Chapter 21
Aaron wanted to tell his family before the story hit the newsstands, so he had asked Camille not to say anything until then.
They were both too happy to sit still. Every few minutes one of them would glance at the other and grin like teenagers who had just gotten away with something.
Camille had slipped the ring back into its velvet box and tucked it carefully into her bag. Wearing it on the flight would have drawn attention. The ring was not subtle. It was the kind of ring that caused strangers to lean over aisles and ask questions.
The plane hummed steadily at thirty thousand feet. Soft overhead lights glowed above them, and most passengers had already settled into movies or naps.
Aaron and Camille had angled themselves toward each other as much as the seats allowed. At one point their hands found each other across the armrest and stayed there.
“My mother brought me a script recently,” Camille said.
Aaron lifted a brow. “Oh? What’s it about?”
“It’s called Here Comes the Sun. It’s about a wealthy girl who moves to Jamaica after her parents die and uses her inheritance to help fund an orphanage. While she’s there she finds love.”
Aaron smiled faintly. “That sounds… tropical.”
“It does,” she said with a small laugh.
“Are you going to take the role?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. It’s pretty wholesome. There are no love scenes or profanities or anything.”
Aaron pretended to look shocked. “Hollywood is slipping.”
She shook her head at him.
“But,” she continued, “there’s no reference to God either. I get the impression the heroine was raised to have morals… but we’re not told where they came from.”
“And the hero?”
“He’s one of the guys helping build the orphanage. They clash constantly but eventually fall in love.”
Aaron nodded slowly. “Hmm.”
“What do you think?”
“It sounds interesting.”
He grew quiet then, turning to stare out the small oval window where the clouds stretched endlessly below them.
Camille studied him.
“What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?”
“You look like you're solving a math problem.”
He chuckled softly. “I was just thinking about you going off to the Caribbean to make a movie… and me being here. Or somewhere else.”
“Well,” she said, squeezing his fingers, “I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
“Just thinking about when we’re married. How do we navigate these scenarios? I was recently cautioned that you can’t have it all. The movie star wife, the great directing career and a successful marriage and family life.”
“I’m sure we’ll figure it out. We love each other. That’s what counts.”
He smiled sadly. “And love covers a multitude of sins, right?”
“Doesn’t it?”
He brought their entwined hands to his mouth and kissed hers.
“Of course. So, there’s a script I was also offered recently,” Aaron said. “They want me to direct and I actually thought of you for the lead.”
Her eyes lit immediately. “Really? What’s it about?”
He summarized the story.
By the time he finished Camille was nodding.
“That sounds really solid,” she said. “And she’s clearly a Christian character.”
“Yeah.”
He hesitated.
“What?”
“It’s set in Switzerland.”
She blinked.
“In winter.”
“Oh.”
Aaron laughed. “Yeah. That was my reaction too. I didn’t think you’d want to do it because of that.”
Camille sighed dramatically and leaned her head back against the seat.
“I do hate being cold,” she admitted. “But it’s not like I’d die.”
He smirked. “Debatable.”
She swatted his arm.
“I would endure it,” she said firmly, squeezing his hand again, “if it meant being with you.”
Aaron looked very pleased with that answer.
“We’d just have to make sure we get married first.”
“Why?” he asked, amused.
“So I can cuddle against you at night,” she said sweetly. “That way I’ll stay warm.”
Aaron grinned.
“I definitely like the sound of that arrangement.”
~*~*~*~
Aaron was driving home from the airport when he called Adam. He had left his car there at the airport parking lot for safe keeping. The parking fees were crazy but he was happy to pay it to drive himself home in his beloved car.
Camille had been picked up by a limo service her mother hired. Apparently, Rita felt that Camille was to maintain the movie star glamour at all times.
The late afternoon sun stretched across the highway as he merged into traffic.
Adam answered on the second ring.
“You’re back already?” Adam said. “That week flew by. Did you call to give me a blow-by-blow account of everything that happened?”
Aaron smiled as he steered the car onto the freeway.
“We’re getting married.”
Silence.
Then—
“WAIT—WHAT?”
Aaron laughed. “Camille and I are getting married. I proposed. She said yes.”
“Oh my gosh! Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack.”
Adam was still half shouting. “Is this the same guy who told me that he and Camille were going to be ‘just friends’ now and that he didn’t trust her anymore!”
Aaron winced slightly. “Yes, well… circumstances changed.”
“Circumstances changed?” Adam said. “That’s the understatement of the century!”
