Page 66 of Dreams Come True at the Fairytale Museu
‘It must’ve been nice to catch up with Warren after so many months…’ I attempt small talk again, even though I already know she isn’t the type to appreciateorreciprocate it.
‘Oh, I think my son has been gettingmorethan well enough acquainted around here without my input, don’t you?’
I don’t know how much he’s told her, presumably noteverythingthat’s been going on between us, so I aim for on-the-fence neutrality. ‘It’s been a pleasure to have him. He’s had some wonderful ideas for the museum going forwards.’
Her cold blue eyes glance up at me. ‘Yes, he definitely earns his keep as the company’s “fear not, all is not lost” man.’
Like someone’s placed an ice cube on the back of my neck and it’s slowly sliding all the way down my spine, I get a flashback to the day he arrived. Those words are exactly what he said to me.Fear not, all is not lost.
‘Yes, I always send him in before redevelopment so the businesses feel like they’ve got a fighting chance. He’ll “try his best” to save them, but unfortunately, circumstances are such that they can’t be saved, but at least they gave it their best try, and he helps to let them down gently. It saves all manner of pesky lawsuits in the future.’
It’s a cold early-December day, but the metaphorical ice cube is still sending freezing dismay up my spine. Isthatwhat he’s been doing here? Hasthatbeen his job all along? To ‘let me down gently’ and make me feel like Berrington Developments did all they could while watching the bulldozers level my museum to the ground?
‘It helps if the business owners think they’ve given it their all. I understand that running a business is often a passion and it’s not easy to say goodbye to that, but we are businesspeople. It’s never personal – we do what’s best for business. And for this place…’ She wafts her other hand towards the shops of Ever After Street as we walk past them. ‘…Unfortunately, that’s demolishing your building and replacing it with a multi-million-pound cinema complex. The construction alone will provide many jobs for local people, and once completed, it will be a beacon of regeneration for the area and bring many extra visitors to this quiet little spot. A triumph for all of us.’
‘No.’ I struggle to splutter out a response. ‘It would be the worst?—’
‘That’s the plan. It always has been, it always will be.’ She pats my arm with the hand hooked through it. ‘I wouldn’t want you to think my son is something he’s not.’
‘Like on my side?’ I say more to myself than to her. Is that what she’s getting at? That Warren is not now, and never has been, on the side of the museum? That he’s been here solely to make me feel like I had a fighting chance while knowing full well that I did not?
She can tell that I’m biting the inside of my cheek to hold back my emotions. ‘He’s a businessman. I should surely hope that he is on the side ofourcompany, and nothing more. Despiteappearances.’
There’s such an intonation on the word that she definitely knows there’s something going on between us, and I find myselfreallyprickling at what she’s implying. Thatthisis all part of Warren’s job? Is he tasked with seducing business owners to save them suing his company in the future? That can’t be true. What’s happened between me and Warren has been… organic. Real. He’s been so happy at the museum. Truly happy, not faking it for a job, and I don’t know if she’s saying this to unbalance me, or to make me question his intentions, but it’s impossible to believe.
‘What appearances?’ I decide to play dumb and see if I can wheedle more of an explanation out of her, because Icannotbuy that Warren has been anything but genuine lately.
‘I came because I see my son making the same mistake I once made – with you.’
Falling in love? She can’t really be implying that, can she? I decide to stick up for him and whatever it is I’ve been feeling in these last couple of weeks. I can’t work out if she’s deliberately trying to make me second-guess his intentionsbecauseshe knows there’s something happening between us, and I’m surprised that Warren has either told her or let it be so obvious that she’s worked it out for herself. I didn’t think he’d be willing to let her see his professional front slip that much. ‘I see someone who’s been taught to be ashamed of something he can’t control, to hide it rather than seek help, and who thinks that opening his heart is the worst thing he can ever do.’
‘It is. Worst thing I ever did.’
‘That can’t be true. You had love. You have a wonderful son. Things to be so thankful for that would never have happened if you hadn’t met your husband, despite the pain his passing brought. That whole “it’s better to have loved and lost” thing…?’
