Shocking Sapphires - Ann Omasta Page 0,19

and muttered, “You, too.”

“Look, man, this is a god-awful thing that happened to you. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, but you’ll bounce back and be a stronger man for it,” Alex predicted.

“Stop blowing smoke up my ass,” Grant said crassly, and I felt like kicking him in the shin––even though he wouldn’t feel it.

Ignoring my obvious ‘shut the hell up’ look, he went on, “I know that you’ll want to recast the movie. You really didn’t have to come all the way down here to tell me that. I guess it eases your conscience or whatever, but you don’t need to feel guilty. I’d do the same thing if I were in your shoes. This is a business. You want your movie to succeed, and it’s not going to do that with a leading actor that can’t even walk.”

Alex raised a brow in my direction before turning back to ask Grant, “Done putting words into my mouth?”

Grant looked properly chastised as he nodded.

“I was going to tell you that I would love to keep you as the male lead in the movie, if you’re still interested. It will take a few extra months to complete the rewrites, but I think having a wheelchair-bound hero will make a much better story in the end. Besides, that will give you some time to master your wheelchair skills.”

“You don’t have to do this,” Grant said, looking down.

“I know that,” Alex snapped before softening his tone. “The story was missing something before, so––”

Interrupting him, Grant inserted, “So, having a cripple for everyone to feel sorry for is just the gimmick you needed to make the story pop.”

“No.” Alex slowly shook his head to confirm the single word. “This story needs to be raw, emotional, and real. I want people to feel like they’ve had a moving experience that will stick with them for days after leaving the theatre. If I don’t accomplish that with the rewrites, you tell me, and I’ll redo them until I get them right.”

Alex’s sincerity rang through in his voice. Grant blinked up at him as if he didn’t quite dare to believe him.

After a long moment of unflinching staring between the two of them, Grant finally said, “Wow, man, that sounds great.”

“Phew!” Alex let out a whoosh of air as if he’d been holding it. “I was scared that I had just lost the only leading man that could do this project justice.”

Evidently deciding that sounded overly cocky, Alex added, “I’ve written many books, but this one is especially near and dear to my heart. It’s basically a love letter to my magnificent, understanding, and resilient wife. I wouldn’t want anyone but you to play the character that is based on me.”

Grant beamed with pride at the compliment. “Thanks. I’ll try to make you proud.”

“I’m sure you’ll be great. I need to go get started on those rewrites,” Alex said as he turned and headed for the door.

After the room’s door closed behind Alex, Grant’s signature, beaming smile, which I’d never seen in real-life made an appearance as he said, “I need to double down on my physical therapy. I have the role of a lifetime to prepare for.”

15

Molly

In the following months, Grant seemed to have a renewed passion for life. He was eventually moved from his dismal hospital room to a slightly less depressing room at a rehabilitation facility. He worked so hard during physical therapy to build his upper body strength; he seemed to have limitless energy when it came to reconditioning his body.

When I asked him about it, he merely said, “I can do anything when I’m preparing for a role. I once lost fifty pounds to play a dying man.”

I remembered that particular movie. I’d sobbed for days after watching my favorite actor wither away to almost nothing as the cancer ravaged his body. Even though I knew that it was merely a part he was playing, it had been remarkably believable. In fact, I felt that he’d been robbed of the Academy Award that year, and I told him so.

“You’re preaching to the choir, sweet lady. I had to be gracious and pretend that I was happy for Hemsworth, but deep inside I was seething. I’d truly believed that Oscar was mine.”

“Really?” I asked him, stunned. I’d watched the awards show that year, since I was so certain Grant was going to win. Although I’d been outraged when his name wasn’t called, he appeared to be completely nonchalant about the loss.

Grinning,