Stardust (The Starlight Trilogy #3) (24 page)

Her response was instantaneous, backed by a twinkle in her eyes that no amount of stars could compete with. “Absolutely.”

Aidan chuckled. Leave it to Beth to turn his sorrow into joy with just one word, one look. “That’s it? You don’t need time to think about it?”

She giggled. “Not at all. I loved our time together in New York. Although you’ve rented a place there for a while, I feel like it would be a new beginning for us.”

“I think so, too.” Aidan grinned. “It’s a done deal, then. Once
Golden Gloves
is finished, we’ll move.”

“I can’t wait.”

Longing softened the cheerfulness in Beth’s expression. Mindful of his bandages, she worked her hands into his hair and brought their lips together. Aidan reciprocated like a man in optimal health. Car accident be damned. Nothing would prevent him from kissing and touching his girl when and how she wanted him to.

Afterward, they snuggled under the blanket, their heads resting side by side on the pillow again.

“While you were unconscious, I hummed the song you wrote for me.” Beth stroked his cheek. “I wanted you to know I was here for you.”

Aidan closed his eyes. Her soft breaths and touch drifted across his face, swathing him in serenity.

She’s exquisite.

Go to her.

He opened his eyes. “I love you so much, little dove.”

Beth’s smile was more perfect than lying in the most vibrant meadow under the warmest afternoon sun. “I love you, too.”

They settled in for the night, moonlight gracing them with a lone spotlight as they slipped off to sleep.

Aidan was released from Chicago Memorial Hospital three weeks after his admission. He spent his twenty-fourth birthday in the hospital, quite the departure from the elaborate plans Beth and Nathan had made in the early part of the year, but his circumstances didn’t impact his special day. People who loved him surrounded him. That was all he needed.

Upon his discharge, Beth and Aidan bought everything they required during their temporary stay in Chicago. They also rented a downtown apartment, where they’d reside until the
Golden Gloves
shoot concluded. Beth took care of Aidan alongside a home health nurse who visited daily, and within no time, he was ready to return to the set to finish the film.

Once Beth and Aidan told Olivia, Nathan, Connie, and Matthew about their decision to move to New York permanently, their friends decided the city was perfect for them as well. Olivia was interested in designing costumes for Broadway, and Nathan wished to be closer to his mother at Bellevue Hospital. Connie grew up in New Jersey and already preferred the East Coast to the West Coast, and RCA Victor, Matthew’s employer, had offices on both coasts, which meant he could relocate without difficulty.

While Beth and Aidan remained in Chicago to wrap
Golden Gloves
, Connie and Matthew flew to Los Angeles to get their affairs in order, and Olivia and Nathan set up temporary residence at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City—using Olivia’s savings—during their search for a new apartment and an office for Nathan’s new business venture.

Before Olivia left for New York, she fashioned a wardrobe for
Golden Gloves
’ remaining scenes. Her original designs remained in L.A. and belonged to Starlight Studios, and she didn’t have time to make new ones. Instead, she visited thrift stores in Chicago and purchased everything she needed on a small budget.

By mid-June, Aidan felt well enough to fly to New York City and attend the Heavyweight Boxing Championship at Madison Square Garden—Beth’s Valentine’s Day gift to him. They landed just three hours before the start of the event and flew back to Chicago the following morning for a script meeting with
Golden Gloves’
full cast and Kazan, but enjoyed their short trip and looked forward to moving there permanently.

During their overnight visit, Beth suggested they sleep at Aidan’s rented studio apartment on the Upper West Side. Although Aidan had been hesitant, he eventually agreed—but only for that one night. When they returned to New York after
Golden Gloves
’ completion, he insisted they stay at the Waldorf Astoria until they found an apartment. Beth accepted his compromise.

As soon as Dr. Billings gave Aidan the all clear to return to the gym, he scheduled daily training sessions with Rocky Marcello, with a promise to Beth that he wouldn’t push himself too far. A few weeks later, his hard work and dedication paid off. He was back to his ideal weight, with just enough muscle to convince the film’s audience he’d never been injured in the first place.

