Of course, Mom insisted on showing the video appeal I’d made for donations to help Peruvians. That was just a notch less mortifying than her foisting my naked baby pictures on this captive audience. I wondered if Quattro had even seen the video, and if he had, whether he had noticed the message I had hidden in the credits. I could hardly stand still at the back of the living room, antsy up to the very end, when the production company name scrolled on-screen: GumWall Studio. The logo featured a neon-orange bicycle leaning against multicolored dots.
Quattro pulled me close and whispered in my ear. “Does my bike get a modeling fee, too?”
“You wish.”
“But seriously, maybe you should think about going into film.”
“Maybe,” I said. Why not be open to new ideas, which could lead to adventures I’d never imagined and possibilities I’d never considered? I was standing in the arms of one such adventure I’d never dreamed I’d have after my heart had shattered, and I had seriously doubted that a right guy could exist for me.
“I loved this the first time I saw it, but it’s even better the second time around,” Quattro said, his eyes serious.
“That’s because the second time around, you actually notice the details,” said Stesha, walking toward us with her arms wide open. “You’ll never guess who made the first donation.”
“Grace,” I said as she first enclosed me in an embrace, then Quattro.
“No, she was the second… along with her new honey.”
“She’s dating Henry?” I asked, grinning.
“Yes,” said Stesha. “Helen was the first.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Christopher’s head jerk up at the mention of Helen’s name, and I smiled.
“The wedding’s off,” Stesha said, popping one of Ginny’s miniature cookies into her mouth. “She’s donating the entire catering budget to the cause.”
“Whoa,” I said, and then admitted, “I’m glad they’re not getting married, but I feel a little bad for Hank.”
“This might be the wake-up call he needed,” Stesha said philosophically and shrugged. “We’ll see.” But now she nodded knowingly at me when everyone started promising to forward the link to the video to all their friends. That, as she said, is how a social revolution starts.
When everyone gathered around the dessert trays, Quattro leaned over to me and said, “Which reminds me that you still owe me a modeling fee and a first date. You’re racking up quite the debts.”
“I still don’t pay modeling fees, but I might make an exception for you.” I smiled archly at him. “That is, if you’re up for a surprise.”