In honor of Ann Reinking's birthday yesterday, I decided to watch the 1982 movie for the bajillionth time. I was inspired to write this little piece because it occurred to me (not for the first time, but the first time I've really thought about it), that the scene at the train tracks where Annie is saved, they seem to be quite significantly closer than in previous scenes and I don't think that's just because they're worried about Annie.
Anyway - I was inspired, and here we are!
Peace and love,
Renee.
...
Oliver raised his head as he sensed sooner than he saw Grace enter his office.
He'd just got off the phone with J. Edgar Hoover, and was relieved and grateful to see her - and the glass of brandy in her hands.
"Thank you", he sighed wearily as she gave it to him.
"What did Hoover say about the locket?" She asked him as he downed the liquor.
After setting the glass down again on his desk which he was sitting on the corner of, he drew the box from Tiffany's out of his desk drawer and opened it up, picking the aforementioned locket , along with the new one, out of it. "He's going to send an agent around shortly to have a look at it but he doesn't hold a lot of hope that it will lead to anything."
Grace nodded with a frown. "I suspected as much."
He chuckled unexpectedly, causing Grace to raise her intrigued eyes to him. He was staring at the back of the shiny new locket, reading the inscription. "I thought we agreed this morning that should Annie stay here she would be staying as my ward." He flipped the locket around so that the inscription was facing her. "Daddy Warbucks?"
Grace blushed and pursed her lips. "I just wanted her to feel like this could be her home, like she could have a…family here."
Oliver's face became ashen. "Well, despite your best efforts, it seems this is not this family she wishes to belong to."
Grace felt like crying for him, and for herself too. When she'd left the house that morning to have the locket made, she'd been so full of hope. She and Oliver had shared a very heartfelt and tender moment on the patio that morning. Her heart had yet to stop racing over that, and to add to that, she could hardly believe that he'd agreed to take Annie on. She'd expected his initial rejection but had hoped to be able to change his mind.
What she didn't expect was Annie's rejection.
"Oh Oliver, I'm so sorry", she reached out and wrapped her arms around him and he automatically pressed his hands to her back, holding her close to him in turn. He released a breath, turning his head against the crook of her neck. He knew she was feeling just as crushed as he was about Annie not wanting to stay with them.
He reached up to stroke her hair soothingly, noting how soft it was and how lovely when she wore it down. He could at least be proud of himself for telling her he thought she was pretty that morning. At least that's one thing he had managed to accomplish that day.
Both of their hearts thrummed as Grace nuzzled her cheek against his forehead and brought her hand up to the base of his neck, cradling his head.
They'd never been quite so close before and both of them were hyper-aware of their nearness.
There had been arm touches and her straightening his tie or flattening his collar, and of course, necessary contact during the handful of times they had danced together at functions over the years, but nothing had ever felt quite so intimate.
For the first time in their years-long relationship, the two of them knew they were feeling the exact same thing at the exact same time. They were connected and united in their sadness.
As Grace lowered her head and at the same time Oliver raised his, they both instantaneously came to the same realization that perhaps it wasn't only the feeling of sadness they were both sharing. There was another feeling that had been there between them, largely unacknowledged for quite some time now.
Oliver had opened himself up to love that week, with Annie, and with Grace here in his arms, holding him so affectionately, Oliver thought to himself there was little sense in stopping now.
She met his lips encouragingly as he pressed them to hers. They were trembling out of nervousness and equal exhilaration. He needn't have felt any nerves however - she had been waiting for this kiss for quite some time.
Both of their faces were flushed when they pulled apart again.
Oliver cleared his throat and asked softly, "Can I take this to mean that although Annie doesn't wish to stay, you at least won't be leaving me any time soon?"
She gave his arms a gentle squeeze, meeting his eyes with her own. "I'm not going anywhere. You've got me for life", she promised him. "Just to keep things transparent, however - from a professional perspective, I'm prepared to be well and truly yours, but from a personal perspective, I think it's only fair that you are mine."
He raised his eyebrows at her and Grace fully expected him to challenge her. "Well that's one way to differentiate the two", he smiled, his eyes sparkling. "Are you sure you're happy with me though? You won't change your mind?"
Grace's face softened. The poor man. She knew his confidence and self-worth had taken quite a blow in the past twelve hours. She was going to do all she could to build him back up again.
She shook her head resolutely. "No. I'm quite confident in my decision. I intend to keep you on." The corner of her mouth quirked into an amused smile.
Catching on, he jokingly replied, "You sure you wouldn't like to put me on a trial basis?"
A grin slowly formed on her face as she responded back. "Oh no, I'm afraid you're locked in."
Oliver gave a thoughtful nod, his shoulders relaxing further with reassurance. "I see. Permanent it is then."
She nodded back. "That's right." Her eyes were alight with playfulness but her words were serious and sincere. "Because you, Oliver Warbucks, are completely indispensable to me."
Her heart did a little flutter as he brought his charming smile back to hers once more, whispering, "Right back at you, Miss Farrell."