Page 88 of Save the Drama for your Mama
Sandra had known she was dying for two whole years and never had told her family. Cooper and his mom had always shared everything openly and honestly, from what he had told me. To learn she’d kept another monumental secret from him would most likely hurt him.
How many more secrets did Sandra have?
Glancing at my watch, I knew I would see Cooper soon. The problem, as I saw it was, I had no idea how to break this news to him, and to protect his feelings, since I was starting to care for him so much. But I knew I had to tell him.
Just then the attic door opened, and Cooper and Romeo came inside.
“How’s it going in here?” he said with a grin. “I’m sure you’re having a blast.” He studied me for a moment, then lost his smile. “What’s wrong?”
I swallowed hard, trying to get the words out. “You may want to sit down for this. There’s something I need to tell you.”
ChapterTwenty
COOPER
I sat on the trunk next to Melody, the scent of her floral shampoo enticing me even as I wondered why she looked so distraught. I expected her to be buzzing with energy from having free rein of the attic. The worried expression on her face made me a little uneasy, especially since the last time she’d looked that way was when she found out my father wasn’t my biological father.
“What's going on?” I asked. “Did you learn something new?”
Melody nodded solemnly. “You should see this.” She handed me a thick contract from a production company with my mom’s name on it.
I scanned the document, my pulse quickening with excitement at every line that I read. It was an offer for a TV adaptation of my mom’s novels, for an enormous amount of money. Then I saw it was unsigned.
“I don’t understand,” I said, continuing to flip through the pages. “Mom said nothing about being approached for a TV series. And why would she turn it down? It’s every author’s dream to have their work turned into a movie or TV series.”
“I thought the same thing when I found it,” Melody said. “Then I did some digging around and found the answer in her diary. Your mom wrote this the same week she got the offer.” She handed me the leather-bound diary and tapped on the part she was referring to.
I read the page of my mom’s diary, then read it again to let the words sink in. “She knew she was going to die two years earlier but didn’t say a word.”
Melody placed her hand on my arm, her eyes filled with empathy. “I’m so sorry, Cooper. This must be very difficult for you to take in.”
“You know, this reminds me of something my mom always used to tell us,” I said. “Sometimes you have to put other people’s needs before your own, because the greatest act of love is sacrifice.”
Melody looked surprised and let out a sigh. “So you’re not upset that she kept this from you and your brother?”
“No. Not at all,” I said. “She just wanted to protect me and Chad, to let us enjoy every moment we had left with her without the shadow of her sickness hanging over us. If we had known earlier, we would have spent that precious time obsessed with her health, asking how she felt and worrying if today might be the last day. It would have ruined the joy of those final two years with her. Instead, we made so many happy memories during our trip to Scotland and Ireland, at the writer’s conference in New York, on our road trip to Zion National Park, and when we spent our last Christmas together. Those moments, without stress or constant worry, meant everything to me. So no, I’m not angry at all. Just grateful for the time we had because those memories with my mom will stay with me forever.”
Melody shook her head in wonder. “I have to say I’m impressed. You really have a healthy attitude about this.”
I chuckled. “That’s because I know my mom, and this is the kind of selfless decision I’d expect her to make. It came from a place of deep love. She wanted to feel like a normal person for as long as she could. And honestly? I would have done the same thing if I had been in her position.”
We sat for a minute, gazes locked, holding hands, both absorbed in our own thoughts.
“What are you thinking?” I asked. “You look like you want to say something.”
Melody sighed. “Promise you won’t get mad . . .”
I arched an eyebrow. “Why? Are you going to withhold kisses from me?”
She snorted. “Never. It’s just . . . your mom has so many loyal fans. Abigail told me that her book sales took off after she died. Like they could barely keep the books on the shelves. It’s still that way, according to her.”
“I’ve seen the royalties coming in, I know,” I said. “But what are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying that I bet that producer would still jump at the chance to adapt a TV series from her books,” I said. “It doesn’t matter that she’s gone. And what better way to honor her memory than by sharing her legacy outside of the literary world, to TV viewers.”
“You’re right,” I said. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Melody smirked. “Because I’ve got the brains and you’ve got the looks.”
