Nora Goes Off Script

by Annabel Monaghan

When our desserts come, he wants to play his new favorite game, Romance Movie. “Okay, here’s one. Male talk-show host from Akron, Ohio.” I stab a bite of chocolate cake as I think. “He goes out to the country to interview a reclusive movie star and falls for her caregiver, who probably dreams of opening a cupcake shop.” “They all do.” “An inordinate number of bakers in these movies,” I agree. “And no one’s overweight.” “Community activity at the end?” “Hmm.” I take a bite and think it over. “Oh. He’s going to MC the auction for the county fair.” “Where she’ll be selling cupcakes.” “Naturally.” “And he has to leave before the event, breaks her heart but then comes back and there’s a big kiss,” he says. “The kiss is never really that big, actually.” He’s finished his wine, so I pour him half of mine. “So that’s it?” he asks. “Well, there’s small stuff. If either of them has parents, they’re always exceptionally loving and self-sufficient. No one’s parents are a pain.” I take another bite of cake. “And the woman usually has a quirk that would be annoying to most men, but that this particular guy finds irresistible.” “Seriously?” “It’s part of the fantasy. Like the woman who’s really uptight and makes tons of lists appeals to the musician who needs to get his act together.” “This is diabolical. What about the lunatic woman who schedules her life to run like a Swiss watch?” “Well,” I say, draining my glass and placing my napkin on the table, “she gets a lot of shit done. But, i...