Page 25 of Persuading Penny (Jane Austen Association #4)

W hile I’d never been the sea and sand type, I fell in love with Bali. Everything enchanted me; the scents, the sunrises and sunsets, the beautiful beaches, the crystalline water, the food and the wonderful people.

But two weeks later, as we landed in London and then drove back to Bath, I was eager to move into my own house, only now as the matriarch of the home. It felt so strange, taking my parents’ house and now making it my own.

Cliff immediately fell in love with the place and while he wanted to make a few changes, he was respectful of the original architecture of the house and of the time capsule it was.

Mum and Dad came to visit, which was strange, having them over as guests.

Mum commented on the changes I’d made to the kitchen, and while she admitted it wasn’t her style, she liked it all the same.

As for my Dad, he couldn’t resist questioning Cliff about his intention regarding various portions of the house.

All in all, they approved and were so smitten with their own new place in town, that they didn’t really care what we did.

The following week, as we headed to Royal Crescent to have dinner with Keely and Hugh, we dropped into Mum and Dad’s unit only a few doors down.

We exchanged decorating ideas, and I promised Mum I’d go shopping with her, while Cliff promised to help my dad with a few minor changes he wanted to make.

Finally, after much discussion, we left them to go a few doors down to the Pembroke’s.

“I saw your car pull up, but you weren’t coming,” Keely said.

I told her about my parents’ move so close by.

“That’s great. Isn’t it wonderful how we’ll all be so close to one another.”

We settled in for dinner, and I noticed how Keely kept looking at Cliff and me with a strange look in her eyes.

“What’s up, Keely?” Cliff finally said. “While working with you on Persuasion, I’ve come to know that look. You’ve got something to say.”

“How was the honeymoon?”

“Fine,” I said. “We’ve already been through that.”

“And how are you settling into Copperfield Corner?”

“Fine. We’ve already been through that, too.”

“So, what’s on the schedule for the next little while?”

“Keely,” Hugh said. “Why don’t you stop beating around the bush and get straight to what you want to ask them.”

“Oh, all right.” She set her elbows on the table and looked straight at us. “We should be starting our new production in about six weeks.”

Cliff and I nodded.

“And I expect we’ll be shooting for about six weeks.”

Again, Cliff and I nodded.

“We’re going to be filming Sense and Sensibility .”

I gasped. “Oh. I love that one.”

“Then you’ll come on board and work with us again?”

“Yes,” I said, excited. “Of course.”

She looked to Cliff and held her breath.

“Six weeks? Hmmm... I don’t know.”

I saw her face melt, like a balloon deflating.

“I still have so much to get done with my documentary. I’m reluctant to sign up for anything new.”

“Rumor has it you’re in line to get an Oscar nomination,” Keely said. “You’re practically guaranteed to win.”

Cliff brushed her comment aside. “I have enough of those.”

I laughed. “Oh, come on, Cliff. Stop torturing her.” I looked to Keely. “I happen to know that he’s almost finished with his documentary, and he’s already mentioned how he would love to work with you again.”

“Ah,” she said, letting out a long-suffering sigh. “Oh, thank goodness. Oh, Cliff. I’ve been in post-pro for the last little while and I’ve seen this movie come together in a way that I’ve never seen a movie come together before. I need you. I really need you.”

Cliff picked up his wine glass and raised it for a toast. “Then, let’s make it official. To working together again... on Sense and Sensibility ?”