Because You're Mine(26)

“Some coffee or tea at least?” he asked. “Since I had to go to town, I stopped for some benne wafers. Come on in. I’d like to talk to you about the plans for the studio, get your input.”

Alanna noticed how Ciara’s smile seemed genuine. Maybe she’d thaw toward Barry eventually. “Come on, Ciara, you can be staying a little longer.”

“Are you having any chocolate benne wafers?” Ciara asked.

“Of course.” Barry took her arm and led her up the steps.

Alanna suppressed a smile. Barry was pulling out all the stops to win over Ciara. He had to sense her hostility. The rest of the band followed them into the house with Jesse bringing up the rear.

Alanna stopped just inside the door, blinking at the dark interior. “I’ll open these curtains,” she muttered.

Jesse shut the door behind them. “Wow, this is really something.” He glanced around at the faded wallpaper and inlaid floors. “I bet this was phenomenal in its heyday.”

“So Barry says.” She pointed to the hall. “I think they went to the kitchen.” She didn’t want to be alone with him, so she stepped quickly to join her husband and mates.

They weren’t alone. Grady stood leaning his back against the counter. He had a benne wafer in his hand. “I finished the lawn and thought I’d start clearing out the rubbish in the summer-house you’ll be using for living quarters for the band next.” His gaze went to Ena and stayed there.

“Where is the building?” Alanna asked.

“In the trees.” Grady gestured out the back window toward the ramshackle building just barely visible.

That was the place Barry intended for Ceol to live? “The place is practically falling down. Is it even possible to make it livable?” Alanna tried to keep the horror from her voice. It would take ages to make it ready.

“It appears worse than it is,” Grady said. “A good cleaning will go a long way. And some minor fix-up.” He couldn’t seem to tear his gaze away from Ena, who was pretending not to notice.

Alanna exchanged a glance with Ciara. “We need to be practicing now. What about the ballroom I heard you mention? And the band could stay here in the house. It’s huge and surely has plenty of space for them.”

“The ballroom needs renovating,” Barry said. “It’s full of junk that I need to go through. And every bedroom that’s been redone is in use. I’m sorry.” His eyes were regretful. “The contractor promised he’d have it all done in two weeks. He has a large crew. It will be fine, you’ll see.”

“We can’t really afford to keep staying at the hotel,” Ciara said. “It’s breaking the bank, it is. I think none of us would mind roughing it.”

Alanna hid her surprise. Ciara’s idea of roughing it was a Holiday Inn instead of a Hilton.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Barry said.

“I could work on the ballroom,” Grady offered. “Get it cleared away.”

“I’d rather go through it myself.” Barry’s smile faded. “You wouldn’t know what was important family history.”

Alanna glanced at the two men. Barry’s shoulders were taut while Grady appeared relaxed, though his expression held glee as though he’d been goading Barry. The question was, what was it all about?

Over tea and bennes, Barry discussed his plans for the band’s space, then said his good-byes to take a conference call in his office upstairs. Alanna saw her group growing restless, and she saw Ciara keep stealing glances out the window. They all wanted to see that studio, and now was as good a time as any. She led her mates and Jesse around the side yard to the carriage house that looked out over waving sea grass and the distant blue of the Atlantic. The fresh tang of salt air sharpened her senses. When she reached the building, she stepped to the door and turned the doorknob, but it was locked. She peered through the dirty windows to a large open room that held stacks of lumber and other building material.

“It’s not looking like he’s even started it,” Ciara said beside her.

“Likely more has been done than we can tell,” Alanna said. “None of us knows two shillings about construction, and it’s hard to see.”

“This place hasn’t been touched in years, maybe decades,” Jesse said. “Look at the dust on the floors. Still thick as hay in a barn.”

Hadn’t Barry said they’d begun work? Maybe she had misunderstood. Jesse was right—no hammer had touched this place in many a day. Barry had said it would be ready in two weeks, but she saw no way of getting the place ready in time to prepare for the concert.

If her new husband wasn’t going to make it a priority, she was. “We must find a place to practice—and somewhere for you all to live,” Alanna said.

Ena glanced back at the mansion. “Have you explored that place? Maybe there’s room in the basement or the ballroom for the drums.”

“Barry said the ballroom was a mess, but it still might suit. Shall we be checking it out?” Ciara asked.

“I haven’t had time to explore yet. Some of the rooms might be livable too.” Alanna’s gaze rose to the top dormer windows. “The ballroom is on the third floor. We could go up there and look.”

“Not sure I want to haul heavy drums up three floors,” Jesse said. “The porch will do for now. Or just the yard.”