Stardust (The Starlight Trilogy #3) (29 page)

“No, you don’t. You make a beautiful bride, Connie.” And he meant it. Draped in white satin and lace, she looked prettier today than she did in any of her motion pictures to date.

She sniffled. “Thank you, Aidan.”

They picked up their pace in time with the music, but Connie’s persistent frown made Aidan stop them midstride. “If you wanna go back to your table, you can.”

She shook her head. “I’m enjoying your company. It’s just been an emotional day. It doesn’t help that I haven’t gotten much sleep recently while planning the wedding.” At her instigation, they continued dancing. “Aidan, I want to apologize for how I treated you. You’ve been wonderful to Beth. Nathan and Matthew love you, and Olivia told me so many times to give you a chance, but I refused. I let my past with Luther Mertz get in the way of a possible friendship between you and me. It was wrong, and I’m sorry.”

Aidan shrugged. “Hell, you don’t have to apologize. I wasn’t exactly cordial with you, either. I thought you were a spoiled, untalented contract star. I never gave you the benefit of the doubt or made an effort to get to know you better.”

Connie shared a sheepish smile. “I guess we both made mistakes, huh?”

Aidan chuckled. “I used to do a lot of that.”

“Me, too.” Her eyes lost focus.

At the start of the second verse, Aidan lifted his arm and twirled her. His attempt to cheer her up worked. With carefree laughter, Connie completed her rotation. They replaced their hands, returning to form.

“Thank you for helping me realize I deserved more than what I experienced when I first came to Hollywood, Aidan. Also, that I was worthy enough to find happiness again, even though my behavior years ago wasn’t exactly honorable.”

Aidan looked down at his feet, but he wasn’t monitoring his steps. There was a lot of baggage that went along with what happened in Mr. Mertz’s office. It was difficult to talk about, difficult to look someone in the eye and admit wrongdoing. However, to officially make amends with Connie, she needed to know he was sorry as well, that he was ashamed he had been so quick to judge her. His past struggles perpetuated his standoff nature and negative behavior. He should’ve recognized the same in her, too.

“With every punch I threw at Mertz, I was really battling with my personal pain, punishing myself for my mistakes while simultaneously hoping to displace the blame on someone else. Mertz is far from an innocent party in all this, but I used what he did to Beth as an excuse to lash out at him. Sure, I did it to defend her, but I’m ashamed to say she wasn’t the sole reason for my attack. I’ve been seeing an analyst, you know. He made me realize a lot of things, and I’m not angry like I used to be.”

Connie sighed. “When you hit Luther, I saw my own hurt in your eyes. That’s why I went after him as well. I felt united with you then, as silly as it sounds. It was in that moment I realized you and I are a lot alike, only I buried my pain for years while yours was palpable.”

“Because you’re stronger than me.”

Connie clasped his hand tighter. “That’s not true. You showed remarkable strength and courage when you confided in Beth. I was too scared to open up. Foolishly, I thought everything would go away if I ignored it long enough. You’re also right that inflicting pain upon Luther wasn’t the answer. I had to search within myself for redemption and to reclaim my self-worth.”

“You’re a decent broad, Connie.” This time, Aidan didn’t hesitate to look her right in the eye. “Beth told me how you dragged her out of my house and encouraged her to continue on in my absence, how you supported her at the hospital, took care of me, and helped clean me up.”

“When Matthew and I flew to Chicago and saw you…” Connie grimaced. “All I could think about was how much I wished I could apologize to you and set things right between us. I was worried I’d never get the chance.”

“Even if I didn’t wake up from my coma, you would’ve earned my respect, Connie. I owe you a thank you for everything you’ve done for me and Beth.”

“It’s what friends do. I’m just glad our suffering is behind us and we have the opportunity to start anew.” Connie placed her head on his chest and closed her eyes. Her brow smoothed out with the arrival of her smile.

Aidan slowed their steps to fit the music. Man, if the old Aidan Evans were allowed a glimpse into his future, he would’ve denied its authenticity. Never would he have predicted that he and Connie would be friends—and dancing together, of all things.

