Page 54 of After the Red Carpet
She smiled. “My point is that kids her age lose it some- times.”
“Maybe, but what happened today was because of me. I brought this shit into her life and yours. She never signed up for it. Your mother was right.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The first time I met her, she called me out for how I proposed. Regardless of my intentions, it was a spectacle. I created an insatiable public interest in our private life. This fucking circus.” He shook his head. “Even if I hadn’t proposed publicly, this kind of thing happens when you’re famous. That’s on me. Ella, I was irresponsible. When I chose this line of work, I never thought about what fame might mean if I ever had a family, how people would violate our privacy as if we aren’t even human, how that would impact my wife, my kids.”
“Finn, look at me.” He raised his gaze to meet hers. “Today was an aberration. We usually don’t have these kinds of problems.”
“Watching the people you love the most get hurt because of your choices . . .”
“You can only live your life; you can’t control anything else. What happened today wasn’t your fault.”
“I couldn’t protect her.”
“That’s not true,” Ella protested. “You did the best you could under the circumstances. And I have news for you: this won’t be the last time you feel that way. No parent can protect their child from everything. Someday it will be a scraped knee, or a bully on the playground, or her first love will break her heart. We’ll stand by helplessly, just trying to comfort her until she recovers.”
He inhaled deeply. “Maybe, but I can do something about this kind of thing. I’ve made a decision. I’m quitting acting.”
“Finn . . .”
“Hear me out. This has been in the back of my mind since those breastfeeding photos were splashed across the covers of those rags. I’ve been acting professionally since I was a teenager, and I’ve had more success than I ever imagined. It’s been a great run. I’ll quit, we’ll leave LA, and we’ll slip under the radar. Some celebrities move to places like Montana. I’ve heard it’s beautiful up there. We could do that.”
“Oh, Finn,” she said, running her thumb against his temple. “Being an artist isn’t something you can just stop. You can’t disavow who you are. You’re an actor, a deeply talented and gifted one at that. Most importantly, you love your work. You can’t give up such a big part of who you are for—”
“Yes, I can. For you, for Betty. To give her a shot at a normal life. I love you both more than anything. I’ll do whatever it takes. Family first. Today was unbearable. I never want to see her that way again.”
Ella planted a delicate kiss on his lips. “You’re understandably upset over what happened. It’s still so fresh and raw. Trust me, Betty will be fine. The best thing you can do for her is to continue to be a role model. Let her see you living your best life, doing what you love with everything you have, and loving her with all your heart. Let love be your guide, not fear.” She gave him another gentle kiss. “We made a pact. I won’t allow you to lose yourself. I love you too much.” He smiled and ran his finger along her hairline. She continued, “Besides, whatisa normal life, anyway? Let’s give her an extraordinary life.”
“I love you so much,” he said, pressing his mouth to hers.
“I love you too, more than I can say. Finn, you’re a magnificent father. Our babies are so lucky to have you.”
He furrowed his brow. “Babies?”
She smiled as tears welled in her eyes. “I found out yesterday. I was going to tell you at the zoo. I had this vision of sharing the news while we were getting ice cream. We’re having another baby. I’m pregnant.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Finn said, his eyes flooding. He kissed her softly and rested his forehead against hers. “I’m so happy, I don’t even have the words.”
“It must have happened when we started trying in Georgia. We got lucky and conceived quickly again.”
“Like I’ve said for years, we were made to make babies together,” he said.
She pulled back and looked deeply into his eyes. “There’s no one else in the world I’d want to do this with. You’re the most incredible man and the best father our children could ever have. Please be you, full fucking throttle.”
He laughed and kissed the tip of her nose. “Let’s just lie here like this, holding each other, feeling every bit of this moment.”
“Socrates basically argued that love was bullshit. He was fancier about it, so I’m paraphrasing,” Marni said as the others laughed. “But I’m serious. He philosophized that we only want what we can’t have, and thus it’s always fleeting, never deep. I know this puts me in the minority in our romance-obsessed culture, but I think he was on to something.”
“Of course you do,” Ella replied with a giggle.
Marni shrugged and helped herself to another stuffed grape leaf off the Greek meze platter Ella had prepared for their meeting. “These are delicious. The hummus too. I so love it when you host our club. I’m the worst.”
“Nonsense. Who doesn’t enjoy stale crackers and tap water? And so clever to use toilet paper in lieu of napkins,” Ella joked.
Jade laughed, covering her mouth.
Dante looked at Marni. “When you’re done gorging yourself, try to remember that we’re supposed to be inspiring Ella for her book project. Your gloom and doom is more likely to put her off the whole thing.”
