Page 60 of Sensing Selma
“All right. What is it?”
“I think Holly needs to leave Moon Manor. You’ll see for yourself when you go see her. She is in such a sorrowful state that I’m sure you’ll agree.”
“We have nowhere to go, Susan. Besides, your work is here. Her work is here.”
“Not us, Mother. Just Holly. I spoke with Major Cooper last night after I put Holly to bed. He offered to allow her to stay at his London townhouse. He’s not using it while he is here in Derbyshire.”
She sat silently looking at her hands.
“Mother?”
“I hate the thought of her so far away and alone.”
“I know. Me, too. Of course, on her first day there, I can stay with her, just to get her settled. And Major Cooper will also be checking in on her regularly.”
She remained silent.
“I really think it’s the best option, Mother.”
She finally nodded. “All right,” she whispered, clearly choked up by the situation. “Now, let me go see her.”
*****
WHILE MOTHER SAT WITHHolly, I went in search of Keely and Ayra. How was I going to tell them what their main star had done to their musical talent?
“He did what?”Ayra said on hearing the story. “The...the bastard. How could he be so cold?”
Keely remained silent, but her tight jaw and pressed lips told of her disappointment. “I’d begun to suspect there was something going on between the two of them. I’m sorry, Susan. I should have said something. I don’t know Damen all that well, but I certainly didn’t take him for the monogamous type.”
“No need to apologize. I’d begun to suspect the same but said nothing. None of us are responsible for the ill-fated romance of these two. They’re adults after all.”
“And you think the best thing for Holly now is to leave Moon Manor?”Keely said.
“I don’t see how she’s going to get any work done here. Major Cooper has offered his London townhouse, and he’s prepared to supply Holly with whatever she may need to continue her work. He already has a piano, so that’s a good start.”
“I think this might be the perfect situation,” Ayra said. “I’d noticed how she was too distracted here at Moon Manor. Possibly by Damen, but also by all the activity around here. Being alone in a London townhouse will surely be good for her...inspirational.”
*****
“WHERE AM I GOING?”Holly said, her eyes still red from endless crying.
She’d spent a few hours in a silent daze. Despite Mother’s multiple attempts to get her to talk, she’d remained mute.
When she finally shook off the shock, she burst into tears. “How can I be so stupid? What sort of idiot he must take me for?” She looked at me, tears flowing. “How am I going to face him? He ridiculed me. He humiliated me. Oh, Susan...”
“And that’s precisely why you should leave Moon Manor. You’ll be staying at Major Cooper’s townhouse, and you’ll have all the peace and quiet that you need.”
She nodded then reached for a tissue to loudly blow her nose.
I helped her pack. She initially wanted to bring only a few things, but in the end, we packed everything she’d brought from Selma Sanctuary.
“I doubt I’ll be coming back to Moon Manor any time soon,” she said.
“Come on,” I said with everything ready to go. “I’ll have someone bring this all down. Major Cooper is already waiting for us.”
*****
MAJOR COOPER’S TOWNHOUSEwas spectacular, but it still wasn’t enough to make Holly smile. The beautiful art on the walls didn’t interest her, nor did the modern furniture. Not even the gorgeous grand piano.
