Page 25 of Shocking Sapphires
When Avery satme down on the couch one rainy Monday and said, “We need to talk,” I sensed that whatever was coming wasn’t going to be good.
Rather than making me ask, she jumped right in. “I was finally able to speak to Alex.”
I already knew that she’d been frustrated that her brother had been hiding in his writing cave for weeks. When his creative juices were flowing, he didn’t appreciate being interrupted with real life issues, so he cut off contact with everyone but his wife and children.
“He has finished the rewrites to adapt the leading man to being in a wheelchair for theMissing Clairescreenplay, and he thinks it’s an even stronger story now.”
My face scrunched up as I absorbed her words. Everyone in town knew that the movie production company had backed out and the project was halted indefinitely. “Why would he do that when the project isn’t moving forward?”
“Because he’s determined to make sure the movie gets made. He believes it is a story that needs to be told and that it will have the biggest impact as a live-action film,” Avery answered.
“That’s great,” I answered, unable to insert much enthusiasm into my voice. Hearing how unimpressed I sounded, I added, “If anyone is strong and determined enough to make it happen, it’s Alex.”
“You’ve got that right,” Avery responded with unrestrained pride over her brother’s talents.
Taking my hand within hers, Avery said, “In fact, it is happening. He has reached out to Grant Chandler directly. Grant is starting his own production company in order to make this movie.”
Hearing Grant’s name said aloud made the air whoosh out of my lungs. Usually, people were extra careful not to mention him around me because they knew how much it upset me.
“Good,” I croaked around the elephant suddenly pushing its weight into my chest.
“You haven’t even heard the best part…” Avery’s eyes sparkled with the anticipation of sharing the news with me. “Grant Chandler is coming here to begin filming in a few days.”
“Grant’s coming here?” I asked as my heart began racing at the mere idea of it.
“Yes!” Avery squealed as if this was the answer to all of our prayers.
I knew that Grant would likely bring Eva and Jemma along to insulate him from having to deal with me, but the idea of seeing him and Scout again––even from a distance––filled me with hope.
22
Grant
I’d been working my ass off ever since my return to California. I’d removed both Eva and Jemma from my life and hired my own live-in help. After that, I began focusing on getting my body into the best shape possible, considering my new limitations, and being a great dad for sweet little Scout.
As I’d expected, Hollywood had shunned me––especially once Eva publicly announced the break-up.
I was lucky to have plenty of money saved to tide me over. I could probably survive off my movie residuals without ever working another day. I’d just have to figure out a new way to keep my mind and body active.
My plan had been to liquidate my life in California and move to the picturesque little burg in Coastal Maine that had forever changed me. I could live a low-key, happy life there, and maybe someday I would win Molly’s heart. But it was taking longer than expected to tie up all of my loose ends in Hollywood.
Alex’s phone call came at the perfect time. It had felt a little stalker-esque to return to Molly’s hometown when she’d made it obvious that she no longer had room in her life for me or Scout. Starting my own production company and making Alex’s screenplay its first project gave me a perfectly valid excuse for returning. I could worry later about finding a plausible reason to stay there and a way to convince Molly to be with me.
My plump day nurse, Helga, was flaunting her boredom by lounging on my living room sectional and reading a sleazy gossip rag that wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on. As I had worked to become stronger and more independent, my need for her help had significantly lessened.
“It says here that you and Eva Wingate are trying to reconcile by having a hot threesome,” she openly teased me.
“Don’t believe everything you read.” I grinned at her because she knew as well as anyone that there weren’t any wild sex parties happening here.
She opened her eyes wide and said, “Must be some kernel of truth for them to have printed it.”
I shook my head at her before saying, “I’m really going to miss having you give me a hard time every single chance you get. It reminds me of someone I care about very much in Maine.”
“You’ll get to see her again soon,” Helga promised.
“Not sure she wants to see me,” I said sadly.
“How could she not?” Helga sounded outraged on my behalf. Just when I was beginning to think she might have a soft spot in her heart for me, she added, “And even if she’s not into you, how could she not love that sweet son of yours?”
