Page 6 of Arranging Ayra
Yes, I thought. My stay in Derbyshire was going to be quite pleasant.
I kicked off my sandals, got to my feet and quickly unpacked, freshened up and was ready and waiting when Keely returned to give me the promised grand tour.
“Let’s start with the beautiful rose garden. You’re going to love this.”
Once outside, we meandered along the path that led us to a flood of roses, gorgeous dahlias and dozens of other flowers that I had never seen before.
“Leave it to you to find such a heavenly place to house everyone,” I said, as I playfully leaned into her. “And I think it will make the perfect backdrop for so many scenes.”
“That’s what I’m counting on,” Keely said. “Our budget is not quite what I would have hoped, but finding this jewel of a manor was a real stroke of good luck. The gardens, the views, the various structures. With the right camera angles, most of the movie can be filmed right here.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever met a creative person who was quite as pragmatic as you are. You think of everything.”
“And you’ve always been great for my ego.” Giggling as she led me to a stone bench set amid tall yellow flowers, she put her arm around my shoulders. “This is just like the old days at UCI. Walking with you, talking with you, giggling over nothing. I’m so glad you accepted this assignment.”
“Accepted? Keely, you know how I absolutely lovePride and Prejudice. I would have been devastated if you had offered it to anyone else... positively devastated!”
She chuckled as we sat down. “I truly couldn’t imagine anyone else for the job. You know, I learned a lot about you back at Graduate Film School. I saw the way you worked, how diligent and conscientious you were, not to mention your artistic flair. Remember when you worked on that project with... oh, what was her name? Charlotte, I believe. It was a short film set in a small town haunted by the memories of the unfortunate happenings of a cult set up on the outskirts of town.”
“Yeah,” I said, remembering that small but profoundly important project. “Sorcerer’s Offspring, Charlotte called it. A very strange tale.”
“That’s right,” Keely said. “The Sorcerer’s Offspring. I remember hearing other students snicker as they predicted the same old, same old type horror movie music score. But no. What you did with that was amazing. There was something haunting about it, all while being lively and upbeat. I still don’t know how you pulled it off.”
Humbled by her immense praise, I looked down at my clasped hands. “Thanks. I really appreciate that. I remember the apprehension I had facing that project. Like you said, everyone expected a typical haunted mansion melodramatic score. I think I actually surprised myself with that one. I worked really closely with the composer... I think her name was Abigail. She understood what I wanted and made it happen.”
“And I expect you to do the same here. We’ll be working with Bertrand Cousineau, a French composer. He’s young and inventive, and I’m sure you two will hit it off.”
Nodding, I looked at her. “I’m eager to get started. My head is rushing with ideas.”
She let out a light laugh. “Oh. I knew it would. I knew that you wouldn’t waste much time.” Suddenly, she shot to her feet, her gaze fixed on a distant point. “Oh! Come on. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
I hurried to follow behind her as she took a stone path that veered out of the rose garden and led to a large water fountain.
“Jai Doshi is Moon Manor’s caretaker,” she shot over her shoulder as we reached the fountain.
“Jai,” she called out to the young man kneeling at the foot of an ailing bush. “Jai. Over here. I want to introduce you to my very good friend.”
The young man stood all while slapping his dirt covered hands against his soiled jeans. Looking up from under his shock of thick brown hair, he looked at Keely then turned to me. A wide and welcoming grin split his face and I was instantly smitten.
