“You did?” Caro asks. “Why?”
“They made Rose of Sharon nurse a total stranger at the end,” Hope says. “Only a dude would write that.”
“She wanted to, though,” Ash says. “Or, like, Grandma wanted her to. And Grandma’s a woman. And Rose of Sharon did it because she wanted to save his life. I think it’s beautiful. It represents sacrifice.” She tilts her head. “But yeah, you’re right. Steinbeckwasa guy, obviously.”
“It’s gratuitous.” Hope doesn’t know why she’s so furious about this, but she is. Maybe because Rose of Sharon was the only decent female part,and now Hope doesn’t want to read for it because she’s not going to nurse an old man on camera, even if it might win her an Oscar. “They could have, like, put it in a bottle,” Hope says. “Or a cup.”
“Oh my gosh,” Ash says. She is laughing so hard that Hope can see literal tears streaming down her face.
“I think what the book shows is true,” Caro says. “The women are what holds the center.”
She’s right. They’re both so wonderful that Hope decides she’s going to go ahead and do it. This is getting ridiculous, and if her being who she is ends up being a dealbreaker, better to find that out sooner rather than later before she gets too attached. (It’s too late. She’s already too attached.) The pandemic has been far, far easier on rich people and famous people (and Hope is both) than it has on about anyone and everyone else, but she is lonely as hell.
“Guys!” she says. “I think my camera is finally working.”
“Oh, wow!” Ash says. “Are we going to get to see you?”
Hope clicks the camera button so that her face now shows up on-screen. They’ve only known her as Grace—that’s the name she used the first time they met and she’s logged in under that name every time since. “Hey,” she says. There’s a quaver in her voice. “I didn’t give you my real name to start with. I’m Hope.”
The response is gratifying. Ash gasps, covering her mouth, recognition immediate. Caro takes a couple of seconds longer, as if she knows who Hope is but can’t quite believe it. “Oh,” she says, finally, “it’syou.”
And even though Hope has heard this before, even though she knows the“It’s you”only means that they know who she is, somehow it sounds different this time. Somehow she feels like they really do recognize her, that they’ve known her and been waiting for her, all along.
53
NOW
TEXTS
To Ash, from Wade:
Ash, I changed my mind. I’m waiting for you in the parking lot of Seraph’s Perch.
You’ve spent the past two years in a relationship with these women instead of where you should be, with me.
What has it really gotten you? Are you happy?
Come with me.
Let’s go home.
To Ash, from Maggie:
Mom what is going on?
Why are you and Dad being so weird?
He’s in Utah doing some hike with Uncle Derek.
Where areyou?
To Caro:
Hello. My name is Owen Nelson.
My wife Esther died during a c-section where you were the anesthesiologist. You and I have run into each other from time to time in the neighborhood over the past few years.
I need to talk to you.
