Page 28 of Cinematic Destinies (Red Carpet Romance #3)

T he day before the children were due to arrive home, Albert called Ella.

“Well, hello, my sweet boy.”

“Hi, Mom.”

“This is a nice surprise. My phone has been ringing all morning. Your sisters both called to say they’re each bringing a friend for the weekend.”

“Actually, that’s why I’m calling. Can my friend Ryan fly back to California with me? He has relatives in LA.”

“Of course, sweetheart. You’ll have the jet to yourselves. The others are flying commercial because of scheduling issues. They won’t be here until later in the day.”

Albert was silent for a moment and then said, “He’s my boyfriend, Mom.”

Ella smiled. “That’s wonderful. I didn’t know you were seeing someone. Is it new?”

“Not exactly, it’s just that Dad doesn’t know. I . . . I’m planning to tell him tomorrow. Depending how it goes, I thought maybe I could invite Ryan to the celebration the following day.”

“I would love that. Sweetheart, there’s nothing to be anxious about with your father. There never has been. He loves you more than anything.”

“I just . . .”

“What has you so worried?”

“I just don’t want him to be disappointed.”

“In you?” Ella said. “Not possible. He’ll be glad you confided in him. I’m sure he’ll also be thrilled to hear there’s someone you care about. There’s nothing to fear. Not a thing. I promise you.”

Albert inhaled. “Thanks, Mom. I better go. I need to pack.”

“See you tomorrow. I love you.”

“I love you.”

THE NEXT AFTERNOON, ELLA WAS STANDING at the kitchen sink drying dishes. Finn came into the room, slipped his hands around her waist, and whispered, “Hi, sweetheart,” before kissing her cheek.

She took a slow breath and turned to face him. She leaned her forehead against his for a long intimate moment and then pulled back and stared intensely into his eyes.

“What is it, love?” he asked, stroking her cheek.

“Albert needs to speak with you. He’s in his room.”

Finn looked at her quizzically.

“When you’re done, ask him to come down to set the outdoor dining table and you can help me with the grill.”

“Okay, love,” he said, walking off.

FINN LIGHTLY KNOCKED ON Albert’s door.

“Come in.”

Albert was lying in bed, but he sat up straight as a board when his father walked in.

“Mom said you wanted to see me.”

“Yeah,” Albert said softly, his shoulders clenched and unable to make eye contact.

Finn sat down on the edge of the bed. Albert inhaled deeply and then looked directly into his eyes. With a slight tremble in his voice, he said, “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Sensing his son’s trepidation, Finn replied, “Whatever it is, you can tell me. I promise it will be okay.”

Albert took another deep breath and said, “I’m gay.”

A huge grin spread across Finn’s face.

Dumbfounded, Albert asked, “You heard me, right?”

“Yes,” Finn replied. “I’m just so relieved.

With the buildup I thought it was something bad.

” Suddenly, Albert felt as if a spring had been released, and his shoulders relaxed, the tension leaving his body.

Finn took his hand. “Thank you for telling me. You know this doesn’t change anything.

I love you exactly as you are. I always have and I always will. ”

Albert’s eyes flooded.

“Oh, come here,” Finn said, embracing him in a comforting hug. He whispered, “I love you, son.”

Albert sniffled and softly said, “I love you too.” He pulled back and wiped his face. “It really doesn’t make a difference to you?”

“Only that I want to know who you are. It makes a difference that you told me. But it doesn’t make a difference in any other way. Why would it?”

“I don’t know. I . . .” Albert muttered.

Finn smiled. “Your mother and I have always only wanted you to be yourself. We have a simple hope for you and your sisters. To find something and someone to love.”

Albert wiped his eyes again.

“So, is there someone special?” Finn asked.

“Yeah.”

“Well, tell me about him.”

“His name is Ryan. He’s the reason I finally told you. We had some problems because I hadn’t been open. That wasn’t cool with him, and he didn’t want to see me anymore. Not like that.”

“I can understand that. When you care about someone, you want to be free to shout it from the rooftops if you feel compelled to.”

“Yeah.”

“How’d you two meet? What’s he like?” Finn asked.

Albert smiled bashfully and said, “We met at school. He was a graphic design major, and we took a class together last semester senior year. He’s so cool, really nice and smart.

Because of him, there are all these fun things I do now and amazing people I’ve met.

He’s bolder than me, which I think is a good thing.

When we’re together, I have more fun than I ever do without him.

