Page 79 of A Change of Location
“He said he’s coming.”
“Better polish off the bubbly before he gets here. His probation officer advised him not to drink any alcohol.”
Dad’s lamb went into the pie crock with steamed carrots and mushrooms. Mum piled the mashed potatoes on top and made artistic swirls with her spatula.
They used up the champagne in additional toasts—to Liz, and the literary agent, the television networks, the streaming service.
Hannah had enough religious faith to believe that God had pressed a celestial re-set button. Mum was ecstatic about her high-profile television series and book deal. Chase was helping Grampa and was evidently about to become gainfully employed. Dad planned to expand his veterinary practice. She was settled in at Bear Knoll, temporarily but no longer uncomfortably in the aftermath of her uncle’s revelations.
The night brought a shift in the weather, the start of a protracted heatwave predicted by the forecasters. A few minutes in the blazing afternoon sun prompted Hannah to bathe the dogs and cool them down. Her first victim was the reluctant Sadie, and nervous Sasha was the second one to endure a soaking. While the two Shelties raced around the yard, shaking off the excess water, Hannah whistled for the water-loving border collie. Bess trotted over and leaped into the galvanized metal tub.
“Such a good girl,” Hannah said, reaching for the dog shampoo.
Her mother, who was holed up in the den with the window air conditioner going full blast, came outside.
Reaching for the hose, Hannah said, “I should’ve started by brushing the girls. They’re shedding fur like crazy.”
Mum sat down on the picnic table bench. “For a long time, your father and I have been worried about you, sweetie. We try not to pry into your personal life. But we’ve wondered what happened to you and Joel, and if work stress and all the travel might be responsible.”
“Partly.” Mostly it had been Joel’s attitude towards Chase that caused the rift. But her habit of withholding information about her relationships kept her from saying anything more.
“Well, I hope you won’t let your career affect whatever the situation is with you and Martin. We like him very much indeed. It was hard, but I refrained from asking Isobel questions that I daresay she could’ve answered. How the two of you met. Whether you both are as serious about each other as it seemed when he was here.”
Soaping the collie’s fur, Hannah laughed. “This is your way of not prying?”
“It’s my way of saying I’m glad if you’re happier. Whatever the reason.”
“My romantic life is too complex for unadulterated joy,” she admitted. “But now Martin knows where I come from. He doesn’t mind about my uncle doing time for manslaughter. And I’m really glad Chase is home. I’ve been able to talk things out with him. That helped. A lot.”
“Last night, you told us you’ll soon be returning to Cambridge. Before you go, I need to share an idea of mine. I haven’t mentioned it to anyone else yet.”
“I’m all ears.” She wiped her wet hands on her shorts.
Mum’s tone was reflective when she said, “You might not know, but my happiest time, professionally, was making that initial program for public television—my American debut. You and I drove all around New England with Liz and her crew. Remember?”
“Sure. It was fun for me, too.”
“I was so proud of my teenager—mature, creative, responsible. At twenty-seven, you have production credits somebody twice your age would envy. It might not be fair to tell you this, but I’ll regret it if I don’t. I want us to work together again. On my series.”
Hannah’s sponge fell into the tub. “In England?”
“Ireland, too. And Europe, if it’s renewed. There’s no other person as familiar with my style of presenting or more capable of finding the right locations and taking care of logistics. I could also use your help writing scripts for the segments.”
Thinking hard, Hannah pointed the hose at Bess and rinsed off the last suds.
“If you’re interested, my agent can negotiate the details with Liz and her people. She’ll have to decide whether to add you to the Acorn Films payroll, or arrange to put you under contract with the British production studio.”
“I’m definitely interested.” She would seize any opportunity that placed her in England.
“I’m so glad. And I’m not pressing you to decide about this next bit. But if you moved back here, we could start planning the first series.”
Reaching for the towel, she contemplated the invitation. Before yesterday’s conversation with Chase, accepting it would have been impossible, unthinkable. But now that she was aware of having misjudged her parents, she wanted to seal the cracks in her relationship with them.
Liz would soon jet over to England. Eve and Mim were about to take their summer vacations. Without work, and no friends to hang with, Hannah saw no reason to keep her Cambridge apartment, letting monthly rent eat up what was left of her savings. Transporting her small collection of belongings to Bear Knoll could be accomplished with two trips in the Subaru. Erica would have no difficulty finding another tenant. In a matter of weeks, students would descend on Harvard and MIT, seeking accommodations.
She shoved her hair out of her face. “Will you let me have a pony?”
“The usual rules still apply. You can keep any animal you like, so long as you take care of it yourself.”
