following me, and we walk out the back. About two-hundred meters from the house and across a green lush paddock sits the large, blue-stone barn. It’s locked with a big rusty padlock. “Where are the keys?” I ask.
Cameron frowns and digs them out of his pocket. He slowly begins to try all the keys, and when the last one works he slowly opens the doors.
The roof is open with big, dark, timber rafters, while the floor is stone. “Oh, this is amazing,” I gasp.
Cameron looks around the barn, deadpan. “This place is woeful.”
I laugh. “Oh, let’s go back to town, buy some camping supplies, and stay here tonight.” I smile hopefully.
“Yes!” Owen squeals.
“Let’s not,” Cameron mutters. “You couldn’t pay me enough to stay out here. God knows what could happen.” He kicks a rock that’s in front of his feet as he looks around. “This is not a fucking episode of the Amityville Horror House, you know.”
I laugh and put my hand over my mouth as I look around. He really is freaking out here.
“Dad…” Owen corrects him.
“Owen!” Cameron snaps as he loses his last inch of patience. “I am a grown man and I can swear when I want to. You are the only one not allowed to swear around here. Stop correcting me.”
Owen widens his eyes at me. “Jeez,” he whispers under his breath.
“Can we stay the night, Cam?” I smile hopefully.
“Absolutely not,” he replies as he leaves the barn and starts to walk back to the house.
“Why not?” I call.
He turns to face me and counts on his fingers. “Where do I start, Ashley? There’s no power, no running water, no bathroom. Things are falling off the hinges. This place is a death trap!”
I smile and shrug. “So?”
His eyes widen. “This is horrible. I can’t stay here, and I won’t have you two stay here, either.” He turns to walk back to the front. “This is worse than third-world.”
“Well, I’m coming back here next weekend,” I call.
“Great,” he shouts back as he opens the door to our car. “You do that while Owen and I arrange our wedding in L.A.” He rolls his eyes. “It’s not like we have nothing to do back home or anything.” He shakes his head in disgust.
“Okay.” I smile as I call after him. I look around the house once more before I lock it up and climb into the car.
Cameron looks at me blankly.
I smile at the big old house. “See you next weekend, Pemberley,” I call.
“Bye,” Owen cries.
“Good riddance,” Cameron mutters as he starts the car. “Let’s go find some coffee.”
Dr Stantons Epilogue Chapter 5
Ashley
“And out here is where we serve cocktails at dusk,” the snooty wedding planner says with her plum-in-mouth accent.
“Ah, yes, lovely.” Cameron smiles enthusiastically as he looks around.
I walk behind them both like a petulant child. The gardens are perfect. The whole thing is perfect. But it’s Sunday and we’re now at the sixth wedding reception venue of the day.
They’re snobby, snooty, pretentious, and wanky… even if they’re all perfectly beautiful.
Cameron turns and holds his hand out to me, and I take it in mine. “This one is nice, Bloss.” He smiles hopefully.
“Yeah.” I sigh, unimpressed as I look around.
“What’s wrong with this one?” Cameron whispers, sensing my disapproval.
I shrug and look around. “Nothing, it’s fine.”
“Fine?” Cam repeats as he rolls his eyes. “This is not fine. This is amazing.”
I sigh. “If you say so.”
“And out here is where the dancing in the marquee will take place after the formal dinner.” She points to the trees. “The trees come alive at night with the fairy lights. It’s so romantic and a real sight to behold,” she purrs as she keeps walking up a fancy garden path to show us something else.
I scowl. “A real sight to behold?” I mouth behind her back.
Cameron smirks and slaps my ass. “Stop it. Will you behave yourself?” he whispers.
We come to a circular private clearing with a bar, table, and chairs sitting in the center of it. “And over here we have the cigar bar.” She smiles.
Cameron’s eyes light up. “Cigar bar? Oh, I like that.”
“We have over two-hundred different types of cigars that your guests may pick from, as well as specialty spirits which will be exclusive to your honored guests.”
I roll my eyes. I’ve never heard anything more ridiculous.
She turns to show us something else down another path.