It was Bev, of course, who called her the night Daniel died, less than two weeks after Isabelle returned to California. She tells her Stefan arrived a day after Isabelle left. He lives in Michigan now, and is married to a woman with two young children.
“He works as an orderly in a hospital,” Bev says, “and Daniel was very glad to see him. They talked for days—well, Stefan talked, and Daniel mostly smiled at him and nodded. They both were happy with that.”
There’s a silence as Bev gathers herself, and then she adds, “We were all with him at the end—Stefan, Alina, and of course I was there.” Bev pauses again before she makes her final statement. Her voice is confident; this is what she will remember. “I know he felt surrounded by love.”
“Oh, yes,” Isabelle says softly in response, “he was loved.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Three determined women have guided my writing career: Lynn Pleshette recognized the writer within me before I ever allowed myself to believe in that possibility. Marly Rusoff guided my transition from weary screenwriter to wide-eyed fiction writer. And the intrepid, courageous Nan Talese reached out her hand to me and made it all happen. I am grateful beyond all words to all three.
I also want to thank the Sundance Institute and Michelle Satter, in particular, for inviting me to be part of their Screenwriting Lab. It is in the glorious mountains of Utah that I have learned what it is to be a mentor to young screenwriters from the world over. My experiences there have translated into a better understanding of Daniel here, in this book.
And finally, of course, without the unwavering love and complete support of my husband, Marty, and my daughter, Eva, this book would never exist. They have all my love.
A NOTE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deena Goldstone is the author of the short-story collection Tell Me One Thing and a screenwriter of feature films and television movies. She lives in Pasadena, California, with her family. This is her first novel.
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