Page 55 of The Location Shoot
She looked down as if searching for the words. “Yeah, this place isn’t exactly real life. You’re all immersed in this powerful story you’re telling, living in this surreal environment, away from your loved ones, away from your true selves. I can understand how emotions become heightened. Finn, if that’s what’s happening with us . . .”
“Oh, no, baby, not in the least. Don’t think that for a second. So much of my life has happened on locations, and trust me, this is very much my real life. More than anything,youare my real life.”
She smiled faintly.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
She looked deep into his eyes and said, “Finn, why do we love each other?”
“Because we can’t help it. We can’t help it but to love each other.” He kissed her softly and then rested his forehead against hers. He lingered for a long, intimate moment, and whispered, “Because we do. We just do.”
“Yes, but . . .”
“Does it really matter? We feel what we feel.”
“I know, but . . .”
“Do you really need to know why?” he asked. “I don’t know if I could explain it.”
“I’ve spent my entire adult life asking big questions about human existence, searching for reason, and now . . .” She sighed and thought for a moment, the words escaping her again. “My life was one thing and now it’s something else, and your life was also one thing and now it’s something else, just because we met, because of this inexplicable feeling we have for each other. How does that happen?”
“I don’t know. The only thing I know for sure is that what we have together is bigger than what I have without you. How we feel about each other, it’s everything, Ella.”
“You’ve been with so many women. Why me and not any of them?”
“Because I’m in love with you,” Finn said. “The best way I can explain it is to say that when we’re together, it’s like I have the answer to a question I didn’t know I was asking.”
She smiled. “That’s so romantic. But . . .”
“What, baby?”
“The first night we were together, you said you love me and you always will. How can you possibly know that?”
“I trust what we have.”
She looked down.
He touched her chin and raised her gaze to meet his. He ran his finger across her lips and kissed her lightly. “That, right there, Ella. That feeling when our lips touch, that feeling I have in my entire body. I can see it in your eyes, you feel it too. I don’t need to know anything else. Do you?”
“No,” she whispered, and she pressed her mouth gently to his.
“Come on, sweetheart, let’s get some sleep. We can cuddle.” He reached over to turn off the lights and then lay down behind her, holding her close and feeling her heart beat.
CHAPTER 13
All five actors finally had a day off together while Jean filmed exterior shots with the extras. Ella planned an outing and told everyone to dress casually with comfortable walking shoes. The first stop was a nearby forest for a light morning hike along a nature trail.
“You go ahead with the others,” Ella whispered to Finn. “I’m going to take my time with Albie.”
While the others walked ahead, Ella and Albie casually strolled behind the group, their arms locked.
“You’re a dear to walk with me,” Albie said.
“I’m glad to have this time with you,” she replied.
Albie looked up, the trees so tall he could hardly see where they ended and the sky began. He took a deep breath and said, “Being out in nature always reminds me of the seasonality of our lives, how we must learn to let go again and again so we may ready ourselves for what comes next.” She smiled and patted his arm. He continued, “This must be good inspiration for your book about the pleasure to be found in nature. Have you had any great insights?”
“I don’t know if it qualifies as a great insight, but I think there’s something powerful about feeling how small we are that helps us let go of ourselves and become partof something much larger. It somehow makes us feel less important and yet more alive, all at once.”
