Only Just Begun

Moonlightning

Dinner was over, but the night was far from ending. Little by little, the guests scattered through the mansion like pieces on an elegant chessboard — some took refuge in the living room, amidst laughter and wine glasses; others preferred the garden, lit by small lanterns and the shy light of the moon. Jerry, however, didn't quite know where to fit in. He had rejoined Daniel and Tessa, who looked like two kids at an aristocratic amusement park, completely enchanted by the evening. But him? He felt like a character from a book someone had left open on a forgotten page.

And, as expected, his eyes searched for Carol. But she had vanished from the scene. Small, discreet, delicately absent — the way only women who don't need attention can be. And it was precisely that absence that now felt like a missing piece.

— So? What did you think of the dinner?! — Daniel asked, raising his whiskey glass with the enthusiasm of someone making their debut in a Woody Allen film.

— Fantastic! — Tessa exclaimed. — The food, the people, the atmosphere... and I had a conversation with Sir Derek Jacobi! Can you believe that? The man's a legend!

Jerry raised an eyebrow. He had no idea who "Sir Derek Something" was. To him, the man had just been a charming older gentleman who spoke about ethics and sipped wine with style.

— Who's Derek Jacobi?

The question dropped like a grenade between the two devoted fans. Daniel and Tessa stared at him, eyes wide in disbelief, as if he had just uttered heresy.

— You don't know who he is?! — Daniel looked visibly offended. — He's one of the greatest names in British theatre! He's a "Sir"! Worked with all the legends — Olivier, Burton, Harris... the man's a living monument!

Jerry shrugged.

— To me, he's just a charming old man with a good taste for soup and irony.

— He's gay, did you know? — Tessa added, more as trivia than judgment.

— No issue with that. Our host is too.

— Ah, the theatre... full of wonderfully eccentric people. — Daniel sighed.

Jerry, however, was mentally elsewhere. And that "elsewhere" had a name: Carol.

— Carol... is she an actress?

— No. She's an English Literature teacher. But Colin thinks she'd make a great actress. And honestly, after that dessert presentation, I'm starting to agree. — Daniel replied with a smile.

At that moment, Colin approached, gliding in with the discretion of a perfumed shadow. He caught the end of their conversation and jumped in.

— My darlings, are you enjoying the evening?

They all smiled and nodded.

— You outdid yourself, Colin! — Daniel said, trying to impress him.

— And Carol's desserts...? — Colin added theatrically. — That woman is a gift! She teaches, she bakes, she performs... she's like a magical box of talent!

Jerry gave a discreet smile. He liked what he was hearing, though his mind was fixed on finding that "magic box."

— I keep telling her to open a bakery... she refuses. Says her stage is the classroom.

Jerry couldn't resist.

— So, she really is a teacher...

— Yes, and a damn good one. But she's got a rare artistic sensitivity. You should see her lead the school theatre club... pure passion.