The Masterpiece

The story skips back to Grace as a seven-year-old, shortly after her move to California to live with Aunt Elizabeth. Grace is afraid and experiences nightmares. She only feels safe sleeping in the closet, for which her aunt reprimands her. Grace finds compassion and support at their church’s Sunday school, but life with Aunt Elizabeth requires her to keep her emotions bound up. After some time, an angel starts appearing to her, providing a comforting presence as she falls asleep in the bed. Aunt Elizabeth views Grace’s story about the angel as evidence of possible psychological issues and does not want to hear about it. On one occasion, Grace overhears a conversation between her aunt and Mrs. Spenser, her Sunday school teacher. Aunt Elizabeth tells Mrs. Spenser about how she never liked Grace’s father, whom she blames for her sister’s death. She confesses that one of her own emotional hurdles in dealing with Grace is that the girl continually reminds Aunt Elizabeth of her father. This comment that Grace overhears colors much of the ongoing relationship between Aunt Elizabeth and Grace as she grows up.

Back on their drive, Roman has cooled off from his outburst and Grace does not seem overly put off by it. They get out to have dinner at a restaurant, but Roman suddenly collapses and passes out on the sidewalk. This triggers a near-death experience for Roman, in which he can see Grace and another man trying to help him, administering CPR and calling for aid. Suddenly, he is dragged into another world, through a dark tunnel where demonic creatures taunt him, claw at him, and pull him down. In desperation, he cries out the name of Jesus, pleading with Christ to help him. Suddenly, despite the demonic talons physically dragging him down, he feels himself being pulled up as a voice from above breaks in and demands his release. The demon is forced to let go, and Roman is pulled back up to life, waking in an ambulance.

Meanwhile, Grace contacts her friends to let them know about Roman’s heart attack, and she stays in the hospital, praying for his recovery. Brian and Shanice arrive just as Roman is coming out of surgery, and Grace is eventually allowed in to see him. There, Roman tells her about his terrifying experience of being dragged down to hell and rescued by Jesus, but before they can talk further, he is put back under sedation.

Roman continues to recover in the hospital while Grace stays by his side, having gotten a hotel room nearby. Jasper comes to visit Roman, and Roman gives his old mentor an account of his near-death experience. Jasper replies by affirming his own faith in God and encouraging Roman to explore this newfound religious experience with an open mind. However, he cautions Roman that it won’t be easy or simple, saying, “All I can tell you is faith is just the beginning of a long, difficult journey” (315). Jasper encourages Roman to lend Grace his car so she can go home, noting once again how Grace seems like a person worth pursuing and holding onto.

Back at her cottage with Samuel, Grace prepares for Roman’s return from the hospital. When he returns, she invites him over for dinner. Roman plays with Samuel, showing genuine affection for him despite having little experience with babies. Then, Roman falls asleep on Grace’s couch before the meal is ready. As Grace sees Roman play with her son, she longs for a restored family life but remains cautious, praying for God to help her avoid falling into another poor choice.

Grace invites Roman to go to church with her and her friends. Though Roman is a little out of his element and doesn’t know what to expect, he enjoys the experience. Later in the day, Grace brings Samuel to the Garcias so he can continue his normal routine, and Selah reprimands her for not being on time or communicating well enough. The tension over Samuel’s ultimate placement continues to grow.

Back at work the next day, Roman doesn’t know what to paint. The turmoil of his recent experiences has shaken him and made him uninterested in his normal painting subjects. He suggests that Grace give him a line to start from, and she draws a horizon line matching the landscape of Topanga Canyon. Brian comes by to wait for Grace, and Roman notices them together. Frustrated by his own emotions, Roman turns to his own outlet—graffiti. This time, however, as he is slowed by his recent convalescence, he is unable to escape a police officer who finds him. This officer happens to be the same one who had attended his gallery show earlier, and who had begun putting the pieces together that connected Roman Velasco to “the Bird.” The officer lets him go after Roman pledges that he is done with his illicit art career.

Meanwhile, Brian’s date with Grace is not a romantic one, but rather a clearing of the air, discussing what they both now realize: There is no romantic spark between them, despite their affection and admiration for one another. Brian confesses that he would like to pursue a possible relationship with Shanice, to which Grace gives her assent.

Grace and her friends host a gathering at the cottage, and Roman and Jasper come along too. The friends are worried for Nicole, who is in a new relationship, and they see some red flags in the way that it is developing. Brian is also there, and Roman jealously observes his easy familiarity with Grace. However, he is surprised to see Brian acting surprisingly intimate with Shanice. While eating, Jasper tells some stories about Roman as a young man, and Roman recounts his near-death experience again.

The next morning, Roman observes Grace acting upset and assumes this might be a sign that she and Brian broke up. Later, Grace goes to the main house to confront Roman, having just recently discovered some news coverage about the graffiti artist called “the Bird” and having figured out it is him. Rather than carrying through on the confrontation, Grace is thrown off when she walks in on Roman during a workout, and he suggests that they have an open talk where everything is on the table.

Roman invites Grace over for dinner, which he sets up as a romantic date. They talk openly, and Grace brings up his secret identity as “the Bird.” He brushes away the topic as little more than an issue from his past that is no longer a concern. She wants to know more about what drives him, and he expresses a refrain that is common to him: He says he doesn’t really know who he is, but he simply wants more—more life. In this context, it becomes clear that he also wants to get closer to her and they share a kiss, which reveals their romantic chemistry and their desire for one another. They admit their love for each other, but the moment quickly falls apart. Whereas Grace wants no more physical intimacy just then, Roman suggests that they ought to take a further step of sexual intimacy. From the lens of Grace’s Christian background and her personal experience, this is a terrifying warning about Roman’s intentions and she cuts off the date, gathers up her things from the cottage, and leaves. She goes to stay with Shanice while she figures out what to do next. Roman tries to contact her but to no avail. Finally, frustrated and worried that he has ruined everything, he reaches out to Brian, who reassures him that Grace is safe but best left alone for now.

Grace makes arrangements to finalize her move away from Roman. She goes first to the Garcias to break the news that she wants to keep Samuel and will not be giving him up for adoption. This upsets Selah, but the Garcias’ other children intervene and confront their mother with their feelings of being neglected in favor of Samuel. Back at Shanice’s, Grace arranges to return Roman’s key and pack up the remainder of her belongings from the cottage. When she arrives there, she finds an envelope from Roman with the canceled rental agreement and a letter of reference, but Roman himself makes no contact.

Broken up by his missed opportunity, Roman tries to throw himself back into his work. However, everything reminds him of Grace—from the half-finished landscape painting to a meeting with his subcontractor, Hector, who has recently married and inquires about Grace. Roman ends up calling Jasper and filling him in on what has happened. Jasper chides him, saying: “Bobby Ray, when I said ‘settle down,’ I didn’t mean ask her to shack up with you. I meant marry her” (378). Roman, who is unfamiliar with Christian ethics regarding sex and relationships, is surprised by the advice. Jasper pushes him to find a way to apologize and—if the opportunity ever presents itself again—to take the step of real commitment. After their conversation, Roman prays, calling on Jesus to help him.