The song came to an end. When Aidan looked around, an uncharacteristic blush leapt into his cheeks. Every guest had cleared the dance floor. Applause broke out. Beth brushed tears from her eyes.

Aidan took Connie’s hand and kissed it. “I’m honored you granted me this dance.”

She curtsied, in a grand and beautiful way, as only she could. “And I’m honored you consider me a friend.”

Aidan brought Connie back to her husband. He and Beth wished the newlyweds a lovely honeymoon in Europe, made dinner plans with Nathan and Olivia for next week, and then exited into a tepid fall night.

Last night, they had checked into the Seaside Inn, where the rest of the wedding guests resided. As nice as those accommodations were, they didn’t feel like staying there again. Their
Golden Gloves
promotional tour would make them extra accessible to the public in the coming months. Tonight, they desired to spend time alone together in a place where no one could find them.

Several blocks from the reception hall, tucked away on an unassuming side street, they stumbled upon a charming motel. Aidan paid the desk clerk extra money to keep their whereabouts a secret, and he and Beth blissfully, passionately, slipped into temporary obscurity.

Beth and Aidan strolled along Broadway before dawn, the echoes of their footsteps the only sounds on the typically busy New York City road. Fourteen hours from now,
Golden Gloves
would premiere at the 46th Street Theatre. Fans, friends, industry peers, and notable members of the press would crowd the area for red carpet festivities, and their idle footfalls would fade amongst the chaos. Right now, they could enjoy their togetherness without interference and exercise their renewed outlook on their careers and relationship: Life is a journey, not a destination.

Beth and Aidan both took unprecedented paths in their professions and prevailed. Most importantly, they achieved individual redemption and reclaimed their self-confidence because of what they found in each other. They didn’t worry about what lay ahead for them. Everything would turn out all right, regardless of any future obstacles they faced. Love empowered and saved, and brightened people’s days during the darkest storms—as long as they put in some hard work along the way, of course.

Newspapers all over the country predicted 
Golden Gloves
 would break box office records. The media dubbed the film as their acting debut as a couple, which piqued the public’s interest, but it was the glowing reviews from critics granted advance screenings that really fueled the buzz. The film opened nationwide next week, and theaters expected lineups hours before tickets went on sale. Aidan and Beth were just grateful they could finally share Joe and Mary’s story with the world.

This morning, their walk brought them to many landmarks from their courtship, including the famed Actors Studio. During Beth’s first visit as a guest, she completed a scene with Paul Newman, and then much to her shock and excitement, Aidan rose from his chair in the back of the room—the epitome of the gorgeous, brooding rebel—to take the blue-eyed actor’s place. But it was for other reasons she would remember that day forever. Aidan asked her out on their first date that afternoon, and it was also the first time they performed together, marking the start of their professional partnership.

Aidan exuded energy, passion, and realism during their scene, demonstrating in a raw and captivating way what acting was truly about. Watching his incredible gift onscreen was awe-inspiring. Live? Well, there was nothing like it.

From then on, Beth viewed their profession with more esteem. To self-reflect, to tap into emotions buried deep within oneself in order to pull off an authentic performance, was no easy feat, by any means—whether an actor was a natural performer like Aidan or someone who needed continuous coaching to achieve his greatest potential. Beth was now honored to be a member of the Actors Studio and to have the opportunity to nurture her craft alongside acclaimed professionals in theater and film.

Before long, the couple arrived at the 46th Street Theatre, which was already decorated for the premiere. The film’s title and their names in equal billing lit up the marquee. The velvet ropes were secured, and a sign erected on an easel at the entrance announced the event information.

Beth and Aidan huddled together against a brisk wind in front of a
Golden Gloves
promotional poster, one of many mounted on the theater’s exterior. In the advertisement, Joe was dressed for a fight, his gloved fists raised and his narrowed eyes fixed ahead. Mary stood in the background with a gentle grip on his shoulder. While Joe’s features were set tightly, hers were softened by hope and adoration. In spite of these differences, their united front was unmistakable. Mary’s subtle gesture proclaimed their love for each other and determination to triumph over their troubles as a couple more effectively than if they shared an intimate embrace.