Although newspapers all over the country covered Aidan’s discharge and the news that
Golden Gloves
would be released in the fall, the public’s paramount interest was in Beth and Aidan’s relationship. Aidan confirmed they were in love when Beth wheeled him out of Chicago Memorial and into the crowd of reporters, photographers, and curious bystanders gathered on the street. He was in a good mood that day—not only was he finally able to leave the hospital after weeks of restlessness, but he was also on new pain medication, which made him a little loopy.

Since then, Beth and Aidan had graced the cover of all the major movie magazines, with headlines boasting various catch phrases that announced their love to the world. So far, they’d received an outpouring of public support, proving their popularity didn’t decline with their full disclosure. To keep up with demand, the press requested exclusive interviews, but Beth and Aidan declined. They wanted to focus on Aidan’s recovery and finishing
Golden Gloves
, and preferred not to overexpose their private lives.

Venus Rising
was released in late April, but Beth didn’t attend the premiere because she refused to leave Aidan in Chicago. The film was a smash hit at the box office, and she received polite reviews for her dancing, which was a lovely surprise.

According to reports from Hollywood, Ronald Wilson, one of Mr. Mertz’s executives, was now in charge of Starlight Studios. Nathan predicted Mr. Wilson would do a great job filling the role, and so far, everything was business as usual. However, rumors circulated that many actors and actresses were consulting with attorneys to get out of their contracts.

Although big changes were occurring at the studio, Beth and Aidan were too preoccupied to concern themselves with most of the gossip. As soon as Aidan felt well enough, Beth contacted an analyst, Dr. Johansson, who was recommended by Kazan. Dr. Johansson lived in New York City, so their once-a-week sessions with him had to be conducted over the telephone on a secure long distance line until they moved to Manhattan permanently and could see him in person.

Even though they had only been talking to the analyst for a month, Aidan was doing much better in coming to terms with his past. He didn’t suffer from nightmares or daytime visions like he used to, and he felt stronger emotionally. He also no longer feared that attending therapy would negatively affect his acting abilities.

Forgiveness was a crucial part of his transformation. When he shared the details of what happened during his confrontation with his father, Dr. Johansson praised his actions, stating he’d shown maturity and courage. The analyst was impressed with Aidan’s work toward forgiving himself for his mother’s death as well. Meanwhile, Beth dealt with what happened with Mr. Mertz, and what Dr. Johansson described as her self-discovery while balancing both Marie Bates and Elizabeth Sutton.

Dr. Johansson also encouraged Beth and Aidan to open up about their pasts and how they felt their individual histories affected their relationship. They talked about the mistakes they had made with each other and what they hoped to achieve together from now on, and were well on their way to working through their issues.

It seemed the old adage that time heals all wounds was true, after all. With Aidan’s body mended and his battle with past demons finally behind him, he and Beth looked forward to the future and plenty more opportunities dedicated to focusing on each other.

In mid-July, on her first day back on set in over three months, Beth paced her trailer, reciting her lines. It was approaching midnight, but she was too jittery to be tired. Beyond the cast read-throughs over the last month, she had rehearsed privately with Aidan every evening. Still, she was concerned it hadn’t been enough. She continued to review her script obsessively at every opportunity, even though she already knew it by heart.

Eventually, Beth swapped her stuffy trailer for a breath of Chicago night air. Multiple trailers lined one side of the quaint residential street. Aidan’s trailer was parked next to hers, but his door was closed. He must have been preparing for his scenes.

Kazan chose to film the street scenes overnight, when there were fewer people and less traffic to pose interference. In spite of the late hour, however, a crowd had gathered across the road. Right now, the trailers shielded Beth. When she moved down the street to film, she and the entire cast and crew would be in plain view. Security guards were called in to ensure no one trespassed onto the set, but if the enthusiastic reactions she and Aidan received upon their arrival were any indication, it’d be a challenge to keep the fans under control without falling behind schedule.

“Hey, Beth.” Kazan approached her with grin so fresh no one would ever know he’d been here all day, preparing for tonight’s shoot. “You look beautiful. Olivia really came through for us with the costumes. She won’t have any trouble getting work in New York. I’ve put in a good word for her in the Broadway circles, but her reputation in Hollywood speaks for itself.”

