Chapter 21 #2
“I wanted to let you know something before you heard it anywhere else,” Aaron said. “Camille Carlucci and I are getting married.”
There was a pause.
Then Sam laughed—a deep, satisfied sound.
“Well, son, that’s wonderful news. Truly wonderful.”
Aaron blinked in surprise.
“I didn’t know what to expect calling you,” he admitted.
“What did you think?” Sam asked mildly. “That I’d resent you?”
“I didn’t know,” Aaron said honestly.
“Well, let me put your mind at ease,” Sam replied. “It makes me very happy to hear this. You’re a young man. I always prayed that God would send you the right woman when the time was right. Scarlette would want you to be happy.”
Aaron swallowed.
“Thank you, Sam.”
~*~*~*~
Next he told Madison.
When he reached home after he shared his goodies and gifts from the trip, he sat her on his knee in the living room.
“Sweetheart,” he said gently, “I have something to tell you.”
She looked at him with curious eyes.
“I’m engaged to marry Miss Camille.”
Her brow furrowed.
“You mean marry like Granny and Grandad?”
He smiled. His parents were probably the closest married couple she really understood.
“Yeah,” he said. “Like that.”
She thought about it.
“So Miss Camille will come live with us?”
He nodded.
“And she will be my mommy?”
“Yes,” he said softly. “She will.”
Madison’s face lit up like the sun.
“I love Miss Camille!”
Aaron laughed.
“She loves you too.”
~*~*~*~
Aaron thought he also owed it to Ray to let him know before the news hit the headlines. He called him the next morning.
“Hi Ray.”
“Aaron! How are you settling back in after that tour?”
“Pretty good,” Aaron said. “Still catching up on sleep.”
Ray chuckled. “I hear you.”
They chatted for a minute before Aaron got to the point.
“So Ray, I wanted to share some news with you.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m getting married.”
“Married?” Ray exclaimed. “Wow! I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone.”
Aaron laughed.
“Come on, Ray. You knew.”
There was a pause.
“Camille?” Ray asked slowly.
“Camille.”
Ray burst out laughing.
“Well, why am I surprised? I shouldn’t be surprised.”
Aaron joined him.
“So when’s the big day?” Ray asked. “And don’t say the day of the movie premiere or something crazy like that. I would never forgive you two.”
Aaron laughed. “We haven’t discussed the date yet. But I promise you it won’t be that day.”
“Good,” Ray said. “Well… it’ll be good for the film.”
Aaron raised an eyebrow. “Really? This from the man who warned me it wouldn’t be good for the movie if the focus was on us instead of it.”
“Well,” Ray said lightly, “it worked out. Let’s just put it that way.”
~*~*~*~
Camille told her parents the moment she reached home from the airport.
First her mother.
“Mama,” she said, barely containing her excitement. “I’m getting married.”
“What?” her mother gasped.
“Yes! Aaron and I are getting married.”
“Oh honey!” Her mother practically squealed. “I’m so happy for you!”
“I know, right?” Camille laughed. “I can’t believe this is actually happening. There was a time when I thought I didn’t deserve a happy, romantic relationship.”
“Oh, what nonsense,” her mother said firmly. “You deserve every happiness. I’m so glad it worked out.”
Then she called her father.
“Hi, Papa.”
Before she could say anything else he launched into a warm greeting.
“Cammy! How wonderful to hear your voice! To what do I owe this pleasure? And it is truly a pleasure.”
“I’m getting married.”
“To Simon Halden?”
Her smile collapsed.
“What?! No! Of course not! Why would you ask me that?”
“Well,” he said cautiously, “the last time we spoke I passed on his proposal. I didn’t know you were seeing anyone else. Who is the lucky man?”
Her enthusiasm had drained away.
“Aaron Cortelli,” she said flatly.
There was a pause.
“Cortelli?” he repeated. “Now there is Hollywood royalty.”
She said nothing.
“And from the old country too,” he continued thoughtfully. “Well… not him specifically. I think he’s first-generation Italian-American. Or second? Like you.”
Another pause.
“Well,” he said finally, “I hope he makes you happy.”
“Very happy,” she said, her voice lifting despite herself.
Because it was the truth.
~*~*~*~
Then she told her close friends.
She invited Vera and Anne over for afternoon tea.
The moment she showed them the ring they erupted.
“Oh my goodness!” Vera cried, grabbing her hand. “Camille! That stone!”
Anne leaned closer. “Aaron did very well.”
Vera laughed. “That man clearly knows what he’s doing.”
Camille laughed helplessly as they both began examining the ring like jewelers.
“So,” Vera said finally, narrowing her eyes playfully. “Tell us everything.”
Anne nodded.
“Yes,” she said. “Start from the beginning.”
