Epilogue #3
They were nearing the theater doors when Julian paused, seeming uncertain.
“What’s wrong?”
“That’s Aimee, Flynn’s sister and my ex-girlfriend. And her husband.”
“Oh. Do you want to say hi?”
“I guess it would be rude not to.”
Aimee caught his eye and gave a tentative smile as they approached. She was wearing a midnight blue gown and diamond jewelry. Her sister Annie was married to a jeweler who’d probably outfitted the whole family for this big occasion.
“Hello, Julian.”
“Hi, Aimee. This is Isla Santana. Isla, Aimee Godfrey.”
“It’s Morgan now.” She shook Isla’s hand. “Nice to meet you. This is my husband, Trent.”
“Good to meet you,” Trent said as he shook Julian’s hand and then Isla’s.
That Aimee never said Julian’s name told her that Trent knew exactly who he was and what he’d once been to his wife.
“We’d better get to our seats,” Julian said. “It was nice to see you. Enjoy the film.”
“You, too,” Aimee said.
He led Isla to their assigned seats and sat next to her. “Sorry if that was awkward.”
“It was fine. Was it weird to see her?”
“Not like it was the last time I saw her.”
“What’s changed since then?” she asked with a sexy smile.
He glanced at her, returning her smile as he took hold of her hand. “Everything.”
Flynn and Natalie took the stage a few minutes later to thundering applause.
“Thank you so much for being here,” Flynn said to the full house.
“As you know, this film was a passion project from beginning to end. Every shot, every detail, every aspect has been a labor of love for my amazing wife and her inspirational story. Natalie, it’s an honor and a privilege to walk through this life with you by my side, and to raise our four babies together.
Thank you for allowing me the honor of sharing your triumphant story with the world. ”
The audience clapped for his embarrassed wife.
She took the microphone from him. “Thank you, Flynn, for spearheading this special project from the start and for the love and care that was put into every frame you’ll see tonight.
To Hayden, Kristian, Aileen, Jasper, Ellie, Emmett, Leah, Marlowe and the entire team at Quantum, I’m deeply grateful for your hard work on this film.
From the start, you’ve made me part of your Quantum family, and I love you all so very much.
To my sister Olivia, who brought my story to light in the most breathtakingly beautiful performance I ever could’ve imagined, I’m so proud of you and our other sister, Candace, and everyone on screen and behind the scenes of this film. Thank you all for being here tonight.”
“We’re proud to present Valiant,” Flynn said to applause.
“In case I forget to tell you later,” Isla whispered to Julian, “this is the most exciting thing I’ve ever done. Thank you for inviting me.”
“My pleasure, honey. I’m so happy you’re here with me.”
From the first minutes of the movie to the last, Isla was transported by Natalie’s story.
Olivia’s performance was indeed breathtaking and captivating, and the Hollywood ending of Natalie’s Las Vegas wedding to Flynn, mere weeks after they first met, had Isla wiping away tears of joy and deep admiration for the courage it’d taken for Natalie to start over after utter devastation.
As the closing credits rolled, everyone in the theater was on their feet, cheering as Flynn, Natalie, Olivia and everyone involved with the film took the stage to soak up the audience’s enthusiastic response.
Isla glanced at Julian and saw him staring hard at someone across the aisle. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just saw someone I know.”
“Is everything okay?”
He put his arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “Yes, everything is fine.”
Despite what he’d said, she could tell everything was not at all fine.
What is Carson doing here with Cresley? Julian wondered, his mind racing with thoughts and implications.
As the firm’s chief investigator, Carson avoided the spotlight like the plague so he could do his job without people recognizing him.
So then, what in the world was he thinking coming to a Hollywood premiere with one of the most famous women in the world?
It took forever to leave the theater and walk the short distance to where the reception would be held. As they followed the crowd, Julian ignored his phone, which vibrated nonstop in his suit coat pocket.
“Is that your phone?” Isla asked.
“Yeah.”
“Should you get it?”
Julian wanted to keep his full attention on her tonight. “Whatever it is can wait.”
He spotted Jackson and Roman standing off to the side, looking at their phones with grim expressions.
“Hey,” he said to them. “What’s wrong?”
“You might want to check your phone,” Jack said. “TMZ posted that Mom and Dad are back together, and the whole world is going nuts thanks to the freaking reality show that made them the poster children for ugly divorces.”
Jack’s words had barely registered when Julian became aware of people looking at them the way they’d observe survivors of catastrophe, with sympathy and anticipation of all the salacious details.
“Julian.”
He’d almost forgotten Isla was there, which he wouldn’t have thought possible a few minutes ago. He glanced at her.
“Let’s go,” she said.
“No, it’s fine. We can stay.”
“You guys shouldn’t be exposed to the public and the paparazzi with this news hitting. They’d love to get a photo of you looking shocked. Let’s get out of here.”
Julian didn’t want her to miss a minute of the most exciting night she’d ever had, but she was right. He couldn’t bear to be caught in the public crossfire of his parents’ nonsense again. Once had been more than enough.
“Come on, you guys,” he said to his brothers. “Let’s go.”
On the way out, they ran into Carson and Cresley.
“Where’re you guys going?” Carson asked.
“We’re leaving,” Julian said, “and you’ll want to come with us.”
“Why?”
“Trust me,” Julian said to his brother. “You need to come.”
“TMZ is reporting Mom and Dad are back together,” Roman said, “and it’s blowing up online.”
Carson glanced at Cresley. “I, um, I need to…”
She wrapped her hands around his arm possessively. “Let’s go.”
As the group walked out together, Julian fell back to talk to Carson in a low tone that couldn’t be overheard by either of their dates. “What the hell are you doing?”
Carson shifted his gaze from Julian to Isla. “I could ask you the same thing, brother.”