Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
LUKE
I wonder if it’s possible to fall in love with a place at first sight. People at first sight even, because the more I see of Granthaven and its inhabitants, the more I like.
This is a drastic change from my usual surroundings. I don’t see anyone where I live. I head into my car, parked behind the security gates at home or the training ground, and drive between them. It’s like I’m stuck on a tightrope, only going back and forth between two places. During away games, the coach becomes my security guard, while my teammates act as a shield against everyday life.
This is life.
Raw, real, desperate but wonderful life. The people here have hardly anything, materialistically speaking, but they are richer than me because they have a soul.
As I watch Jessy with her parents, it reminds me of my own rather hollow life. I visit my parents but they are too busy travelling to make elderflower wine and partake in village life.
Then there’s me.
I’ve never even met my neighbours, let alone care for them and it started to hit home as we walked around the village – slowly, due to my freaking boot – giving Jessy ample time to describe the lives of the inhabitants of the cottages we passed.
They had one thing mainly in common and that was the number of years they have lived here. It appears that the majority stay and make it their home, although I detected the sadness in Jessy’s voice when she spoke of the future.
If anything, I feel terrible as we complete the tour and I’ve witnessed firsthand the decay of a once thriving village and my heart sinks at the mammoth task stretching before me like an impossible dream.
I’m already aware this won’t work. I’m not the saviour of the village – far from it. As much as I want to help, I’m just not rich enough, or clever enough to make the villager’s dreams come true and yet the animation in Jessy’s expression as she speaks of her home, tugs on my heartstrings and gives me the determination to try.
I leave Jessy to head home and I try to shake away the disappointment I’m experiencing inside when she walks away from me.
I wonder why I like her so much. I meet many women but most of them are above reality. They live a pampered life, living it more through their social media than anything else, and yet Jessy’s life is very real indeed.
As soon as I head back inside, Morgana greets me with a worried frown.
“Oh, Luke, thank goodness you’re back.”
“Why, what’s happened?”
I shrug out of my coat because hallelujah, Jasper’s storage heaters appear to be working well and the place doesn’t freeze my breath like it did before.
“The production team won’t make it here for another day at least, and Jasper is desperate to begin. He wants us to film a few candid shots and do some interviews for the camera about our first impressions of this place. You know the kind of thing they do on the series I watch.”
I groan inside because this is Morgana’s thing and not mine, and I still can’t believe I agreed to this at all.
“Please, Luke. For me.”
Her eyes are wide and hopeful, and it strikes me how pretty she looks. She is made up perfectly for the camera and is wearing a cashmere red sweater with white jeans and fur boots.
Morgana is an extremely attractive woman and deserves the adulation of her followers. She is funny, self deprecating and loves to offer tips and discount codes for the products she endorses. She is also working on her own beauty line and I’m sure Jessy would be fascinated by the business she is creating in cyberspace. Many people underestimate Morgana, but that person was never me.
“Okay babe. What do you want me to do?”
Her brilliant smile is edged in relief and she presses a light kiss to my lips and whispers, “Thanks, hun. I know you hate this kind of thing, but it really helps.”
I roll my eyes. “Just tell me what to do.”
Before I know what’s happening, we are sitting side by side on the couch by the roaring fire, Morgana’s hand resting on my knee and my arm slung around her shoulder. The very picture of domestic bliss and loves young dream.
Jasper is filming the segment and asks the questions that we dutifully answer in a tried and tested reality format.
“What are your first impressions of Granthaven, Luke? It must be a world away from Manchester and the life of a premier league footballer.”
“It certainly is.”
I smile into the camera. “I’m pleasantly surprised, though it does require a lot of work.”
“A lot.” Morgana interrupts, rolling her eyes and she adds, “We look on it as a challenge, don’t we, darling?”
Before I can answer, she gazes at the camera with a dreamy expression. “I must confess I love it, though. I mean, it’s so Pride and Prejudice. Who wouldn’t love being part of history and being surrounded by a place that it appears time forgot? We are blown away, aren’t we, darling?”
“We are.” I gaze at her fondly as she laughs softly.
“We have so many plans for the restoration. Luke has even appointed a local business manager to help us. Isn’t that right, darling?”
“Yes, she will be invaluable.”
“You see–“ Morgana smiles into the camera. “We have a real chance to make a difference and don’t take that responsibility lightly. Luke was left with this amazing legacy and we must make it work for everyone’s sakes.”
I nod, a little uneasy because now there’s even more pressure because if we fail, it will be all over the internet and for a man who likes to win, this is a challenge I must give my best shot.