Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
LUKE
T his was Morgana’s idea, and is one of her better ones. It feels good helping the villagers. Apparently, a warm fire, and some mulled wine go a long way to paste a smile on their faces.
As they shrug out of their coats and Morgana hands around the glasses of steaming nectar, I sneak a glance at Jessy who is chatting to another young woman. I could stare at Jessy all night because her cheeks are now rosy with the effects of the heat and alcohol and her eyes sparkle against the flames of the fire. Her soft lips are curled in a smile as she chats with her friend.
I note the young man sitting with them and guess it’s her friend’s brother and the fact he’s tapping away on his phone tells me he is here under duress.
“Jolly nice of you, Mr Adams.”
The older man says by my side and I turn my attention reluctantly to him instead.
“It’s the least we could do.”
I don’t mention that Jasper thought it was the perfect event to get involved with and has planned out every detail already, from the performance being acted in this very house, to reenact the legend in situ.
This is a conniving plan for airtime in the national press and he intends on securing sponsorship by shining the spotlight on our plans to make Granthaven profitable again. If we fail, nobody could blame us for not trying and as I note Jessy’s soft laughter floating across the room in my direction, right now, in this moment, I will do whatever it takes to keep it there.
“So, don’t let us interrupt, carry on as you were,” Morgana says and pats the seat beside her on one of the settees. “Sit with me darling. This will be such fun.”
I head over to her side with an easy grin and as we sit snuggled up together, I watch with interest as the villagers carry on where they left off.
“Um–” Scott appears a little tongue tied and Mr Spalding says loudly, “The line was – we appear to be standing under the mistletoe. Can you spare a kiss for the man who loves you more than Christmas itself?”
I want to laugh out loud, and then the soft pitch of Jessy’s voice turns my attention to her.
“Oh, Barnaby, I thought you’d never ask.”
Morgana gets a fit of the giggles and I nudge her, causing her to cough and she says apologetically, “Sorry guys, the wine went down the wrong way. Please, carry on.”
Jessy’s face must be as red as the burning ash in the fire as she catches my eye, and I raise my glass and grin, causing her to roll her eyes as Scott says in a pained voice, “You taste of Christmas my darling. Happiness, and cinnamon spice.”
Jasper lowers his camera and shakes his head, apparently shocked, and says loudly, “Excuse me, but um, cut.”
Everyone looks in his direction as he throws his hands up in the air. “This will never do. Where did you get this script from?”
Mr Spalding says quickly, “My wife, Alana. She’s an aspiring screen writer and has given us the copywrite to use her masterpiece.”
I catch Jessy’s eye and she grins before pretending to stick a knife in her heart.
Jasper shakes his head. “Well, it won’t do. If we are going to televise this in the show, it must be more in keeping with today’s standards. If I may suggest, I’ll send it to my production company to modernise. It will set us back a week or so, but I believe will work a miracle in the long run.”
I quickly interject because Mr Spalding appears to be about to have a coronary. “Obviously it’s an amazing script, very applicable to Granthaven and perhaps what Jasper means is it could use a little enhancement to align with the television companies’ standards of practice. It will be done for legal reasons, nothing else.”
I throw Jasper a warning glare and he nods. “Yes, that’s what I meant.”
Mr Spalding sighs heavily. “In that case, I have no objection, but what is this about televising it?”
Scott looks up in horror as Jessy turns extremely pale and Jasper shrugs. “We thought it would be an amazing addition to the reality tv show. Obviously, the performance will be restricted to a few scenes, but the rehearsals and subsequent success will be documented as another example of why Granthaven is special.”
I must admit that Jasper knows how to win over a crowd because the murmurs of excitement coming from the villagers, assures me of their cooperation. All except Scott and Jessy, who are staring at one another in horror.
Morgana whispers, “Pray to God Jasper works a miracle on that script or those poor actors will be the laughingstock of Christmas. Honestly, this script is a disgrace. I feel bad for them.”