Beth smiled. “She really appreciates your assistance.”

“It was my pleasure.” Kazan shoved his hands into his pockets. “You know, I never thought much of that fiancé of hers, because he worked so closely with Luther Mertz, but Nathan is actually a stand-up guy. Damn smart, too. He helped me a lot with
Golden Gloves
in the month after Aidan’s accident. He’ll have no problem getting back on his feet.”

“He’s working on a great business idea,” Beth replied. “I have faith in him.”

“I was just on set. The lights are up, and we’ve planned the exact route you and Aidan will take during the scene. We’ll start with the conversation Mary and Joe have regarding his championship bout, and then Aidan and Wade will film the opening scene of the film. We’ll tackle George and Joe’s arrival at the gym last. That should bring us to about seven o’clock.” Kazan guided her out of the way of a crewmember who raced past them, carrying a fan. “I came by to see if you’d be ready soon. Did you have anything to eat? I told Keith to bring you a sandwich and juice.”

Beth frowned. “He came by, but I don’t have much of an appetite. Thank you, though.” She changed the subject before Kazan could voice concern. “Have you seen Aidan recently?”

“I spoke with him about ten minutes ago. He’s still running through his lines. I don’t see the benefit, though. He’s the master of improvisation. He could complete every scene perfectly without rehearsing, based on instinct alone.” Kazan gestured to the brownstone across from her trailer. “Why don’t we have a seat while we wait for him?”

“Sure.”

Kazan sat next to Beth on the front stoop, his shoulders hunched and his hands clasped between his knees. “I’ve always hated my nickname, Gadget. It was given to me in my Group Theater days in the 1930s. I love the theater, but my acting is terrible, and back then, I hadn’t considered directing as a plausible career path. So I accepted the role of a stagehand, the go-to guy who fetched stuff for others. A gofer, if you will.”

He shrugged. “I’ve gotten used to the nickname. Now it’s a term of endearment my friends use, often shortened to Gadg. It wasn’t given to me under those circumstances, though. Anytime I think about it—and I mean
really
think about its origin—it makes me so damn mad. I spent too many years agreeing with others, plastering a smile on my face when all I really wanted to do was tell ’em off. There are certain social graces that are expected, but sometimes it’s important to stand up for yourself and say what’s really on your mind to save your dignity.”

The quiet street was disturbed by commotion from the crew, but Beth’s attention was riveted on her director. Although she had always gotten along well with Kazan, they’d never shared deep conversations like he had with Aidan. Insight into this very private man was a rare gift she didn’t dare take for granted.

“Do you know John Steinbeck?” Kazan shot her an inquisitive glance, making eye contact with her for the first time since they sat down.

“I read
The Grapes of Wrath
when I was in school, and
East
of Eden
is one of my favorite novels.”

“Two years ago, John and I were walking down the Champs-Élysées in Paris—have you ever been to Paris?”

Beth shook her head. “I’ve never been outside of the U.S. Traveling abroad has always interested me, though.”

“Well, we’ll be flying to Europe to promote
Golden Gloves
, and Paris will definitely be a stop on the tour—London, too, Madrid, and most likely, Rome. If you love Manhattan, you’ll love Paris. They’re my favorite cities in the world. Anyhow, in 1952, I went to Paris to get away from Luther because he was driving me nuts over a film I was making for him called
Viva Zapata.
I met up with John, who took the train in from London. He was going through a bout of depression, and I don’t know, I guess misery likes company. Over coffee, I told him how frustrated I was with Hollywood, and how I should’ve stayed in New York and stuck to Broadway and the Actors Studio.”

Beth giggled. “You sound like Aidan.”

Kazan grinned. “Yeah, well, Hollywood is tough to stomach when you’ve been trained in the theater first. No offense. Anyway, after John told me all about the stuff he was dealing with—writer’s block, trouble with his wife—I told him about the script revisions Luther wanted for
Viva Zapata
because he thought my portrayal of the main character would anger the Mexican people—which, by the way, were unfounded accusations.