Camille smiled.
“Oh trust me,” she said. “You’re going to want the whole story.”
~*~*~*~
The afternoon with Vera and Anne stretched longer than Camille had planned.
Camille served a decadent meal she prepared herself with Luma’s help. It consisted of an assortment of tea sandwiches; followed by scones with jam and cream and ending with macarons, cupcakes and tarts. The ladies stayed until Tea turned into champagne. And champagne turned into storytelling.
“And then what did he say?” Anne demanded, perched on the edge of the sofa like a teenager hearing a romance for the first time.
Camille laughed. “You’re enjoying this far too much.”
“Of course I am,” Vera said. “This is the best love story Hollywood has had in years. Don’t you dare skip any parts.”
Camille shook her head but continued.
“And then he said he wanted us to start over. He said he’d never stopped loving me and he wanted us to be together.”
Anne sighed dramatically. “That man is ruining the rest of the male population.”
Vera lifted Camille’s hand again, the diamond catching the afternoon light streaming through the windows.
“This ring alone will start rumors,” she said. “You can’t hide that.”
“I’m not trying to hide it,” Camille replied. “Aaron just wants to tell a few people before the news gets out.”
Vera gave her a look.
“Camille,” she said gently, “you’re forgetting something.”
“What?”
“You’re famous.”
Anne nodded vigorously. “And he’s famous. And the two of you just finished starring in a biblical epic together where you played the King and Queen of Persia.”
Vera leaned back in her chair.
“If you think this news is staying quiet for more than twenty-four hours, you are adorable.”
Camille laughed, though something about the certainty in Vera’s voice made her wonder.
Still, the afternoon passed in warmth and excitement.
When they finally left, Vera kissed her cheek.
“Call me the moment you set a date.”
Anne hugged her tightly. “And I’m doing your hair for the wedding. Non-negotiable.”
Camille laughed. “Deal.”
She closed the door behind them, still smiling.
~*~*~*~
Early the next morning, Aaron’s phone buzzed relentlessly on the bedside table.
Messages.
Missed calls.
Texts.
Madison was still asleep in the next room.
Aaron groaned and reached for the phone.
Twenty-three notifications.
He frowned.
Then he opened the first message from Tiffany.
Call me. Now.
The second.
Have you seen the news??
His stomach tightened.
He opened the link.
And there it was.
CARLUCCI AND CORTELLI LOVESTRUCK AFTER ESTHER
HOLLYWOOD’S NEW POWER COUPLE?
Aaron leaned back against the headboard and ran a hand over his face.
He couldn’t help laughing.
“Well,” he muttered. “So much for telling everyone ourselves.”
~*~*~*~
The news broke like a wave crashing to shore.
Headlines screamed:
ON-SCREEN ROYALTY BECOMES REAL-LIFE ROMANCE
DID KING AHASUERUS WIN ESTHER’S HEART FOR REAL?
Entertainment sites ran with it first. Within minutes it had spread everywhere.
Clips from their press tour flooded social media. Slow-motion edits of their interviews. The lingering looks. The laughter. The way Aaron always seemed to lean toward Camille without realizing it.
Now everyone had an explanation.
Aaron sat on the couch in his living room scrolling through his phone. Madison sat playing with her dolls nearby. The television played quietly in the background with yet another news segment discussing the engagement. He sighed.
Camille sat beside him with her legs tucked under her, watching the screen with an expression that was equal parts bemused and resigned.
“‘Cortelli falls for leading lady,’” Aaron read aloud.
She winced. “That one’s actually mild.”
He scrolled again. “Oh this one’s good.” He cleared his throat theatrically. “‘Has Camille Carlucci found another on-set romance?’”
Camille leaned her head back against the couch and groaned. “Here we go.”
Aaron turned the phone toward her. “Apparently I’m part of a pattern.”
She glanced at the screen briefly. Then shook her head and looked away.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
She folded her arms. “I knew this would happen.”
“What?”
She gestured toward the television. “That they’d speculate. Act like they know us. They don’t.”
Aaron set the phone down. “They’ll speculate for a while. Then they’ll move on to the next scandal.”
Camille turned toward him. “Well,” she said, eyes twinkling, “at least we’re being accused of something wholesome.”
Aaron laughed. “That’s true.”
She nudged his shoulder. “Besides,” she added, “if they think we fell in love during Esther, they’re not wrong.”
Aaron smiled. “Yeah,” he said softly.
The television cut again to a clip of them on the press tour.
The host’s voice rang out from the screen. “You two have incredible chemistry.”
Camille muted the TV and looked at Aaron. “Think the movie will do well?”
He grinned. “With this much publicity?” He squeezed her hand. “Absolutely.”