by J. T. Lundy
A collective gasp and murmurs rippled through the crowd. I stared at my shoes.
“My sin was not in having such a beautiful baby. My sin was keeping it a secret from him and you. I will forever regret not being a part of his life for thirty-two years. Jason, I’m sorry. I hope you can forgive me. I love you.”
I continued to stare at my shoes. The next thing I knew Sister Claudette stood before me. She wrapped her arms around me. I melted. I felt like a small boy and had feelings I’d never had before. I felt warm and content like I would never have another worry. I had a mother and she would make everything all right. For the first time in my life, I felt loved. I hugged my mother back, and I cried.
Sister Claudette pulled away. She wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry.” She turned and put her hands up in the air. “This is a joyous occasion. Please celebrate!”
The crowd clapped and smiled. The clapping grew louder and cheers erupted.
“Thank you, Sister. I mean Mother Superior. I mean Mother.”
Sister Claudette gave me another hug. “Don’t stress over it, Jason. Any name will do. Whatever you are comfortable with.”
The old lanky waiter was standing near us, smiling.
“By the way,” I said to him. “I wanted to thank you for helping me out, especially, you know, with the beef bourguignon fiasco.”
The waiter shrugged. “Pas de problème.”
“I’m Jason.” I held out my hand. “Jason Barnes.”
He shook my hand. “Antoine.”
I laughed. “My middle name is Antoine.”
He looked at Sister Claudette and smiled. “I know.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Foremost, I would like to thank my wife, Renée, and our sons, Calvin, Cooper, and Colin, for supporting me during the countless hours I spent on this novel.
A special thank you to my mentors, Spalding MFA professors Robin Lippincott and Eleanor Morse. Their writing guidance and friendship has been invaluable.
To my fantastic editor, Cori McCarthy.
And thank you to my parents, John and Pat Lundy, and my in-laws, Tom and Carole Zens, for all their marketing efforts.
The following people have in one way or other selflessly given their time to help bring Saving Grapes to fruition: Frank Collazo, Lauren Cook, Carolyn Flynn, Sally Garland, Anne Cottez Jones, Nath Jones, Alan Larson, Jennifer Prentice, Liz Ramsay, Colleen Lanchester-Raynie, Rebekah Reaves, Jeff Vintar, and Stephen Woodward.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J.T. Lundy lives in Naperville, Illinois, where he writes novels and screenplays, and attempts to help his wife manage the chaos of raising three growing boys. He likes to read, write, travel, and eat good food. A graduate of Indiana University, he also holds an MFA from Spalding University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
