Page 80 of Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon
I take a sip of schnapps, and because I know how the world works, I’m pretty sure where this story is going.
“Turns out,” she says, “surprise! He was fundamentally against marriage as it pertained to marryingme.”
“Shit,” I say, handing back the flask. “So, is he married yet, or still engaged?”
She takes a longer drink this time. “He married our dental hygienist in June. Well, she’s justhisdental hygienist now.”
“Ouch,” I say.
“And they have two matching Yorkshire terriers,” she says.
“Wow,” I say. “I should’ve brought more alcohol.”
She turns toward me. “I don’t want to sound weird or, I don’t know, forward. But I like you, Henry. You’re nice.”
“Oh,” I say. “Thanks. You’re nice, too. I like your glasses. Have I mentioned that?”
She touches her frames. “Yeah? You don’t think they’re too big?”
“What? No. I’d go even bigger.”
She laughs again, then hesitates. “Look, I know my thing doesn’t inanyway, shape, or form compare with, well…”
As she trails off, I realize my phone is ringing. I can feel it vibrating in my pocket.
“My point is,” she says, “in a much smaller, far,farless significant way, I’m hurting, too, like you. I’m healing.”
When I ignore a call, I usually get a ping that it’s gone to voicemail, but my phone starts vibrating again. I think of my parents, Grace and the kids, fires, catastrophes. I think of that last call from Brynn. What if my pitch with Win had ended early and I’d answered?
“So, I was thinking,” says Meredith. “Maybe we could try to maneuver through all this togeth—”
“Do you mind if I answer this really quick?” I say, taking out my phone. “I’m sorry. It’s been going off. It might be…”
“Oh, yeah, okay.”
I see Ian’s name. He’s called twice. “Oh, shit.”
“Who is it?”
“It’s my friend, Ian.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, he’s…” And now he’s calling me again. He and Bella are with Miss Nadine, I assume. Maybe something’s wrong. “I’m sorry,” I say. “I need to—”
“Of course,” says Meredith. “Go ahead.”
“Hello? Ian?”
“Henry?”
I put my finger in my ear. “Hi, Ian. You okay? Everything all right?”
“Yeah.” He’s breathless, like he’s been running. “Guess what.”
I relax because he sounds happy. “Um, what?”
“I got inspired, Henry.”
