Only in the Movies (19 page)
Read Only in the Movies Online
Authors: William Bell
“I did, but I had something to gain, didn’t I?”
“You would have helped her anyway.”
We sat in silence for a moment, enjoying the sun at the window and being together.
“Didjever wonder what attracted me to you in the first place?” Vanni asked.
“My sparkling personality? My vast personal wealth?”
“Your hands.”
“My—”
“That first day, in the cafeteria, after I fenced with Locheed, you were sitting there eating lunch. You were holding a very unappetizing-looking sandwich—”
“You should’ve seen the one I had the day before.”
“—in your right hand, and your left was resting on the table top. Your fingernails were cut short and you had calluses on your palms. A workman’s hands, honest and strong. And sexy.”
“So you’re after me for my body.”
Vanni grinned and her eyebrows rose. “It’s a start,” she said.
I reached into my pocket and removed a folded sheet of paper. Smoothing it out on the table top, I handed it to Vanni. “After I talked to you last night, I read some more poems by Donne. They’re hard, but the more I read, the more I liked them. This is from the one I liked best.”
On the paper I had written a couple of lines, and Vanni read them out loud.
“
If ever any beauty I did see, Which I desired, and got, ’twas but a dream of thee
.”
Vanni lowered her head. “Jake,” she whispered, and remained silent.
“I don’t deserve you,” I said.
Vanni looked up, into my eyes, and smiled. “True enough,” she said. “But I deserve you.”
Sincere thanks to: Maya Mavjee and Kristin Cochrane at Doubleday Canada for supporting this project; Amy Black, my ever-patient and encouraging editor, for her assistance and for putting up with me; John Pearce, my friend and agent, for helping steer the book along; Stephanie Fysh, for a painstaking copy edit; and my children, Dylan, Megan and Brendan Bell, for helpful comments on the manuscript.
As always, a special thank-you to my chief inspiration, Ting-xing Ye, for her unwavering support, encouragement and love.
I am indebted to William Shakespeare, Edmond Rostand and the creators of
Casablanca
. Here’s looking at you, kids.
William Bell’s young adult novels have been translated into nine languages and have won a number of awards, among them the Manitoba Readers’ Choice Award, the Mr. Christie’s Book Award, the Ruth Schwartz Award, and the Canadian Librarians’ Award. He lives in Orillia, Ontario, with writer Ting-xing Ye.
W
ILLIAM
B
ELL
THE BLUE HELMET
Lee wants to be a Tarantula—a member of the most powerful gang in his neighbourhood. But when his initiation goes wrong and he is caught robbing an auto supply store, Lee’s father sends him to live with his aunt in New Toronto. Though he initially resists his Aunt Reena and the eccentric and unusual customers of Reena’s Unique Café, Lee gradually learns to open himself up to his new surroundings. When he strikes up an unlikely friendship, Lee is suddenly confronted by the ravages of violence, and is forced to face the consequences of his own aggression.
W
ILLIAM
B
ELL
ALMA
Times have been tough since Alma’s father died and she and her mother had to give up the family farm and move into town. With few friends, Alma loves to lose herself in stories—books she reads and re-reads, and tales she writes herself.
To help make ends meet, Alma takes a job transcribing the letters of Miss Lily, the eccentric and reclusive elderly woman who has just moved into the old house on Little Wharf Road.
Eventually, their mutual love of words creates a strong relationship, and Miss Lily encourages Alma’s spark for writing, introducing her to the art of calligraphy and lending her some of her favourite books. But why is Miss Lily so secretive about certain parts of her life? Alma is determined to find out—but will she be prepared for what she will discover? …
W
ILLIAM
B
ELL
STONES
Garnet Havelock know what it’s like to be on the outside, not one of the crowd. Now, in his final year of high school, he’s just marking time, waiting to get out into the real world.
Then a mysterious girl transfers to his school and Garnet thinks he might have found the woman of his dreams—if only he could get her to talk to him.
At the same time, Garnet becomes caught up in a mystery centred in his community. As he and Raphaella draw closer to the truth, they uncover a horrifying chapter in the town’s history, and learn how deep-seated prejudices and persecution from the past can still reverberate in the present.
Copyright © 2009 William Bell
All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication, reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system without the prior written consent of the publisher—or in the case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a license from the Canadian Copyright Licensing agency—is an infringement of the copyright law.
Doubleday Canada and colophon are registered trademarks
LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION
Bell, William, 1945–
Only in the movies / William Bell.
eISBN: 978-0-307-37437-0
I. Title.
PS8553.E4568O55 2010 jC813′.54 C2009-904042-5
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Published in Canada by Doubleday Canada,
a division of Random House of Canada Limited
Visit Random House of Canada Limited’s website:
www.randomhouse.ca
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