Mary supported Joe through it all. Whether physically or in spirit, she was always in his corner. She was with him as he slaved away at the factory, as he trained at the gym all day, every day, improving his mental and physical well-being…when he entered the ring for his first bout since his former opponent’s demise, and every bout after that. She was there during every punch he threw, every hit he took, and kneeled beside him whenever his guilt and torment brought him to the mat. But her greatest influence? Allowing him to stand back up on his own. Because any real woman—a woman who truly wanted to support her husband and exemplify the good wife—recognized the value of a man’s self-worth and encouraged him to find his own way. Only Joe, and Joe alone, had the power to knock out his demons and keep them down for the count.

“Once our film is no longer in theaters, we should collect some of the posters and hang them up in our home.” Aidan’s eyebrows rose. “What do you think, baby?”

Beth giggled at his joke. “Oh, sure. In fact, we should convert our apartment to a
Golden Gloves
art gallery and charge the public admission.”

“Is that sarcasm I detect?” Aidan smirked. “So does that mean you wouldn’t want a picture of me half-naked mounted above our bed?”

Beth tapped her chin in faux contemplation. “You know, I always thought our amazing acting abilities generated all the interest in
Golden Gloves
, but perhaps the attention is really due to women all over the world wishing to see you shirtless.”

A grin spread across Aidan’s lips, gracing his face with boyish splendor. “Are you saying I’m nothing but a sexy beefcake, whose sole purpose is to satiate the carnal sexual desires of the entire female population?”

Beth clasped her hands behind his neck, presenting her best demure look while trying to hold back a smile. “Well, you are on the cover of 
Photoplay
’s special Movie Star Hunks issue this month, voted number one by the magazine’s readers.”

Aidan’s gaze floated down her body, radiating a heated admiration that communicated he’d be more than happy to see
her
without a shirt on. Unlike the
Golden Gloves
poster, however, she’d be for his eyes only. “The only thing I care about is whether I satisfy 
your 
carnal desires.”

The threat of a smile evaporated as Beth’s longing skyrocketed, fueled by cherished memories she hoped to replicate when they returned home. “I’d say our lovemaking in the foyer prior to our walk, and our two romps in the parlor yesterday evening…oh, and our christening of the kitchen table yesterday morning thoroughly demonstrate your wondrous sexual prowess and how well you satiate my every need.” She kissed him softly. “I love you and cannot wait to marry you.”

Aidan’s expression sobered, his playfulness transforming to tenderness. “I love you, too, Marie.”

Beth drew back from him. Her lower lip quivered, her eyes grew moist. Goodness. She never thought hearing him address her by her given name would yield such joy. “You haven’t called me Marie before. Why now?”

Aidan framed her face with his hands. His gaze bore into hers, strengthened by sincerity. “Because I want you to know that I love every part of you, past and present, and I will also love the woman you’ll become in the future.”

Tears trailed down her cheeks. “Elizabeth Evans is the name I will wear most proudly.”

Taking her hand, Aidan ushered her away from the theater’s lights. They pressed up against the vacant box office, two anonymous shadows locked in a fervent embrace, their lips caressing and uttering promises of forever.

Before heading home, they paused in front of the 
Golden Gloves 
poster again. Beth placed her hand on Aidan’s shoulder and squeezed. Their reflections in the glass merged with the faces of their movie counterparts, a time capsule of youth, a reminder of all they had been through and attained.

At dusk, they would walk the red carpet together, smiling for the cameras and openly sharing affection, marking yet another important moment in their relationship. Beth would dedicate a section in her scrapbook to the premiere and document every new milestone until every page was full like she had dreamed about on her trip back to Clarkson—the first stop on her renewed flight as Elizabeth Sutton, a lifelong journey that would always be made in the company of her beloved. Destination: anywhere.

February 1959

Beth awoke to find the other side of the bed empty and the apartment strangely quiet in light of recent events. She looked toward the nightstand. The clock displayed three in the morning.