Chapter 28
28
The text from Leo – which came as Vi was at the departure gate – asking her out for a drink in his favourite pub in Soho made her feel a little guilty. She texted back to say she was on her way home. He called about a minute after she had sent the text.
‘Why?’ he asked. ‘I thought you’d be rehearsing here in London with the cast.’
‘There’s been a delay,’ Vi explained. ‘Liz kicked up a fuss when I told them about Kathleen’s past and said she needed to check the facts.’
‘What was the big secret, anyway?’ Leo asked. ‘Can you tell me now that everyone else knows?’
Vi looked around the departure area to see if there was anyone nearby who might be eavesdropping. But everyone else was either on the phone or arguing with someone beside them or busy with their hand luggage. ‘Okay, I can tell you briefly. I’ll fill in the details next time we meet. But here’s the gist of it,’ she whispered into her phone. ‘You see, Kathleen wasn’t really who she claimed to be – she was a Polish refugee who arrived in Ireland when she was twelve. And her real name wasn’t Kathleen.’
‘Wow,’ Leo said, sounding shocked. ‘That’s some story.’
‘I know. Anyway, there’s more but I can’t tell you right now.’
‘I see. So the delay is because of the script having to be rewritten?’
‘Partly. And the facts having to be checked. So now we’re waiting for the go-ahead and the rewrites of the script. I thought I’d wait at home rather than hang around London. I feel better there.’
‘I see.’ Leo paused. ‘And I was going to take you on a tour of my favourite London hangouts. Maybe next time, eh?’
Vi could sense the disappointment in his voice and tried to think of a way to cheer him up. Then she remembered how he had kissed her on New Year’s Eve, and realised again that he might be feeling more than friendship for her. How could she soothe his bruised ego without giving false hope? ‘That would be fun,’ she said. ‘I’ll give you a shout when I get back to London. I like to see where my friends hang out. Maybe we could make it a group event with some of the cast and crew?’
‘Maybe,’ he said. ‘That would be a different evening to what I had in mind. But why not? Let’s talk when you get back. Have a nice time in Kerry.’
‘Thanks, I will. Bye for now, Leo.’ Vi hung up, feeling bad for him, but what could she do? She had been there before, killing a possible romance before it could happen, sometimes with a heavy heart, but mostly feeling relieved. What’s wrong with me? Am I so cold and unfeeling? she asked herself. Or do I stop myself falling in love to protect myself, to be independent and free to make my own choices? Or maybe to pursue my career without distractions or complications? But she had fallen in love with Jack and that was something she had not been able to stop. It was making her miserable and she couldn’t shake herself out of it. Her grandmother had hinted that Jack had feelings for her but the last time they met he had been quite matter-of-fact and cool. Except for that little kiss on the cheek when they said goodbye. But that was just him being polite , she told herself sternly.
The flight was boarding and Vi hurried to join the queue, feeling happy to leave London and all the problems with the movie behind for a while. She knew she needed a break from everything and she longed to get home and get the rest and distractions that being at Magnolia Manor would provide.
Vi had been right. Only hours after arriving back in the gatehouse, she began to feel better. After saying goodbye to her grandmother, who dropped her off, she put her bags in the hall and went for a long walk. As always in early February, spring was in the air with a mild salt-laden sea breeze, the sound of birdsong and warm sunshine. Vi noticed that the magnolia tree in front of the manor had big buds and she remembered that the annual Magnolia party would be held as usual in a few weeks. This year, the party would be held in the orangery to take the pressure off the ballroom, where the movie people would be busy preparing for filming the first scenes of the film. Vi wondered idly if it would ever be made. It felt so distant and unreal right now. Would Liz ever get the facts she was looking for and give the go-ahead for the rewrites of the script? Vi had initially planned to do her own research but right now she was tired of the whole thing and felt like letting go of everything. The walk in the mild sunshine with the distant sound of the waves in her ears made her forget all her worries, and even her heartache eased a little. This was where she was meant to be and she wanted to stay here forever.
She laughed at herself, knowing she was just tired and would probably be raring to go and be every bit as driven as before after a good night’s sleep – and some apple pie and tea with her granny. Still, this day and the walk in the winter sunshine was just what she needed.
Then a few days later, Jack emailed the script to Vi with a message that said:
This is just a draft and not the final script. We still need to get proof of the full story. But I think you’ll love the rewrites. The writers have done a great job, don’t you think? We’ve found a little bit of proof already, so I’m certain Liz will come around. I might hint that I’ll resign if she makes too much of a fuss.
I’d like to see you so we can discuss the new material. How about dinner tomorrow? Please let me know and we’ll decide on a time and place.
Best wishes,
Jack.
The message made Vi glow with new hope. He was prepared to fight with Liz for the new script. And he wanted to have dinner with her. That must mean something. But he seemed to think she was still in London, so dinner wasn’t possible. She sent back a reply to say thank you for the script.
I can’t wait to read it , she wrote. I’d love to discuss it over dinner but I’m afraid it’s not possible as I’m in Kerry. I thought it better to stay here during the delay. I’ll come back as soon as I’m needed. In the meantime, I’ll learn my lines.
All the best, Violet
He didn’t reply until the following day with a short message that said he understood and hoped to hear from her soon. The message was short and Vi felt confused, wondering what he meant by it all. First, he wanted to have dinner with her and they seemed to be getting closer, but then he sent her a rather curt message that felt cold and distant. She decided not to read anything at all into either message and to try to gauge Jack’s feelings when they met again. She was starting to feel relieved that she wouldn’t have to work with him – that would have been too difficult. Peter Black, who had been cast instead, would be easy to deal with. He was nice and friendly and there had been no vibes between them when they had worked together on a TV series a few years ago.
Putting all those thoughts to the back of her mind, Vi opened the attachment and started to read the new script. When she got to the rewritten scenes, she sat up and stared at the computer screen. The new dialogue was truly wonderful: dramatic and deeply moving. The writers had really understood what Kathleen had been going through which delighted Vi. She couldn’t wait to start acting out these feelings which would demand a lot from her as an actress but might also be the watershed moment she had been waiting for. She read on for another hour, then decided to print out the whole text to be able to practise her lines and read them over and over again. She only wished she had someone to rehearse with and hoped she’d get the go-ahead to go back to London to rehearse with the rest of the cast soon.
Excited by this new challenge, she sent a short email to Jack, telling him how much she loved the new script. She felt he should know what she thought of it. He was, after all, one of the producers.
Vi used the printer in the office of Magnolia Manor and once she had the printout, started to read the script several times over the next few days. There had been no reply from Jack and she hoped Liz would find the proof she needed soon and get the movie back on track. In the meantime, she spent her free time taking long walks, spending time with Lily and Rose and their families, especially enjoying playing with her little nieces and nephew. She tried her best to push all her worries away, even if the long wait was difficult.