For the Love of His Life by Fiona McGier Page B

give his wife a hobby. Instead they both work their butts off on it and like to produce the best wines they can. These days he’s even making some money doing it. And he still reads scripts and makes movies when he’s in the mood. From what he told me he got a writer he knows to take his notes and turn it into the script you’re going to use. When he was a little boy and used to spend summers up here because both of his parents were working, he used to hang on every word Grampa said about his memories of his great-grandfather.”
    “That’s Hank Maynard, right? The man I’m going to be playing?”
    “Yeah. You don’t really look much like him, but the fact Jared thinks you are right for the role must mean you are. He’s always wanted to make this movie. Now he’s famous and rich enough, he can afford to.”
    “And what’s he got to lose casting me, huh? If I blow it, the movie will bomb and no one will blame him. They’ll say he chose the wrong actor…that I’m only good for action movies with explosions, or rom-coms where I can do half the movie naked.”
    “But what if he’s right and you are perfect for the role? Wouldn’t that be cool?”
    “Would you be proud of me?” He regretted the words the instant they left his lips. I sound so insecure .
    Veronica walked back over to the table and sat on the chair across from him and nodded.
    “Why yes…yes I would. Because it would mean you did justice to one of my family’s ancestors. And that you justified Jared’s belief in you. And that you are more than just a pretty face.” She grinned at the surprised look on his face. “And somehow I think you would be even more surprised than everyone else.”
    He gave her a crooked smile in return. “Yeah, I guess.”
    She glanced at her watch. “Shit! It’s later than I thought! I’ve got to run into town and meet with a prospective new client. I had no idea we’d been talking this long.”
    “I’m sorry I’ve kept you,” he began then stopped when she gave him a shy smile that touched him down to his toes after first taking a quick detour via his groin.
    “It’s okay. I’ve enjoyed talking to you.”
    “Me too. And thanks.”
    “See you later,” Veronica said as she quickly made her way over to the door leading into the kitchen. She popped her head through it to call, “Bye, Gram-Marie. See you tomorrow morning.”
    Raul walked out right after her, to head for the parking lot for his postponed smoke. He watched her get into her pick-up truck and waved as she drove past him out to the road. He enjoyed the feel of the hot nicotine in his lungs and blew smoke rings thoughtfully.

Chapter Six
    Veronica was already chopping up fruit when Marie walked into the kitchen at eight the next morning.
    “I see you got your typical early start,” she said conversationally as she put the huge pot for the soup onto the stove and began to look for ingredients.
    Veronica nodded. “Yeah. I’m making apple since we’ve still got some cinnamon ice cream left. I’m also making blueberry glacé, to use up the rest of the crate of blueberries. I noticed some whipped cream cans in the back of the fridge yesterday and that always goes great on glacé pies.”
    Marie pulled out another large cutting board and started chopping up onions, with the celery and the parsley waiting its turn.
    “So, are you aware our famous guest is already in the dining room eating cereal with a banana on top?”
    Veronica looked up quickly in surprise and met the teasing grin on her grandmother’s fact with equanimity.
    “Well, I’ll be! I never thought he’d be able to get up early enough. He said he wanted to start running with me in the mornings because he doesn’t want to run alone.”
    “I’ll bet,” Marie said with a snicker.
    Veronica shook her head. “Jake told him about the possibility of bears and moose running across the road, so he wants to do his running on the trails out back. As a city boy he’s afraid he’ll