Page 83 of Save the Drama for your Mama
Melody scooted closer, right up against me, then I lifted my arm and put it around her shoulder.
If I knew that was all it would take to get her to cuddle with me on the couch, I would have said yes toTitanic.
I clicked onJane Eyreand we settled in to watch the movie.
About fifteen minutes in, I hit pause on the remote. “Really? She is out wandering the moors, and she just happens to collapse right as Mr. Rochester is riding by? That’s so unrealistic, just like your Jane Austen movies. The same thing happened inSense and Sensibility. It was just a different landscape, plus a lot of rain.”
Melody laughed. “You seem to know a great deal about Jane Austen, considering you don’t like her books. Anyway, coincidences are part of the romance! It’s destiny!”
I chuckled. “If you say so . . .”
We resumed the movie, but a short while later I paused it again. “Why doesn’t Jane stand up for herself more to Mrs. Reed? She treats her like a servant.”
“Well, women had little power back then, especially orphans,” Melody explained. “But I agree. I’ve always wanted Jane to talk back to her horrible aunt and give her a piece of her mind. Have you ever heard about the hero’s journey? They need to start somewhere, right?”
“Right,” I said.
I loved to see Melody so passionate about the plot and how she defended and even rooted for a fictional character. It was amusing for me. The story was decent, but messing with Melody was entertaining.
We continued watching, and I really got drawn into the gothic romance despite myself. But when Rochester revealed his hidden wife Bertha, I slammed on the pause button again.
Melody sighed. “Now what?”
I gestured to the TV. “He lied to her for their entire relationship and hid his insane wife in the attic. This guy is the worst!”
“It was awful of him to deceive her like that,” Melody agreed. “But relationships and expectations of marriage were complicated back then. At least Jane stands up for herself and leaves when she finds out.”
I held up my hand. “No spoilers!”
“Please—I’m not spoiling anything,” Melody said. “You’ve read the book, although you seem to have forgotten everything.”
“I read it a long time ago,” I admitted.
“I get that,” she said. “But it’s like Meg Ryan’s fake orgasm scene when she’s eating with Billy Crystal in the cafe inWhen Harry Met Sally. Once you’ve seen it, you never forget.”
I shrugged, trying to keep a straight face. “I don’t recall that scene at all. Can you re-enact it for me?”
“Behave.” Melody playfully elbowed me in the side, then held out her hand, palm up. “Now, give me that remote.”
I hesitated, then handed it over. “Fine.”
“Thank you.” Melody smiled and pressed play again.
As much as I hated to admit it, I was enjoying the movie. I decided not to pause it any more and let her enjoy it, too. The love story sucked me in, and it was satisfying to see Jane come into her own as a character.
“Okay, you got me—I enjoyed it,” I said as the credits rolled at the end.
Melody was quiet.
I glanced down, and she was sound asleep against my shoulder. Not wanting to disturb her, I carefully reached over to grab the remote and then clicked off the TV.
Gazing at her angelic sleeping face, I felt the affection building inside of me. Even with our differences, she had worked so hard to find a movie we would both enjoy. Opposites do really attract.
I could not take my eyes off her.
And I was sure that if our relationship continued down this path, and at this pace, it wouldn’t be long before I fell deeply and madly in love with this woman.
ChapterNineteen