‘You are young and naïve.’
She was probably going to continue, but I interrupt as politely as I can. ‘That’s the last thing I am.’
‘You believe in magic and love and hope. You believe in making wishes.’
‘No, I don’t. I believe in my friends, in the street I’ve worked on for over a decade, in my museum and the people who come here. It’s hard work, a business I’ve poured my heart and soul into because I love it. Because I believe the joy in life comes from the small, unexpected moments, and I love having a chance to help people experience that, as much as I know that I also have to earn money, and enough of it to pay the increased rent along with everything else.’
‘The rent will not be increased, Miss Carisbrooke.’
I feel a brief flutter of hope, but it’s quickly snuffed out by her tone. ‘That was merely an artificial goal for you to focus on. My son has let feelings get involved and now doesn’t have the heart to be honest with you. The museum will not be saved. All of your antics, although very amusing, will make no difference. Berrington Developments have weathered many storms, faced much public backlash, but we persist. A large company is unaffected by such trifles. People get their knickers in a knot, and then they move on, because there’s nothing they can do about it. I don’t care if you’ve got thousands of signatures on a petition. I don’t care if you’ve got hordes of little kids crying about magical wells and wishes coming true. I don’t even care if you’ve done a number on my son. I acquired this land to build a cinema complex in an idealistic location that will be very profitable for all involved. Public opinion means nothing to me. Money speaks. If you have some way of assuring me that you can earn far more than my cinema complex and create more jobs and do more for the area…’
‘Warren suggested… I mean, he said that obviously this place is already in situ. It’s already up and running. It might not earn as much, but it also won’t cost anything to demolish and build new in its place. That’s where savings could be made.’ I try not to get emotional at her implications. I push myself to sound unattached and practical, and I wish Warren was here with the right businesslike words to make it sound as logical as it sounded when he said it to me, because I’m struggling to fight the tidal wave of rising panic. This has all been for nothing. And maybe my trust in Warren really has been misplaced too.
When my words make no impact on her, I try again. ‘What would you do if someone turned up at your office and told you they were taking over and you had to go? You love your company, you’ve given it your everything for so many years. How can you think it’s okay to do that to other people? How would you react if someone did that to you? Would you not fight back in every way you knew how?’
‘I’d have the ability to separate my emotions from common sense. To know if I was flogging a dead horse. Your museum has stood there for ten years. It’s never-changing. Just because you get the occasional bright idea or add something new to showcase your papier-mâché talents, it doesn’t change the fact that no one comes. A few “moving exhibits” that have captured some young imaginations will make no difference in the long run, you’re clever enough to know that.’ We’ve reached the car park and she slows to a stop so she can look at me. ‘I’ll be honest with you. One of the reasons I came here today is because I’ve had an investor pull out due to your antics, so I need you to stop. What you and your friends are doing is prolonging the agony and making life more difficult for yourself. Accept that your museumwillbe going by the spring, make peace with it and make your future plans. Otherwise, there will be a lot of children out there who will have their magical hopes and dreams destroyed. We will not be tarred by this, but you will be. Trust me, Miss Carisbrooke, if you stand against us and try to drag our company through any more mud, when this house of cards falls, it will fall onyou.’
The metaphor makes me shudder, but also shows that theyareconcerned about backlash, and her earlier words about weathering storms were not as assured as they sounded, and it gives me a boost of confidence. ‘I’ll level with you too. If you’ve got investors pulling out and you’re rattled enough to come all the way here from London, then we’re doing exactly what we should be doing, and businesswoman to businesswoman, no, I’m not going to stop. I’m not going to give up on something I love as much as I love Colours of the Wind, and I’m not going to stop falling in love with your son either. No matter what doubts you’re trying to instil, I trust Warren.’ It’s my turn to sound more secure than I feel.
We’re approaching an imposing black car, and as soon as we do, a smartly dressed chauffeur jumps out and opens the door, and holds his arm out to help her in.
‘That, Miss Carisbrooke, is a grave error.’ She dips her head to look out of the car door at me. ‘One that, I suspect, you’ll come to regret.’