As the villagers chat amongst themselves, Morgana says softly, “We should mingle. It will be good for morale and demonstrate we are fitting in.”
Before I can respond, she heads to a small group and I notice their smiles grow a little wider as they gaze at her with adoration.
I note Mr Spalding heading my way and quickly move in the opposite direction towards Jessy and her friend, and as I drop into the couch beside them, her friend says reverently, “This is so good of you.”
“I suppose.” I feel bad because it certainly wasn’t done out of kindness, just money and exposure, and Jessy nods. “It is, but I’m not happy about being on national television in a play that will make me a laughingstock.”
She appears so forlorn, I want to reassure her and say with a smile. “It will be fine. Jasper will work it out. It’s his profession, and he’s good at it.”
“Forgive me for asking, Luke–” Her friend interrupts. “How is your profession?”
“Angie!” Jessy gasps and I shrug.
“It’s fine.”
I nod at my boot.
“This comes off next week and then I begin physio.”
“You’re leaving?” Angie’s face falls.
“No, the club is sending one of our physios here. He arrives next week and we will work on restoring my ankle to its former glory.”
“That’s very generous of them.” Angie grins. “I mean, my uncle Jim had a fall last month, and he’s still on the waiting list at Dorchester hospital. It pays to have friends in high places, I’m guessing.”
I know she didn’t mean to make me feel bad, but I do. It only illustrates how much I have in comparison to them and it’s all because of business. The club pays me a fortune to perform and all the time I’m injured I’m not generating the money they pay me for.
“It does, but only because I’m a liability.”
“How?” she adds with curiosity as she leans forward, intent on my answer.
“I’m a commodity to them. It’s not because they are concerned about my health or wellbeing. It’s because they are paying me a huge salary to play football. All the time I’m injured they aren’t getting their money’s worth and if I’m broken beyond repair, they will replace me with a younger, more intact model.”
“That’s harsh.” She says with anger and Jessy nods, her own expression mirroring that of her friend.
“It’s the way it works.” Scott speaks up.
“How do you know? You’ve never been out of Dorset?” Angie reprimands him and Scott shrugs.
“I have been all over the world because I have the internet. You don’t have to travel to understand how the world works these days.”
I laugh out loud at the expressions on the girl’s faces and we are interrupted as Mr Spalding drops down before me on his knees and says apologetically. “I’m sorry to interrupt but, I well, it’s just–”
I smile my encouragement, and he exhales sharply. “The script. My wife’s script. I hope she will still be credited as the author.”
“Of course.”
He breathes a little easier. “Good. Perhaps there may even be a little renumeration fee; a royalty perhaps for the movie rights?”
Jessy and Angie stare at him in shock as he stutters, “I mean, we don’t want to be exploited and, well, she may become famous and her words have value.”
The girl’s eyes turn to me and I say carefully, “I can’t promise anything, but I’ll mention it to Jasper. He will know more about it than me.”
He nods and stands, glancing at his wristwatch.
“Well, if that’s all for tonight, I must dash because Alana has a knitting club in the next village and requires a lift home. I hope you don’t mind me broaching the subject, but as her business manager, it is a pertinent question that I must ask.”
He moves swiftly away and Angie says in a low voice, “Bloody cheek. She’s lucky we’re even agreeing to act her horrendous script, let alone demand payment for it.”
Jessy laughs and says with an amused twinkle in her eye. “I must say I’m impressed. I never knew he had it in him and why not see if he can earn something from it?”
“I agree with Jessy.” I offer her a warm smile and then glance up as Steven drops beside me and whispers, “The guvnor wants a word.”
My heart falls because if the manager of Manchester Rangers is calling me, it must be important.
“I’m sorry. I need to take this call. Please, stay as long as you want.”
I note several of the cast packing up and am surprised how much I want Jessy and her friend to stay. They smile, but as I walk away, I’m guessing they will be long gone when I finish my call.