having to sell the farm. He and my mother divorced after that and she now lives in a little cottage in the village. My dad died shortly afterwards.’ He paused, staring into the fire. ‘When I left to go to drama school in London, everyone thought I was abandoning my mother, despite the fact that she wanted me to go. My sister got married and lives nearby with her family, so Mum is well looked after. In any case, she’s only in her mid-sixties and works as a nurse in the local hospital. There’s no need to feel sorry for her at all. And I do help her out financially too. But my old friends and some of my cousins think I’m stuck-up and won’t even speak to me when I go back home to see my mother. So Christmas there isn’t much fun, I’m afraid.’
‘But your mother and sister must be so proud of you,’ Vi argued. ‘I mean, look at all you’ve done… the awards and the fabulous reviews in the papers.’
‘That only seems to make them hate me more. Not my mother and sister, of course. But my old friends and some of my relatives can’t relate to me at all.’
‘They’re jealous,’ Vi said.
Jack smiled and shrugged. ‘Who knows? I only wish they were proud of me. It’s not easy. They see this caricature of me in the papers and assume I like the publicity side of things. But you know the old saying about being a prophet in your own back yard…’
Vi nodded. ‘Oh yes. I can understand that.’ She stopped, thinking about Rose and how they had yet to make peace. She heaved a deep sigh. ‘Oh, I wish…’
‘What?’ Jack asked.
‘That my sister Rose and I were back the way we were. Teasing and stealing each other’s clothes. You know, the way sisters are. That was never serious and mostly fun. We always ended up laughing. But now there’s this silence between us. I don’t know what to do about it.’
‘That’s a tough one,’ Jack said sympathetically. ‘Is there any reason for her to be like that?’
‘It was this interview last year that turned into something I hadn’t planned.’ Vi went on to tell Jack what had happened with the journalist while he listened intently.
He nodded when she had finished. ‘I can relate. Stuff like that happened to me too in the beginning. I was at a press conference about a movie I’d got a part in. Not the main part, but quite big all the same. One of the journalists threw me a question about my family and I blurted out something about not having had the best childhood, which then came to be blown up into me being the victim of some kind of child abuse. Not true at all, of course, but it must have sold a lot of newspapers of the tabloid kind.’
‘Oh no,’ Vi exclaimed, appalled. ‘That’s much worse than what happened to me.’
‘Well, yes,’ Jack said with a shrug. ‘Didn’t earn me a lot of brownie points at home, which caused much of the negativity. The media can be such a bog that’s hard to get out of. I try to avoid doing too much of that stuff. But, of course, the movie companies want you to make headlines all the time to sell tickets at the box office. They sometimes even encourage controversy.’ He grinned. ‘You’ll see. It’s only starting for you. Wait till our movie comes out. Then it’ll really be tricky to stay out of the limelight.’ He looked around the little pub. ‘And then…’ he whispered into her ear, ‘of course there are the fans out there with their phones. Someone will take a snap of you with someone and then, boom, you’re in a “relationship” with whoever you happen to sit beside, or walk out of a bar or restaurant with. Even if it’s not true at all. Happens all the time, everywhere.’
‘I don’t think that would happen here,’ Vi said. ‘Kerry people are discreet and kind.’
‘Yes, but there might be someone not from around here who has no scruples,’ Jack suggested, draining his pint. ‘Except here, in this cosy little pub, I don’t sense any excitement about either of us.’
‘No,’ Vi said, also looking around the sparsely occupied room. ‘Not many people here as it’s a Tuesday at the beginning of December. But everyone here knows who we are, of course. That’s the way it is in small villages and towns in Kerry.’
‘Oh, I know,’ Jack agreed and drained his glass. ‘Same thing where I come from. There is this knowledge, like a whisper in the wind. Nobody says anything, but they all know .’
He looked so comical, Vi started to laugh. ‘Yes, exactly. Scary, isn’t it?’ A phone rang, making them both give a start.
Jack pulled his phone out of his pocket. ‘Not mine.’
‘It’s mine.’ Vi groped for her phone in her jacket. ‘Hello?’
‘Hi there,’ a voice said. ‘Violet, this is Finbarr at On Your Toes. We chatted recently about Kathleen O’Sullivan, remember?’
