Because You're Mine(44)

“What about practice?”

“Barry will bring me in later today.” She didn’t know what to be making of his aversion to her driving. They needed to get that straightened out. She’d not be living as a prisoner in this place, her movements subject to Barry’s discretion.

“Lass, we’ve got to get cracking on getting ready for the tour.”

“I know,” Alanna said.

“Where are we practicing today?”

She chewed on a hangnail. “I thought we might just work at the hotel.”

“There’s no room. It has to be at your house. The living room there is huge. Or we could even set up on that veranda again. I could get the girls together and grab Jesse.”

Alanna had an idea of what her mother-in-law’s expression would look like with the music ringing out on the lawn, but right now she didn’t care. “Righto then, get them together. I’ll tell Barry not to bother running me to town.”

“We’ll be there within the hour.”

Alanna put her phone away and went to find her husband, but the office door was shut and she heard the murmur of his voice behind the door. He’d already started his phone conference. She’d have to make sure they set up where the noise wouldn’t disturb him.

The living room would be too close. So was the veranda. Maybe one of the upper floors would work, though they’d have to haul everything up there.

“Good morning.”

She turned to see her mother-in-law standing in the living room entryway. “Good morning. I hope you slept well.”

“Very well, thank you. I just made coffee. Would you care for some?”

“No thank you. I have to avoid too much caffeine.”

“Oh, of course, the baby. I just made muffins though, and they’re still warm. Come along to the kitchen.” Patricia turned toward the kitchen without waiting for a response.

Alanna followed her. Patricia’s attitude had done a major readjustment overnight, but she was wary of the sudden hospitality. “The muffins smell delicious.”

“Chocolate chip.” In the kitchen Patricia put one on a plate and carried it to the table. “Milk?”

“Yes, please.” Alanna accepted the muffin, then slid into a chair. She took a bite of the warm bread. “Very good.”

Patricia put a glass of milk in front of Alanna. “I want to apologize for my behavior last night. I was overtired and very rude. I do hope you’ll forgive me.”

“Of course,” Alanna said. “I understand.” In truth, Patricia’s attitude still puzzled her. She thought it best not to bring up the baby again.

“What are you going to do today?” Patricia asked with a bright smile. She sat across from Alanna and took a bite of her muffin.

“My mates are coming out to practice. Our tour starts in a few weeks, and we’re quite unprepared.” She took a sip of the cold milk. “I’m trying to figure out where we might practice. Somewhere that the sound doesn’t carry to the office. Barry is on a conference call.”

“I know just the place! The ballroom on the third floor would be perfect.”

“I’d thought of it, but we have quite a lot of equipment to haul up.”

“There’s a dumbwaiter for that type of thing. I’ll show you when you finish your breakfast.”

The idea of using the top floor grew on her, and Barry had even said it might work once he helped her clear out the rubbish. “What’s the condition up there?”

“Boxes of things not in use and old furniture are stored up there, but you can have Grady move them to the attic. Or just shove them to the walls. There should be plenty of space.”

Alanna gobbled the last few bites of her muffin, then stood. “I’d quite like to see the dumbwaiter now if you don’t mind.”

Carrying her cup of coffee, Patricia led Alanna to the pantry. There was a white door tucked away in a corner. She opened it and revealed a deep metal lift and a system of pulleys. “Plenty of room even for the drums.”

“Fantastic,” Alanna said. “Thank you so much. I’ll run up the stairs and check out the ballroom now.”

Patricia glanced at her watch. “I’d come with you, but I’ve got a hair appointment in half an hour and just have time to get there. Follow the hall to the back. You’ll find another flight of stairs to the third floor.”

Alanna said good-bye, then did as her mother-in-law suggested. She found the stairway at the back of the hall. Dust coated the stairs. There were no prints to suggest anyone had been this way in quite some time. She reached the landing of the third floor and gasped. The ceiling towered at least sixteen feet over her head. Elaborate moldings detailed the ceiling painted in cherubs. The wood floor was smooth and tight. It would be a dream to dance here.

Lovely old furniture occupied part of the space as well as several trunks. Alanna went to the nearest one and lifted the lid. Colorful dresses lay inside, mostly silk and satin. They appeared to be from the turn of the twentieth century. She held up a cream one detailed in handmade lace. “Lovely,” she murmured. She thought it might even fit her.

She’d have to have a try on sometime, if the fabric wasn’t too delicate. Shoving a few of the lighter pieces of furniture aside, she thought they would have room to set things up. On the way back to the stairs, she saw the van arriving and hurried down to meet her mates.