“Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
“I’ve got just the thing for you.” I turn to her, put my arm around her and lead her inside to eat.
“You made this all by yourself?”
“Sure did. I had to boil water and everything.”
“I thought you didn’t know how.”
“I watched a video on YouTube.”
She laughs while I pour us both a glass of chilled chardonnay, and we dig into the meal, which is surprisingly good, considering I made it.
“How’re you feeling?”
“Great. The nap was just what I needed. I’m starting to feel like my old self again.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I like your old self a lot.”
“Sorry to be such a drag this week.”
“Don’t be sorry. You were sick.”
I twirl pasta around my fork, but I lose my appetite thinking about the film idea I want to run past her.
“What’s on your mind over there?” She’s looking at me over the top of her wineglass.
“An idea that’s been running around in my head.”
“What sort of idea?”
“The kind you’re either going to love or hate. I can’t decide which.”
“What sort of sexual torture have you dreamed up for me now?”
“Not about sex, although when you ask me things like that, it gives me other ideas.”
Her cheeks flush with color. “Forget I asked, then.”
“I won’t forget, but the idea is about your story.”
“My story? What about it?”
Here goes nothing… “It would make for a rather compelling film.”
For a moment, she’s expressionless, and then her mouth opens and closes again.
“You want to make a movie about what happened to me?”
“I would like to consider the possibility.” I’m unable to determine her true feelings, because her expression is totally blank.
“You’ve gone from not wanting to talk about it in the interview with Carolyn to wanting to make a movie about it?”
“I’m only talking to you about making a movie. I’m saying I think it’s an amazing story of resilience, perseverance, courage and determination with a happy ending for the ages. It’s tailor-made for Hollywood.”
Again she’s silent as she contemplates what I’ve said.
“Of course, the only way anything happens with your story is if you want it to. I’m only suggesting that it could be a great film. I’m not saying it has to be.”
“So you won’t be disappointed if I don’t want to do it?”
“Nope. As always, I want you to be happy. If it makes you unhappy to pursue it, then it won’t happen.”
“How would it work if I were interested?”
“First, we’d buy the rights to your story, which would give you that financial independence you’re so fond of.”
“Most people are fond of being financially independent.”
Smiling at her predictably saucy reply, I continue. “Next, we’d hire a screenwriter to put the story together. Once we have a script that you and I approve of, then we get busy making it happen.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“It’s not. It’s a long and involved process to take something from idea to the big screen, but it’s also an exciting and energizing process.”
“I can see that you’re excited by the possibility.”
“I am excited. Since the idea came to me the other day, it’s been constantly on my mind. That’s usually a good sign to me that I’m on to something. But as I said, it would be totally up to you.”
“And no hard feelings if I choose not to go there?”
“Seriously, Nat? I could never have hard feelings where you’re concerned.”
“Seems to me you have hard feelings frequently where I’m concerned.”
Her comment makes me laugh. “Very funny. But all kidding aside, I’ve got avalanching piles of scripts and potential projects on desks in three offices. I’ll find something else that interests me. Don’t worry about that.”
“I’d like to think about it.”
“Take all the time you need, and feel free to say no. I promise that if you do, that’ll be the end of it.” I reach for her and bring her onto my lap because I need to hold her right now. “If you’re at all interested, it’s something you should consider very carefully. By now you have a better idea of the kind of attention it would generate and whether or not you can handle that. I’ve already asked so much of you. I don’t want this to be another thing you feel you have to do for me. This is about you and sharing your incredible story with the world. It’s yours to tell or not tell, and that will always be the case.”
“I appreciate that you find my story compelling enough to even consider something like this.”
“It’s an incredibly compelling story. I’d love to tell the whole world how lucky I am to be married to you.”
She smiles and kisses me. “I’ll think about it.”
“Okay, then. You and I have a hot date tonight, and we need to get ready.”
“Get ready how?”
“Come with me, and I’ll show you.”
Chapter 13