Page 5 of Cinematic Destinies (Red Carpet Romance #3)
W hen they arrived home after taking the kids to the airport, Ella shuffled into the house, her shoulders slumped.
“Come here,” Finn said, taking her hand and leading her into the living room. They curled up together on the couch. He kissed the side of her head. “I know it’s hard for you when they leave. They’ll be back before you know it.”
“It just always makes me a bit blue, seeing them go. We had so much fun.”
“I know, baby. But they’re all off doing such amazing things this summer. Betty is really shining in her residency program. I’m so proud of her. Oh, did Albert show you his latest drawings? They’re amazing. He’s so talented.”
“Yes, he is. Artistic just like his father. You used to portray superheroes, and now he’s creating new ones. Funny how that happens.”
Finn gave her a gentle squeeze. “I still can’t believe Georgia is starring in one of Jean’s films. His last, I gather. There’s something so profoundly full circle about it. It’s had me thinking about when we filmed Celebration . You know, when we started shooting, Albie was the age I am now.”
“Huh. I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Don’t get me wrong. Albie was incredible. Such a skilled performer, and he lived to the fullest, but he struck me as an old guy.” He stopped to chuckle. “Now I’m an old guy.”
Ella looked into his eyes and caressed his cheek.
“No, my love. People wear their age differently. Albie had a rough upbringing and abused alcohol for decades. By that summer he had also been sick on and off for years. It showed. It all aged him beyond his years. You are still so handsome, vibrant, and strong,” she said, rubbing his biceps.
“You were my superhero then as you are now. And forever. Hollywood agrees, because you’re still a leading man too. ”
He kissed her forehead. “I have a confession to make, but I didn’t want to say anything when the kids were here.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“I called Jean a few days ago. I thanked him for casting Georgia and asked him to keep an eye on her this summer.”
“You’re a good father.”
“He told me something that surprised me.”
“Don’t tell me he’s getting married again? Let me guess, wife number four is barely old enough to drink.”
Finn laughed. “No, he told me that he had tried to cast you in a film, back when you first met, when you were in your twenties. He said he begged and pleaded, but you weren’t interested.
I knew when you and Jean met, he invited you to tag along on a location shoot in Barcelona, but not that he wanted you in the film. ”
“The whole thing was so absurd. I wasn’t an actress. That was just Jean being Jean. Although he did pester me about it quite a bit.”
“He insisted he had been serious. That he even wanted to fire his lead at the last minute so you could have the part. He said, and I quote, ‘Finn, can you imagine how radiant Ella would have been on the silver screen? I was obsessed by the image. Haunted. Possessed. But she refused.’”
“Jean may be a genius, but everyone fucks up from time to time. Not all his ideas are winners. I’m a philosopher, not a performer. I never gave it a single thought.”
“I bet he was right. You would have been captivating. Mesmerizing. No doubt about it. You could have been a big star.”
She giggled. “Lucky for me, I married one instead. Suits me better, don’t you think?”
Finn laughed and gave her a kiss. He pulled back and said, “Jean hired Georgia because she looks just like you, sounds like you, moves like you. He told me, ‘I always longed to see Ella on the big screen. Now instead I have your daughter.’”
“Best not to tell Georgia that!”
Finn laughed. “No shit. Jean did say she’s perfect for the part.”
“She’ll do a fantastic job. I’m sure she and Jean will get along famously now that they have a chance to get to know each other better.”
“Don’t you find it curious? It’s like for his last picture he’s trying to capture something he wanted with you but couldn’t have. I wonder what the film is really about.”
Ella huffed. “He’s always tackling the big topics. For his final film I can only imagine he’s chasing something especially grand, something important to him. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
“I’m sure it will be something special. Georgia will grow a lot.”
“I just hope . . .”
“What, love?” Finn asked.
“Yes, the kids are all doing amazing things this summer, but I hope they manage to have some fun too. Live a little. Live a lot. This glorious life goes by in a flash,” Ella said.
“Speaking of living, with all this talk of the kids, we haven’t given much thought to how we’re going to spend this summer. Now that we’ve both slowed down a bit in our careers, we have time. My next film doesn’t start shooting until late fall. You’re in between books.”
“What do you have in mind?” she asked.
“I know it’s tradition for the honeymoon to follow the wedding, but this is a vow renewal and we never cared much about conventions anyway. Let’s go on a spectacular trip this summer. We could go anywhere in the world. Hell, we could go around the whole world. Are you up for an adventure?”
Ella smiled. “Always.”
“Where should we go?”
“Anywhere but Iceland. Georgia would have a fit.”
They both laughed.
“Finn . . .”
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“Thank you for turning my whole life into an adventure.”
He kissed her tenderly. “Come on, let’s go up to your office and give the old globe a spin. I’m hoping it lands on some little island where I can watch you running around on a white sand beach.”