“I’m liking this! Grace, you’re a natural born scriptwriter!”
“No, I just have a deep appreciation for the truly weird.”
“Let’s do this movie, Grace. Let’s start over and make a good movie about Harp.”
A good movie. About Harp. I looked at Stone as if I’d never seen him before. “I think I’m beginning to like you.”
“What’s not to like? If I were a character in a movie, I’d say I’ve grown. I deserve a happy ending. And so do you. And most of all, so does Harp.”
“Then it’s a deal. We’ll start over, with a new script. One that I get to control.”
“Deal.”
I held out my hand. He grabbed it. We shook. Stone intoned solemnly, “I promise I won’t be tied down by entertaining people. I promise. We won’t try to entertain people at all. We’ll just make a good movie.”
I didn’t bother to debate the fine points of Senterra logic. I just nodded and smiled. “Whatever.”
Chapter 22
A little more than a year-and-a-half later, in late March, I knelt at the foot of Harp’s grave at Ladyslipper Lost, before a small rectangular hole I’d dug. I held a fine box made of old chestnut that had been cut from the Downs’ forest by one of my pioneer ancestors. The box, which Boone had made for me, was, about two-feet long and a foot wide. I’d lined it with one of Harp’s soft chambray shirts.
I set it beside the small grave I’d prepared.
“What’s inside this box,” I said softly, to Harp, “is a gift that can only belong here, with you. Boone and I are the only two people who know this is where it will be. Where it belongs. It won’t bring you back, and it won’t make me hurt any less when I remember you. And I’ll always remember you. And I’ll always love you. Boone and I will honor your memory. This gift . . . well . . . it’s just a symbol of that love, and that respect.”
I opened the box and took the heavy golden Oscar statue in both hands. “Hero. For best picture,” I said. Then I carefully placed the statue back in the box, shut the lid, and lowered the box into the ground. I covered it slowly and methodically, scooping the soft, loamy dirt with my hands. When I neared the top, I took Dancer from her clay pot, and gently planted her there.
“She came from this glen,” I whispered, “and now I’m returning her here, where she belongs. She’ll keep you company. She’s the part of my heart that will always be here, with you.”
I walked out of the forest. Boone waited at the edge, where the cool spring sunlight washed over the trees. The light was beautiful on him, clean and sweet, strong and loving. I smiled. I’d been crying, and Boone could see that, but he saw the smile, too.
“Let’s go build a home, Gracie Vance Noleene,” he said gently.
“Yes. I’m ready.”
He held out a hand.
And I took it.
Charming Grace
Reading Group Guide
1. Boone and Grace are unlikely lovers. Do you think two people from wildly different backgrounds can really be happy together?
2. Stone Senterra is a Hollywood superstar who’s both pompous but good-hearted. Does he remind you of any true-life action-adventure stars?
3. Human tragedies are now fair game for every person with a camera in their cell phone. Do you think this is good for society?
4. Do you believe adult children can re-unite happily with longlost parents?
5. Boone and his brother did their time in prison and paid their debt to society. Neither wants to lead a life of crime again. Do you think most youthful criminals can turn their lives around for the better?
About Deborah Smith
Deborah Smith is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of A PLACE TO CALL HOME, A GENTLE RAIN, and many others. She has written over forty novels including series romance, women’s fiction, mainstream fiction and fantasy. As editorial director and partner in BelleBooks, a small publishing company she co-owns with three other veteran authors, Deborah edits and writes for a variety of books including the Mossy Creek Hometown Series and the Sweet Tea story collections. She also manages BelleBooks Audio. You can now purchase audio downloads of Deb’s newest novels, read by the author. Visit Deb at www.deborah-smith.com or www.bellebooks.com. Send comments to her at [email protected].
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