Shocking Sapphires - Ann Omasta Page 0,48

lowering their arms along with us. It was a warm, heartfelt moment of community and harmony.

The upbeat, fast choreography had each of us on the stage breathing hard by the end of the song, even though we’d only been using our arms to propel us around.

The other men smiled widely as they watched their families, friends, and acquaintances cheer wildly for their performance. I was thrilled for them that our routine had been a success, but this was just the beginning of tonight’s monumental events for me.

38

Grant

When the cheers finally began to die down, I said, into the mic, “Weren’t they great?”

This question was met with more whoops and hollers. “We brought you out here tonight in part because we are trying to raise money to make sure safe, wide paths and ramps are made available, so people in wheelchairs are able to access all of the gorgeous local landmarks and points of interest that make this pristine location unforgettable.”

“The fund has been seeded with a hundred-thousand-dollar donation from an anonymous donor,” I paused to wink at Molly. I didn’t want to brag about my gift to the fund, but I also didn’t want to keep any secrets from her.

“All of the local heroes you saw performing up here onstage tonight have made generous donations as well, after seeing first-hand how difficult it can be. If you are able to, please drop a donation into one of the collection bins on your way out. Every penny counts, and I will personally make sure the money is put to good use.”

Quickly moving on, I said, “Now, enough about that… You were promised a movie––not a night watching goofy, old codgers try to dance in wheelchairs.”

After the chuckles subsided, I said, “If we do this again, I’ll probably finagle it so we watch one of my films, but tonight we are watching the love of my life’s favorite animated classic, The Tiny Mermaid, with a few minor modifications.”

Several people clapped and murmured as the stage lights were adjusted down and the opening to the movie started.

I made my way off the stage and approached the area where Molly was seated with the few girlfriends that she had invited to join her in the primo seating area.

“Bonnie took Scout back to the inn to put him to bed. The poor little guy couldn’t keep his eyes open,” she whispered near my ear when I arranged my chair right next to her lawn chair.

I nodded, since I had assumed that was where he was.

When I reached out to take Molly’s hand within my own, she leaned over to say, “The love of your life, huh?”

Her wide smile was absolutely breathtaking when I answered, “Absolutely.”

As the movie played, my nerves kicked into overdrive. Eventually, I had to let go of Molly’s hand because mine was sweating so profusely. I swiped both of my palms on my pants legs, but it didn’t seem to help the dampness.

I hadn’t seen this movie in ages, so I wasn’t exactly sure when the special edits I’d requested were going to kick in.

Just as I was beginning to wonder if we might have played the wrong version of the movie, it seamlessly transitioned to the one I’d had doctored by David James, an old friend from Hollywood who worked in animation.

The mermaid’s hair had turned into a muted chestnut color, and her facial features matched the picture I’d sent to David of Molly. The animated prince already had similar features to me, so the main change for him was placing him in a wheelchair.

Several people in the audience whispered about the revisions, but I only cared about one person’s reaction, and she was staring, riveted, at the screen.

I had phoned in to do my own lines, and Kristen Lawrence had voiced Molly’s part. For a low-budget project, the cartoon characters’ mouth movements lined up quite well with our words. I would have to give David a hefty bonus for pulling off my vision so spectacularly.

We had modified the parts of the movie that Molly didn’t like and created our own alternative ending. In this one, my version of the prince promised to love Molly’s character for the rest of their lives and not to ask her to give up anything or change for him in any way.

Tears were pooling in Molly’s eyes as the cartoon version of me pulled an engagement ring from his pocket at the same moment as I made the same action in real life. For the