Aaron laughed. “I forgave her. I realized I couldn’t keep punishing her for something she genuinely repented of. We worked it out.” He paused, smiling to himself as he changed lanes. “I really love her, Adam. I was miserable without her.”
Adam’s tone softened slightly. “You’re happy again?”
“Yeah. I am.”
Adam was quiet for a moment, then said carefully, “You’re sure you trust her, Aaron? Or is this just because you realized the ‘friends only’ plan was torture?”
Aaron laughed again. “No. I do trust her. I really do.”
Adam let out a long breath. “Well… alright then. Have you told the folks?”
“I’m going to call after I hang up from you.”
“That should be interesting. Dad will pretend to be calm, but then he’ll start lecturing you on what hurdles you two will have to overcome and how marriage is not something to embark on lightly. Mom is going to back up everything he says.”
“That sounds about right.”
“Call them now. Then call me back. I want full details.”
“Of course you do.”
“Brotherly duty.”
Aaron shook his head, smiling.
“Alright. I’ll call you back.”
He ended the call and tapped the screen to pull up his parents’ number, his heart still racing with the simple joy of saying the words out loud.
We’re getting married.
~*~*~*~
Dana and Robert expressed happiness at Aaron’s news.
His father, as Adam had predicted, soon began to dispense advice.
“I know that you’re in love and have stars in your eyes,” Robert said across the speaker phone. “but before you say I do, you and Camille need to sit down and discuss how this is going to work on a practical level.”
Aaron frowned slightly. “How do you mean?”
“She’s an actress,” Robert said simply. “Where is she going to work? Unless she’s involved in a television series where she goes to work every day and comes home at night, she may be away from you and Madison for several months each year.”
Aaron nodded slowly as he slowed for a stop light.
“And what about you?” Robert continued. “What kind of projects will you be involved with, and with whom? You’re an actor.
Will you be starring in romantic films with other actresses?
Will she be doing the same with other actors?
” He paused. “These are important questions, Aaron. I have seen it tear many Hollywood marriages apart.”
Dana chimed in.
“Your dad’s right, Aaron,” she said gently. “Compromises will have to be made on both sides. You have to find out if Camille is ready to do that before you make a lifelong commitment.”
Aaron rubbed the back of his neck with his left hand as he steered with his right. “We’ve talked about some of that.”
“Some isn’t all,” Robert replied calmly.
Dana said warmly. “But we are very happy for you. Camille is a lovely woman.”
“And Madison adores her,” Robert added. “That matters.”
~*~*~*~
Alexandra was thrilled.
“I knew it!” she declared the moment he told her. “I absolutely knew it.”
“You knew what?” Aaron asked, amused.
“That you two would end up together.” She said triumphantly. “And I’m just going to point out that it was my Bible study suggestion that started all of this.”
Aaron laughed. “Oh really?”
“Yes really,” she said. “You don’t have to give me credit publicly, but privately we both know the truth.”
“Well,” Aaron said, grinning, “if you can take the credit, I suppose Ray should too. He was the one who insisted on casting her.”
Alexandra waved that away dismissively. “Technical details.”
~*~*~*~
A few minutes later, Aaron made another call.
Damian answered.
“Hey.”
“Hey. You busy?”
“Nah, you’re good.”
Aaron didn’t drag it out. “I’m getting married.”
A short pause.
Not shock. Just processing.
“Yeah?” Damian said.
“Yeah.”
Another beat.
“…Camille?” he asked, already knowing.
“Yeah.”
A quiet exhale, like something clicking into place.
“Yeah,” Damian said. “That makes sense.”
Aaron huffed a small laugh. “That’s it?”
“What do you want—fireworks?” Damian replied lightly. “You’ve been on that road for a minute.”
Aaron shook his head. “Didn’t feel like it.”
“It was,” Damian said. Not pushy. Just certain.
A pause.
Then, more grounded, “You good with it?”
“Yeah.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
Damian let that sit.
“You guys talked through everything?” he asked. “Like, actually talked?”
“We did.”
“No loose ends?”
“No.”
“Alright,” Damian said. “Then yeah… I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks.”
“She’s good for you,” Damian added.
Aaron didn’t argue.
~*~*~*~
Aaron called Scarlette’s dad next.
Sam Swinton was a music producer who had single-handedly raised Scarlette after her mother died of cancer when she was ten.
The irony of that was not lost on Aaron after Scarlette died and he was left in a similar situation.
Sam had also been part of Madison’s life over the years, often sending her gifts and visiting when work for the record label allowed.
Aaron felt he owed him the respect of telling him personally.
“Sam, it’s Aaron.”
“Well now,” Sam said warmly, “this is a pleasant surprise.”