‘Oh yes,’ Vi said, suddenly back to the conversation she had had with him. ‘Fidelma, wasn’t it?’
‘That’s right. She knew Kathleen back in the day. Anyway, it appears that old Fidelma has had to go into a nursing home.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Vi said, feeling sad for the old lady.
‘Yes, it’s a bit of a blow for her,’ Finbarr agreed. ‘Now, the thing is that she sent a package for you to us. Some mementoes of Kathleen she found when she was clearing her house before going to the nursing home.’
‘Oh, how kind of her to think of me at such a difficult time,’ Vi said.
‘I think she felt that you would like to have these things, whatever they are. Letters and cards and such by the looks of it. But what do I do about the package? She sent it to us because she didn’t know your address. Can I send it on to you?’
‘Of course. That would be great,’ Vi said. ‘Send it to The Gatehouse, Magnolia Manor, Dingle, County Kerry.’
‘Got that. I’ll send it off as soon as possible. Not a large package, just some letters and cards and a few other little items. Could be interesting for your research.’
‘Thanks a million,’ Vi said. ‘That’s very kind.’
‘Not at all,’ Finbarr replied. ‘I’ll expect tickets to the premiere in return.’
‘Of course,’ Vi promised. ‘Front row seats and an invitation to the after-party.’
‘Looking forward to it,’ Finbarr said. ‘Let me know you got the package.’
‘I will,’ Vi promised. ‘Bye for now.’ She hung up and looked at Jack. ‘Nice guy. Very helpful.’
‘With what?’ he asked.
‘I had a chat a while ago with an old lady who knew Kathleen in the early days – at the time she was discovered by the talent scout. She told me they kept in touch after Kathleen went to Hollywood. She has sent me some correspondence she had with Kathleen back in the day. I can’t wait to read them.’
‘Sounds interesting,’ Jack said. ‘Should give you a feel for who Kathleen was in private.’
‘Exactly,’ Vi agreed. ‘You see, I’m trying to find out more about her than what’s written in the biographies. That will help me get more depth into her persona when I play her. Not that it would change the screenplay in any way, of course.’
‘I don’t see why not.’ Jack looked thoughtfully at Vi. ‘Right now I find the dialogue a little bland and clichéd. Maybe we could jazz it up a bit with some drama?’
‘Yes,’ Vi agreed. ‘I did like the dialogue, it’s very well written. But yeah, it’s a little run of the mill. But I never thought I’d have any influence on what’s in the script. I don’t want to make trouble.’
‘I’d make it for you,’ Jack remarked, waggling his eyebrows. ‘Maybe we could go through the script together and see what needs to be done? Rehearse the dialogue and get the feel for it, maybe to see how we click. What do you think?’
‘Yes,’ Vi agreed. ‘That’d be great. Let me know when you’re free to do that.’
‘We could do it on the phone,’ he suggested. ‘Anytime at all when I take a break.’
‘I’m free most evenings. And maybe once I get more information about Kathleen, we might work that into it,’ Vi said.
He nodded. ‘Good idea. I think it’s terrific that you’re doing a bit of digging into Kathleen’s personal life.’
‘I just wanted to get to know the woman behind the glossy image,’ Vi explained. ‘I want to have a real feel for what was in her mind at the time. Things nobody would know except close friends like Fidelma. Or maybe you?’ she asked.
Jack looked surprised. ‘Me? I don’t know much about her. Except one or two hints that she was hiding something from the press. But I’m not sure what it was. Just old Hollywood gossip that might be made up.’
‘Could it have been something personal and embarrassing?’ Vi suggested.
‘Stuff she wouldn’t have told journalists in interviews, you mean?’ he teased.
‘Yeah,’ Vi said, feeling embarrassed herself. ‘I bet she never made that mistake.’
‘Probably because she was coached to say what would look good,’ Jack mused. ‘And by the way, talking about stuff nobody knows…’ He suddenly looked awkward. ‘I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone what I said about my father. That’s not out there in public and it would hurt my mother and my sister if it came out. The official story is quite different.’
‘Of course, I won’t tell anyone,’ Vi promised.
