Chapter 278: Beaulieu
Monday, January 30th, Evening
The early evening Ivy Kowalski herself lost in the East Range of Beaulieu Manor. Standing in one of the galleries, she looked at some of the artwork and the millwork. After a sigh, she walked over to one of the windows and set her hands on the sill. The grass outside the window, below her, showed the ravages of a cold winter. Tucked in one corner of the courtyard were what looked like a couple of houses.
Over the past few days, Ivy learned that Beaulieu Manor, though it looked like a single building, was, in fact, a complex of buildings. The complex is in five sections, called ranges, North, South, East, West, and Clock Tower. The West Range is where Brooke's fashion business calls home. Most of the North Range belonged to the Beaulieu Manor Bed & Breakfast, mostly, as Brooke maintained a gym, tennis court, and sauna in the North Range. The East Range is Brooke's residence and some guest housing, which Ivy knew she wasn't put up in. The South Range had offices for the people that ran Beaulieu Manor, the grounds, and some entertainment for the East Range. The Clock Tower Range divided the court into the Inner Court and Outer Court. The Clock Tower itself also functioned as a gatehouse between the two courts. The Clock Tower Range connects to the East and West Ranges. Brooke's son maintained an apartment in the Clock Tower, where the rest of the Clock Tower Range had guest housing, the east side for the East Range, and the West Range's west side.
Ivy shrugged and looked over to her left. Ivy saw Kay's sister, Candace, walk down the gallery. Ivy has been in a relationship with Karen "Kay" Scott for about four months, figuring their first date was a Halloween Event at a bar they both liked. This week has been her first time meeting anyone from Kay's family.
"Hey Ivy, isn't it?" Doctor Candace "Candi" Scott, MD, asked as she walked over to the window. Candi stood next to Ivy and looked out the window. Ivy noted that Candi was tanned; only Candi and her friends had tans of all the people at Beaulieu.
"Yes, my name's Ivy; we met a few days ago," Ivy said, knowing Candi and her two friends were staying in the east part of the Clock Tower Range.
"I'm horrible with names," Candi said, with a shrug.
"I think we all are with new people," Ivy said, matter-of-factly.
"So, whatcha doing?" Candi asked.
"I'm sort of lost," Ivy said, admitting.
"You're roughly where the North Range and the East Range meet; you're still in the family area," Candi said.
"So, what is this courtyard?" Ivy asked.
Candi nodded. Ivy noticed that Candi only vaguely looked like her sisters. Ivy wondered if she looked more like their brother. Of all the siblings' Ivy met, Candi, resembled Kay the most, where Ellie and Sawyer looked the most alike. In a tall family, Candi was one of the taller sisters; Kay was just slightly taller. Candi also had brown hair, where her three sisters were blondes. "Brooke named this the Guest Court since those two buildings are guest cottages," Candi said.
"So, you know a lot about this place," Ivy mentioned offhandedly.
"I grew up close friends with Chase, Izzy, and Fallon," Candi said.
"I see; who stays in those guest houses?" Ivy asked.
"Julian Baker, the producer rents one, and the other one is currently where my grandparents are staying," Candi said.
"So, you're a doctor, from what Kay tells me," Ivy said.
Candi nodded, "I'm a pediatrician and working on my second specialty," she said.
"What as?" Ivy asked.
"Cardiologist, I want to help kids with heart conditions," Candi said.
"You never wanted to be a professional basketball player?" Ivy asked.
"Nope," Candi said, "Always wanted to be a doctor; basketball only paid for my undergrad."
"Oh," Ivy said.
"How did you meet Kay?" Candi asked.
"The usual way you meet people as an adult," Ivy said.
Candi nodded and looked out the window.
"How'd you meet your friends?" Ivy asked.
"Fawn and I went to med school together. Mads is a housemate, and all three of us work at the same hospital," she said.
Ivy nodded, "This place is amazing," she said.
"Brooke spent a lot of money on this place and years of construction time," Candi said.
"How about all that beautiful artwork?" Ivy asked.
"I believe all the artwork is from local artists," Candi said.
"You don't say," Ivy said.
"I believe your paramour has a few pieces somewhere around here," Candi said.
"Really? Are you sure?" Ivy asked.
"I believe so," Candi said.
Ivy shrugged and studied the lawn. "This place must be amazing at the holidays or in the summer," she said.
"Those moments that people awkwardly try to extend the conversation," Candi said.
"What do you mean?" Ivy asked.
"There's always a moment in a conversation when it ends, but someone just tries to keep it artificially going," Candi said.
"Oh, I see," Ivy said.
"Yeah," Candi said.
"Have you always been so sardonic?" Ivy asked.
"Not always," Candi said, quietly.
"Kay doesn't talk about you much. Not that she discusses her family much, but she talks about you the least," Ivy said.
"Kay and I don't always get along," Candi said.
"That happens. I didn't always get along with my brother Micky," Ivy said.
"Micky?" Candi asked.
"Michal, but we've always called him Micky," Ivy said.
Candi snorted, "Keith was the only one of us that didn't have a nickname," she said.
"They always call Sawyer by her name," Ivy pointed out.
"Now," Candi said, "Growing up, her nickname was Sassy."
"Sassy, you say?" Ivy asked.
"Yes, and please, don't call her that," Ivy said.
Ivy nodded, "Sassy," she said, "I can see that for her."
"She was," Candi said, and then chuckled, "I mean she is, still a handful."
Ivy chuckled, "But I noticed Keni seems kind of dower," she said.
"Keni's just rebelling; she wants to stand out among her sisters," Ivy said.
Ivy nodded, "They all seem kind of, well, posh," she said.
"Have you met Chase yet?" Candi asked.
"Chase? I don't think so; I'd remember a name like that," Ivy said.
"Chase leaves an impression," Candi said.
"Who is Chase exactly?" Ivy asked.
"Brooke's oldest," Candi said.
"Where is she?" Ivy asked.
"She lives not far from here," Candi said.
Ivy nodded, "Yeah?" she asked.
"Yes," Candi said, "And speaking of Brooke's daughters, here come one now."
Ivy turned to see Trin standing down by the end of the wall where two galleries met. Candi didn't look away from the Guest Court and just nodded.
