‘How much have you had to drink?’ Kate asks, eyeing his bottle of beer. Has Kate picked up on his unease too?
‘This is my first and last, trust me. I’m going to get Jesse, then we’re leaving.’ He looks around the bar nervously. Okay, now I’m convinced he’s definitely hiding someone or something. I’m beginning to wish Sarah was in here because then I would know for sure that she isn’t with Jesse. I’m bristling from head to toe.
He jogs off, leaving Kate and I exchanging puzzled faces.
‘Excuse me ladies,’ Drew gets up. ‘Nature calls.’ He leaves us at the bar like a couple of spare parts.
‘Oh, fuck this,’ Kate exclaims, taking my hand. ‘Give me the tour.’ She pulls me back towards the entrance hall.
‘A quick one,’ I agree, taking over the lead and guiding her up the massive staircase. ‘I’ll show you the rooms I’m working on.’
We reach the balcony landing and Kate’s gasps increase as she takes in the opulent splendor of The Manor. ‘This is some serious special.’ she mumbles, gazing around in awe.
‘I know. He inherited the place from his uncle when he was twenty one.’
‘Twenty one?’
‘Hmmm,’
‘Wow!’ Kate blurts. I look behind me, finding her gawking at the huge stained glass window at the foot of the second staircase.
‘This way,’ I call behind me, walking through the archway that leads to the extension rooms, leaving Kate to scuttle after me. ‘There are ten altogether.’
She follows me into the middle of the room, gazing around. I can’t deny, they are mighty impressive, even as empty shells. Once completed, though, they’ll be royal worthy. Will I get through to completion? After our little sorting of shit I might not see this place again. I can’t say that would disappoint me. I don’t like coming here.
I wander further into the room and follow Kate’s gaze to the wall behind the door. What the hell?
‘What’s that?’ Kate asks the question that’s batting around in my own head.
‘I don’t know. It wasn’t here before.’ I run my eyes over the huge, wooden, crucifix style cross propped up against the wall. With giant, black, wrought iron screw eyes bolted to the corners, it looks imposing, but it’s still a fine piece of art. ‘It must be one of the big wall hangings Jesse was talking about.’ I approach the piece, running my hand over the highly polished wood. It’s spectacular – if a little intimidating.
‘Oh. Sorry, ladies.’ We both swing around, finding a middle aged man in overalls holding a sander in one hand and a coffee in the other. ‘Looks good, huh?’ He points up at the frame with his sander as he takes a slurp of his coffee. ‘I’m just checking the size before I make the others.’
‘You made this?’ I ask in disbelief.
‘I certainly did.’ He laughs, joining me by the cross.
‘It’s stunning.’ I muse. It’ll fit in perfectly with the bed I designed that Jesse loved so much.
‘Thank you, Miss.’ he says proudly. I turn around and see Kate observing the piece of art on a frown.
‘We’ll leave you to it.’ I give Kate the lets-be-going nod, and she smiles at the workman before following me out of the room.
We walk back through to the gallery landing. ‘I didn’t get it.’ she grumbles.
‘It’s art, Kate.’ I laugh. It’s not pink and chintzy, so I’m not surprised she doesn’t like it. Our tastes are very different.
‘What’s up there?’
I follow her gaze up the staircase to the third floor, stopping to look with her. Those intimidating doors are slightly ajar. ‘I don’t know. I think it might be a function room.’
Kate takes the stairs. ‘Let’s have a look.’
‘Kate!’ I start after her. I’m keen to find Jesse. The longer I delay speaking to him, the longer I have to convince myself not to. ‘Kate, come on.’
‘Just a peek.’ she says, pushing against the doors. ‘Fuck!’ she screeches. ‘Ava, look at this.’