Page 105 of The Summer of Christmas

Griffin said, “Film production is like getting a family. We’ll get through this.”

They sat in the pews, holding hands.

The power came back on thirty minutes later.

“Vera…” It was Drew. Ivy knew what he was going to say, what he had to say: “We have to shoot the funeral scene.”

“I can’t be here for this,” Ivy said. She walked over to gather her shattered tablet which had fallen at the feet of a statue of Jesus. Ivy looked up at the statue. His story was one of resurrection. Lots of old stories and myths had moments of resurrection. She said a prayer for Nick.

Ivy was going to go to the police station with Frannie and J. B. and find out more. As she waited for Frannie, they heard Bruce shout out: “Quiet on the set!”

She couldn’t watch. She looked away. Closed her eyes. Said another prayer. Then she heard a voice calling, “Ivy! Ivy!”

There was a quick yell of “Action!” by Vera. The funeral scene was starting. Ivy heard the voice again: Nick’s voice. She turned. And there was Nick. Soaked. Bruised. Walking into the middle of the shot, standing on the set by the casket screaming.

“IVY!”

“NICK!” Ivy yelled, racing toward the set. Nick was here. He was alive. And he was holding a piece of wood. Ivy didn’t care about that. “You’re alive!”

“I was on the lake. Then there was this flash of lightning. The boat blew up! The next thing I knew I was in the water. I thought I was going to die. You know what they say: your whole life flashes before you when you’re about to die. That’s not true. Or maybe it is. Because the only thing I saw was you, Ivy. You’re the only life I want. And look what saved me, Ivy. This piece of wood.” Everyone listened to Nick. Riveted.

Nick flipped it over. The wordsTRUE LOVEclear for everyone to see. He held it high in the air like John Cusack inSay Anything.

“True Lovesaved my life.I love you, Ivy!” Nick shouted.

“I love you too. I’ve always loved you.”

Ivy hugged him. They were both crying. He was in pain but happy. “I love you! I love you! I love you!”

Vera looked at Bruce. “Tell me we’re still rolling.”

Bruce nodded. “Getting all of it. Looks like you got your ending.”

Frannie returned from the back to see Nick, alive, kissing Ivy. She screamed for joy and rushed to join them. Griffin and Amari joined in.

“He’s alive,” Ivy said. “And he loves me.”

“Cut!” Vera yelled. Everyone laughed. She approached Ivy. “I’m glad you got your happy ending, but now we have to film ours.”

“But I didn’t write anything.”

“Just write what happened. Bruce has all the notes you need. This whole movie has been autobiographical so why should the ending be any different? I’m glad it’s a happy one.”

Ivy picked up her busted tablet. It still worked. She sat on the set, Nick at her side, and punched out the ending.

A little later, Nick and Ivy, holding hands, watched the last scene ofThe Christmas Couplebeing filmed. It opened with Ilsa in the church. She had gotten word about Rick and the snowmobile accident. A storm had cut off the power. Everyone was in the church, praying that Rick hadn’t died. Hoping for a miracle. The storm ended. Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows. Griffin rushed in and used most of what Nick said:“I thought I was going to die. You know what they say: when you think you’re going to die, your whole life flashes before your eyes. And the only thing I saw was you, Ilsa. You’re the only life I want.”

Vera smiled. She said, “Cut! And that’s a wrap!”

Ivy cheered. She hugged Nick. Her first movie had finished filming. The love of her life was in love with her. It was real love. True love. She looked up: snowflakes were falling inside the church. Everyone was laughing. Hugging. Griffin hugged Bruce, knowing he was the one who’d set the snow machines on the balcony.

As the snow drifted down inside the church, it felt to Ivy that she was living a dream.

“It looks so real.” Nick smiled.

“It is real. We’re real.”

“It’s magical,” he said.

“Who said magic can’t be real.”

Under the falling snow, inside the church where they first met, the Christmas couple, Ivy and Nick, smiled and kissed.

“Merry Christmas, Ivy.”

“Merry Christmas, Nick.”

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