We connect and feel close in a way I’ve never had with someone before. ”

“Do you love him?”

“It’s been hard to find out until now. I like him. I like him a lot.”

Finn smiled. “Then lean into it. There’s nothing better than finding that person who makes your heart take flight. When you’re ready, your mother and I would like to meet him.”

“Actually, he’s in LA. He flew down with me, and he’s staying at his aunt and uncle’s place in Los Feliz.

I thought maybe I would invite him to come tomorrow .

. .”—he ran his hand through his hair before continuing—“as my date. But tomorrow is about you and Mom so if that’s not okay, it’s totally—”

“We would love to meet him. He’s more than welcome. Please invite him.”

Albert smiled. “Thank you. For everything.”

Finn patted his arm and said, “Your mother wanted help setting the outdoor table. Shall we?”

Albert nodded and they stood up. Finn put his arm around him and kissed the side of his head. He then playfully tousled his hair, and they headed downstairs.

Ella was placing a stack of dishes on the counter when they bounded into the room. She smiled brightly at the sight of their joyful faces. “There are my guys.”

Finn walked over and kissed her cheek, and they stole a loving glance.

“Can you please bring that out and turn the grill on?” she asked, gesturing at the platter of meat and skewered vegetables.

“Sure,” Finn replied, picking up the tray and heading outside.

Once he was gone, Ella turned to her son. “Well?”

He sprinted to her side and enveloped her in his arms. “Dad was totally fine with it. He said it doesn’t change anything, and I could tell he meant it.”

“I told you, my sweet boy,” she said, rubbing his back. “He loves you more than he could ever say. Just like I do.”

“He even said I can ask Ryan to come tomorrow. If it’s okay with you.”

“Of course it is,” she replied, giving him a big squeeze before letting go. She looked at his smiling face and saw a lightness in his blue eyes she had never seen before. Her own eyes became misty, and she sniffled.

“Are you okay, Mom?”

“I’m perfect,” she replied, wiping her eyes. “Now do me a favor and set the outdoor table. Betty texted and she and Khalil should be here soon.”

“Sure thing,” he said, grabbing the stack of plates and silverware and heading outside with a newfound bounce in his step.

Ella meandered outside and over to Finn, who was standing by the grill. She took him in her arms, held him close, and whispered, “Thank you for being you. I love you.”

“I love you too,” he said, pulling back and gazing into her eyes. “You had to know it wouldn’t make a difference to me. Please tell me you knew that.”

“Of course I did. It was Albert who was anxious. I told him there was no need, that it wouldn’t matter.”

Finn looked down and said, “I feel terrible. I must have done something wrong for him to be so worried about telling me. For him to think it could change things in the slightest. I guess I screwed up.”

Ella touched his cheek. “Look at me.” He raised his gaze and she continued, “You’re a magnificent father. You didn’t do anything wrong. It was just hard for him. Maybe it’s difficult between fathers and sons sometimes.”

“When did he tell you?”

“When he was seventeen. But he didn’t really tell me.

He came home crying one day, and I was trying to comfort him.

I made it clear that I already knew, and that it didn’t matter and had never mattered.

I love him as he is. That’s when he opened up.

I told him there was no reason not to tell you, but he wasn’t ready.

I hope you understand that it wasn’t my place to reveal something so personal. It had to come from him.”

“I know,” he said, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it.

“I didn’t give you a head’s up today because I knew it wasn’t necessary. I trusted you completely. I knew how you’d react.” Finn smiled and she continued, “He never dated. Didn’t you ever suspect?”

“It’s crossed my mind over the years, but he’s always been shy and a late bloomer, so I never really knew.

” He huffed. “I realize now that you’ve known since he was born.

Do you remember when he was only two days old, and we were in bed with him?

He was falling asleep in your arms after you nursed him.

Do you remember what you said? The promise you asked me to make? ”

Ella smiled softly. “I remember. I told you that I loved him with all my heart and asked you to promise to always do the same.”

“I had no idea why you were saying that, but the look in your eyes was so intense, so heartfelt. I said of course I’ll always love him and asked what you meant.

I’ll never forget your reply.” He paused and shook his head.

“You said, ‘Finn, you have to love him the way you love our girls. You can’t treat him any differently because he’s a boy.

If he falls down and gets hurt, you need to hold him and be tender.

Be gentle with him, always. Never break his heart or his spirit.

Promise me, Finn.’ You were so earnest that all I could say was, ‘Yes. I promise.’ I never knew why you said that until today. How did you know?”