Page 80 of Red Mountain Burning
Got a Light?
Later, Margot sat with Remi on the couch, watching aHallmarkmovie. His protective arm was around her, and she felt like she was exactly where she should be. Philippe and Henri were curled up next to each other on the rug. Jasper had gone to Emilia’s house, and Carly was upstairs watching television in her room.
“Is this one up for an Oscar?” Remi asked. “What’s it called again?”
“King of Hearts.”
“That’s right. I’m surprised they couldn’t get Leonardo DiCaprio or Zac Efron. What a well-written script. Was this the guy who wroteThe English Patient?”
Margot turned to Remi. His pearly whites shined back. She asked, “Is this going to happen every time we watch a Hallmarkmovie together?”
“Only if you continue to pick such winners. This wasn’t made for TV, was it? It would have crushed in the box office.”
They shared a smile and a kiss. It felt wonderful to be joking around again after weeks of gloom. All they’d needed was a little sign of hope to bring back the feelings of the old days.
She poked him. “By the way, your daughter is a really funny and sweet girl. I don’t know why she hides it. I so wish you could have seen her with Zack today.”
“Me, too,” he admitted. “Well, maybe she’s coming around.”
“If today is any indication, I’d say she is.”
They went back to watching the show, and Remi hopped back into making fun of her movie. What Margot might never admit was that her Hallmarkmovies were a million times more fun to watch when he was pulling hisMystery Science Theater 3000routine.
“What’s so funny?” Carly asked after coming down the stairs.
Margot paused the movie. “Your dad loves to make fun of Hallmark. Come join us if you’d like. He’s almost as entertaining as the movie.”
“Carly understands my humor more than anyone,” Remi said. “Isn’t that right?”
She pulled the cellophane off a new pack of smokes. “I appreciate your effort. Let’s put it that way.”
Remi acted like he’d been stabbed in the chest. “Ouch, that hurts.”
Carly flashed a sinister smile and glanced at Margot. “I’m watching something upstairs, but thanks. I’m just grabbing a smoke.”
As Carly left, Margot turned to Remi. “That almost felt like normal family behavior.”
“It did, didn’t it? I just don’t understand. Is it really that simple? One good day and everything’s better?”
“I’m not sure anything is that simple, but maybe today was a turning point.” Margot started to get up. “Would you mind if I go chat with her a second? I just want to thank her again and…I don’t know. Something’s telling me to pop my head out and see if she feels like talking.”
“Please do. I will stare at this frozen screen and ruminate over the various themes being explored by this masterpiece of a film.”
Margot dipped her chin. “That’s enough. Feel free to put onSportsCenterif you’d like.”
He reached for the remote like it was an EpiPen and he was the victim of a deadly allergic reaction. “I might just check a few scores.”
“Right…” She blew him a kiss. “I’ll be right back.”
Poking her head out the door, Margot asked Carly, “Can I turn a light on for you?”
Carly turned from her seat on the steps. “No, I like to look at the stars.”
Margot raised her head to the big sky night. “They are wonderful, aren’t they? Can’t get this view in a big city.”
“Nope.”
Margot felt slightly nervous but didn’t want to miss a moment to connect. “Mind if I join you?”
