Page 36 of The House on Sunset Lake

Bryn paused and watched what they were doing.

‘What’s this then?’ he said, pointing at the screen.

‘Jen’s documentary,’ replied Jim. There was a note of pride in his voice that made Jennifer feel more confident in front of his celebrated father.

Bryn perched on the end of the wicker sofa and blew a smoke ring as Jennifer resisted the urge to cough.

‘Elizabeth mentioned you’d been filming. Let’s have a look, then.’

‘Dad, please.’

Jennifer was glad that Jim had picked up on her embarrassment. ‘They’re just video interviews,’ she said, both horrified and secretly thrilled at the idea that an author, a famous author, would want to have a look at her work.

‘Come on, don’t be shy. I know what that feels like.’

‘Yeah, right,’ replied Jim under his breath.

‘I do. Creativity of any description is deeply personal. The only person to see my book before it goes to my editor is my agent, Saul, and even then he has to prise it from my fingertips.’

They sat in silence as they watched Connor’s friend Randy Chubb speak of his place at Harvard Law School and his plans to make partner on a Wall Street firm by thirty.

‘Let me guess,’ said Bryn, stubbing his cigar out on a saucer. ‘His father is a prominent Savannah attorney.’

‘How did you know?’ asked Jennifer with surprise.

Bryn dismissed her question and looked thoughtful.

‘So what’s your narrative then?’ he asked, making himself comfortable in a chair.

‘It’s a documentary, not a movie, Dad,’ replied Jim, sitting up straighter.

‘I worked on World in Action for six months in my twenties. Fantastic training for novel writing. You’re still telling a story, you still need themes, a point, otherwise you’ll spend twelve months in the editing suite, sifting through the rubble, wondering why a few dozen interviews with a bunch of twenty-year-olds doesn’t make ten minutes of compelling television.’

‘Dad, I thought you had a book to write.’ Jim obviously wanted to get rid of his father.

‘What’s it called, this documentary?’

‘Friends,’ replied Jennifer. ‘Although I read there’s a sitcom coming out with that name, so maybe I’ll have to change it.’

Bryn grunted as if the title didn’t meet with his approval.

?

?How about Hopes and Dreams?’ he said dramatically, sweeping his hand in front of his face as if he were imagining the name made up in lights. ‘Why do we do what we do?’ he continued expansively. ‘To what degree is free will involved in our adolescent career choices, or are we in fact obligated or influenced to make certain professional decisions because of our parents?’

Jennifer nodded thoughtfully as Jim spoke up.

‘So what are you saying? We need to get back to everyone we’ve interviewed and ask to speak to their parents?’

‘That’s exactly what I’m saying,’ said Bryn as he ambled back towards the open porch doors.

‘Thanks,’ shouted Jennifer after him.

Bryn lifted his hand languorously and waved without even turning back.

Jennifer switched off the VHS machine and took out her tape.

‘I should go home.’