‘Great.’ Jack rose from his chair. ‘I think it’s time we went back. It’s getting dark and the drive across that mountain pass was scary enough in daylight.’
‘We could go the longer way,’ Vi suggested.
‘I’d rather take the short sharp one,’ Jack said. ‘And I have a feeling the skies would be amazing up there just after sunset.’
Vi got up. ‘Yes, that’s true. Let’s go.’
When Jack paid the bill at the counter, the waiter smiled at them. ‘Nice to meet the stars of the next big hit,’ he said. ‘Good luck with the movie, lads.’
They smiled and thanked him. Jack looked curiously at Vi when they were outside. ‘So he knew who we were but didn’t say anything or ask us any questions. That’s classy, I have to say.’
‘That’s the Kerry way,’ Vi said as she got into the car.
‘I’m impressed.’
They didn’t talk much during the drive, only stopped briefly at the top of Connor Pass and looked at the sky, a riot of orange and pink in the west and stars twinkling above them. ‘Incredible,’ Jack said and then slowly drove down the steep road on the other side where they could see the lights of Dingle below them.
He pulled up outside the gatehouse and turned to look at Vi. ‘Thank you again for a wonderful day. You have changed my view of Ireland and Kerry in particular. Not to mention everyone we’ve met. It’s been such a day full of wonderful things to remember. I’m looking forward to shooting this movie with you.’
‘Me too,’ Vi said, noticing the warm expression in his brown eyes. ‘I think we’ll work well together.’
‘I hope so.’ He paused for a moment. ‘So how are you going to fill your days until then?’
‘Oh, I’ll be busy,’ Vi replied. ‘Dance lessons, sessions with the voice coach, looking at Kathleen’s movies and then reading these letters. I’ll also spend time with my grandmother and help my sister Lily with babysitting.’
‘Sounds like a lot. So Lily is the older sister?’ he asked. ‘She’s not holding any grudges, then.’
Vi shook her head. ‘Not any more. We had a chat and she seemed to understand what happened. Rose is a different story.’
‘The kind who can’t let go of anger?’ Jack suggested.
‘Something like that.’ Vi opened the passenger door, not wanting to continue discussing Rose and what was going on between them. ‘I’d better go. Thanks for the drive and lunch. It was fun.’
‘Yes, it was,’ Jack said, looking at her in an odd way. ‘I’d say you’ll find those letters Kathleen wrote very interesting.’
‘I hope so.’ Vi looked back at him. ‘It’ll be fascinating to read her own words.’
‘I’m sure it will,’ Jack agreed. He paused for a moment. ‘Violet… Would it be okay if I called you sometime? Just for a chat, apart from working on the script, I mean. I felt that we clicked today.’
‘I think I know what you mean.’ Vi nodded, touched by the earnest look in his eyes. She felt a connection to him that had nothing to do with the crush she had had on him for so long. It was as if she had seen a little bit of the real Jack today: a vulnerability and a love of nature she herself felt so strongly. ‘Of course you can call me any time.’
‘I’ll text you first to see if it’s a good time,’ he suggested.
‘Perfect.’ Vi got out of the car. ‘Have a good trip to Scotland.’
‘Thanks. I really enjoyed the day. I’m looking forward to Scotland.’ He shot her a dazzling smile that made her heart flutter. ‘The winds will be even colder there than here. But it will be refreshing. I’ll be in touch. And hey, let me know if you find anything interesting in those letters.’
‘I will,’ she promised. ‘Can’t wait to read them. I feel they’ll bring me closer to her somehow.’
‘You might find out things you don’t want to know,’ Jack said through the open window of the car.
Vi stared at him. ‘What kind of things?’
He shrugged. ‘Oh nothing. Just… be careful what you wish for. Bye, Violet.’
Before she had a chance to ask any questions, he drove off. She stood rooted to the spot, wondering what on earth he had meant. Did he know something about Kathleen that might be bad? Something nobody else did? He had said he had heard a hint here and there, but not what it was about. He was difficult to figure out and sometimes said things that seemed innocent but could mean something else. A mysterious man with a lot of baggage , she thought as she walked up the steps to the house. It would be best not to get too involved on a personal level. But how could she avoid it? She realised she was starting to like him more and more.