Page 42 of The Location Shoot
“Oh, Albie. I don’t know what to say. I’m terribly sorry.” She leaned over and embraced him. He hugged her tightly in return.
When they parted, he smiled and said, “None of that, now. I’m an old man who’s led an extraordinary life. I still am. And I must say, I was tickled when you arrived. I was hoping my last Jean Mercier film would be an Ella Sinclair experience.”
“You don’t want the others to know?”
He shook his head.
“I’m sure they would all be there for you, if you allowed them to be.”
“Defeats the purpose. I’m here to make cinematic art with my colleagues and forget about this damn cancer stuff. Please keep this between us.”
“Of course. I do think you should tell them at some point, but it’s up to you. In the meantime, what can I do for you?”
“You’re already doing it. Being around you is balm for my soul.”
She smiled.
“Play with me again, Ella,” he said, placing his hands over the keys.
“With pleasure,” she replied.
EVERYONE STROLLED INTO THE DININGroom to find Ella and Albie huddled together, laughing over a drink.
“Hi, baby,” Finn said, sliding into the booth next to her.
She smiled and gave him a peck.
“I see you two started early,” Jean said. “Tell us, what’s so funny?”
“Just a laugh between old friends,” Albie replied, lifting his glass and nodding at Ella.
“That’s right,” she agreed, raising her glass and winking at him.
Jean signaled to the waiter to bring their drinks. He turned to Albie. “Well, you missed a hell of a day on set. These four finally decided to stop acting and start feeling.”
Albie chuckled. “How’d you manage that?”
“I’d love to take credit,” Jean said.
“I’m sure you would,” Ella interjected.
The actors laughed.
Jean smirked. “You know how these things go, Albie. Sometimes a fairy comes along and sprinkles a little magical dust that awakens the soul and reminds everyone what it means to truly be alive. But I wouldn’t be so bold as to venture a guess as to what woke my actors up,” he said, looking at Ella out of the corner of his eye. Finn slipped his arm around Ella, and she burrowed into him.
“Well, I will say this,” Albie said. “Worse than missing the shoot today was missing out on Ella’s beach outing. Sounded marvelous. I hope there are more on the calendar.”
“Oh, I hope so too,” Willow said. “It was so much fun.”
“How about each time a few of us have a day off, we make an adventure out of it?” Michael suggested.
“I’d love to,” Charlotte said.
Everyone turned to Ella expectantly, and she smiled. “Sure, that would be great. There are loads of things we can do. There are scenic boat tours, spectacular forests, quaint towns and villages.”
The waiter served their drinks. They all raised their glasses and Albie said, “I’d like to do the honors. To living each moment, on film and in life.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Jean said.
