Page 32 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
“Afric Brooks is afraid of small spaces.”
Carmel tutted. “So are you! Let’s face it, most people aren’t too happy in small spaces. Never mind – I’ll just make something up for her.”
“Mam, I don’t think that’s such a –”
“I’d better go, love. Why don’t you just message Nana? I’m sure she’d love to hear from you. And let me know if you’re thinking of coming up some weekend – I’ll cook something nice.” Carmel hung up.
Jess opened the oven to check on the pizza. Done. She was about to open a bottle of wine but then resisted the impulse and took a can of Coke from the fridge instead. A few minutes later she brought everything over to the coffee table, settled down, flicked on the TV and helped herself to a slice of pizza. It struck her that she hadn’t made this sort of student food for herself in a long while. Simon had always hated pizza and her mother didn’t consider it proper food.
But while she was enjoying her freedom in Linford and didn’t feel any pressure to drive back to Dublin every weekend, she was a bit concerned about her nana.
She wasn’t going to just message her either. Anyone could fake being okay in a message. She’d do a video call – Moira loved those, anyway.
The doorbell rang loudly. She wondered who it could be. Nobody had just dropped in since Robert had called that first day.
She went to the door and gave it a firm tug to open it.
Robert stood outside, holding up a bag of takeout food.
“Fish and chips,” he announced, just as Jess’s stomach gave a loud gurgle.
She laughed. “My oven pizza is nearly ready, you know.”
He stepped past her. “Is it the brand Ted stocks? I promise you that Bernie’s takeaway is better. And hey, you’ve got salad – that’s a balanced meal.” He deposited the bag on the small table and opened the fridge. “Will I open that wine?”
Jess turned off the oven and flashed him a quick smile. “Go ahead.”
CHAPTER 17
Hollywood stars Spencer Torres and Afric Brooks took time out of shooting for their new movie last week, to enjoy a Guinness in The Tin Whistle – Linford’s local village pub – a short distance from where the movie is being made.
Afric brought her Toy Poodle, Diva – and publican Páidí O’Grady served the dog a freshly cooked piece of chicken.
An Irish Inheritanceis being shot in Mayo’s four- hundred-year-old Linford Castle, normally open to the public as a five-star hotel.
The movie is based on a book by Irish author, Deb Considine, who also wrote the screenplay. She said she was ‘determined not to let her fans down’, so it will ‘remain true to the novel’.
Spokesperson for the movie, Lisa Greensmith, told theDaily Journalthat filming is going well, and that the cast and crew are delighted to be staying at Linford Castle. She added that as Linford village has apopulation of just 1500 people ‘many of the locals will participate as extras’.
This is the first time the historic castle has been hired for the making of a movie. It’s also the hotel’s first major event since reality TV star Chelsea Deneuve and casino owner Leo Dinardia hired Linford last July for their lavish nuptials. After the drama of their almost-wedding, the Charleston Group, who own Linford Castle, must be banking on the success of its current venture to relegate the unfortunate ‘Linford Curse’ to the history books.
“Jess, you’re not going to believe it!” Emily caught up with Jess when she arrived at Linford that morning. “I got that part I auditioned for! I’m the housekeeper’s daughter. I’ve got seven lines – I’m psyched!”
“That’s amazing.” Jess hugged her. “Congratulations! Have they told you when they’ll be shooting your scene?”
“I’ve got two scenes where I talk.” Emily beamed. “Mel Winters told me this morning. I’m going to study the part carefully, you know? Really get to know the character’s motivations.”
“Oh, yeah, fair enough.” Jess hid a smile. “So, who got the other parts?”
Emily shrugged. “There’s an older local woman who’s going to play my mother, and then some actor from Ballina, so not really local. He’s going to be the gardener or the stable guy, or something.” She bit her lip. “I feel a bit bad for Holly’s mam because she went for the housekeeper part and didn’t get it. But Holly said she wanted it because she’s got a thing for Spencer Torres.”
Jess grinned. “Are you still up for taking Afric into one of the tunnels?”
“Totally.” Emily thought for a moment. “Can we use the one in the honeymoon suite?”
“Well, that’s the one Mel suggested.”
“I kind of want to believe this place is haunted, you know. Like, I know our official line is that we just tell people what happened in 1937 and leave it up to their imagination, but I think the public really wants to believe that Lady Helen is here, sort of helping people out.”
