The Bay by Di Morrissey

talking about what one needed to make the big time on the little screen. Could you make me a TV star, Eddie?’
    â€˜I’m not sure you have the magic “it” quality, Mac. But one day we’ll do a little screen test, hey?’
    â€˜Promises, promises. Eddie, meet Holly. New in town. Doing up Richmond House.’
    â€˜Delighted. So you’re the face that goes with the gossip.’ He grinned at her reaction.
    â€˜Gossip?’ said a surprised Holly. ‘Whatever is being said?’
    â€˜That you’re easy on the eye and hard on workers who don’t toe the line.’
    â€˜Oh!’
    â€˜And that’s just for starters,’ he added.
    â€˜Take no notice of Eddie, Holly. He has a terrible reputation with women. Beware.’
    â€˜Fair go, Mac. You’ll ruin my good name.’
    â€˜Already ruined, young man, too late for salvation. I suppose you want me to put in a good word for you to video this gala occasion for the masses not lucky enough to be here?’
    Eddie smiled in acknowledgment. It was a smile that lit up an open friendly face, and Holly couldn’t help but overlook his cheeky demeanour.
    While the women worked out how to facilitate Eddie’s coverage without it becoming intrusive, he made small talk with Holly about her work at Richmond House. He had a cameraman’s eye for an attractive woman and he thought Holly was very beautiful, and certainly had fine photogenic features. There was a softness, a vulnerability to her. She was so simply dressed among the many peacock women that her lovely features and skin, her smooth blonde hair and warm blue eyes were shown to advantage. She must be around forty, he surmised, but could certainly pass for early thirties. He could have guessed she was a new arrival, she had a slightly bewildered, unsure look. Mac had obviously taken her under her wing. Good woman was Mac. He’d had a few heart-to-heart discussions with her. She didn’t know Laura, his ex-wife, for which he was grateful as he thought of Mac as a motherly confidante as well as being very perceptive.
    He focused his attention back onto Holly who was giving him a friendly smile. ‘So what are you going to do with the old place? Glad to know it’s not being bulldozed by developers. I heard a rumour that was in the wind. It’s very historic.’
    â€˜I’m keen to learn more about the history of this place,’ agreed Holly.
    â€˜There’s a bit in the library, but some of the best of the old photographs are up at the lighthouse apparently. I’ve been told that their quality is remarkable considering their age. I intend to really dig into that archive for the doco I’m making on The Bay.’
    Mac returned from talking with the organisers for the evening just in time to hear Eddie mentioning the lighthouse and its pictures. ‘Don’t forget the logbooks they’ve got up there,’ she added. ‘Tina, the ranger, is plugged into that stuff.’
    â€˜I’d love to take a look at them when I have time,’ said Holly.
    â€˜After you get the taps and lights working,’ Mac added, and Holly laughed.
    â€˜Oh jeez, there’s my ex,’ Eddie said. ‘I’ll go talk to my daughter. Tell her not to take any notice of this goddess mumbo jumbo.’ He grinned and neither woman believed him for a moment. Suddenly Eddie turned back to Holly. ‘Look, just a thought. For my doco on The Bay I’d love to include Richmond House, its transformation, its history. Could be a good link to fill in the background to this area.’
    â€˜Sounds interesting. Come up and have a chat about it,’ said Holly, glad she’d come after all.

    The woman at the foot of the steps handed Holly a leaflet and a flower from the basket she was carrying. ‘Pause as you get inside the door for the greeting.’
    Holly stepped through a curtain into the vestibule – and total