Page 30 of Nantucket Gala

I already broke her trust, he realized.Now she’ll know I’m not to be trusted.

He was not to be trusted, just like all men in Hollywood.

Just like her husband.

Henry’s stomach bubbled with guilt.

“I don’t know,” Henry offered. Maybe he could lie his way out of this. But he was struggling to come up with something.

“Now I have to ask you a pretty big question,” Barry continued. “It’s clear you know Sophia Bianchi personally. It’s clear you know her better than most people, in fact. Did you get Sophia Bianchi’s permission to write about her life in this script?”

Henry’s mouth was dry. Terror gripped his heart.

And then he heard himself answer, “I did.”

Barry’s face opened like a window. “Fantastic news! That means we can get her involved far more simply. We could even have her rewrite some of the scenes with you. That way, it can be like Sophia Bianchi telling the ‘unwritten and untold story’ of Sophia Bianchi.”

Henry hesitated. “I mean, most of this didn’t really happen. Obviously, Sophia Bianchi didn’t have this great film career. Obviously, Francis never went to prison for Natalie’s death.”

Barry waved his hand. “We’ll ask Sophia what she thinks. I’m sure she’d be fine with a revisionist history. Like you said, she should have had this career. It was hers.A Sacred Figis one of my favorite films ever!”

“Mine too,” Henry said in a meek voice.

Chapter Ten

February 2025

Nantucket Island

Barry dropped Henry off a little after ten to a brightly lit Copperfield House. Before he could clip away, Bernard leaped from the front door and waved for Barry to enter. Barry cut the engine and said, “Your grandfather never let me go without a cigar and a whiskey. That’s always been his style.”

Henry tried to laugh. But in his mind, he kept playing over his conversation with Barry. It wasn’t long before he’d have to admit to Sophia that he’d told her secrets. How would he get her on his side? He didn’t even know what she thought about the allegations against Francis! She’d never divorced him. Did that mean that she didn’t believe he’d committed a crime?

Did Sophia think Francis was having an affair with Natalie?

His thoughts ran in circles.

Bernard already had his pipe between his lips. He threw his arms around Barry and Henry and bellowed, “I trust it was a wonderful meeting?”

“Better than I imagined,” Barry said, clapping Bernard on the shoulder.

“He’s a Copperfield, isn’t he?” Bernard said, winking at Henry.

“I hope you’ll join us on this journey, Bernard,” Barry said, tracing the path up the stairs to Bernard’s study. “We’ll need help on rewrites. We’ll need your eye on set!”

Bernard cackled. “You’ve been trying to get me into the film industry for years, Barry. But I did my time in prison. I don’t want to latch myself to anything I don’t care about. Every minute I live is for my art, my family, and myself.”

“Never forget yourself!” Barry cried.

Henry sensed that he was supposed to follow them upstairs and into Bernard’s study, but he hung back, listening to the thud of his heart. After a moment, he heard the sound of the sink in the kitchen, and he hurried in to find his grandmother. Greta had her sleeves rolled all the way to her elbows, and her eyes were red. But when she heard Henry come in, she cut the water, dried her hands, and hugged him.

“Tell me everything!”

Henry felt shaky. Greta put the kettle on and sat across from him. From all corners of The Copperfield House came the sounds of his family, as well as members of the artist residency, up late at night, searching their conversations for understanding. Henry put his forehead on the table.

“I have to go back to LA.”

Greta’s voice was strained. “Why? I thought Barry was going to do all the legwork for you! I thought this meant you could stay in Nantucket.”

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