Page 73 of Cinematic Destinies
“Well, this has been so much fun, getting to know everyone,” Finn said, looking around the table at his children each seated beside their special guest. “Would anyone like more? I think I should get those leftovers inside.”
“I’ll help,” Ryan offered, rising. Albert grazed his hand, and they exchanged smiles before Ryan grabbed a quiche and followed Finn into the kitchen.
Finn put plastic wrap over the leftovers and loaded them into the refrigerator. “Thank you,” he said to Ryan.
“I know today is a family event. Thank you for having me,” Ryan said.
“It’s our pleasure,” Finn replied. He took a breath and continued, “I actually wanted to apologize for not having met you sooner. Albert told me that caused some problems in your relationship, and I’m so sorry.” He stopped and shook his head. “Ella and I always wanted our family to feel close. We wanted our kids to feel loved and supported for who they are. Clearly, I did something wrong as a father to make him so anxious about being open with me. That was never my intention and I feel awful. I was up half the night trying to figure it out and—”
“Sir, you didn’t do anything wrong,” Ryan interrupted. “Al loves you guys more than anything in the world. He feels super close to all of you. It’s the reason I wanted to meet you so badly. Because of how important you are to him. Being a part of this family is everything to him.”
Finn ran his hand through his hair. “Really?”
Ryan nodded. “You’re all so accomplished, confident, and larger than life. Al’s quieter. That’s just his way. He worries that means maybe he doesn’t fit in as much, but I think it’s what makes him fit in even more. It makes him special.”
“I think so too,” Finn said.
“He always goes on and on that his mother is the sweetest person in the world, his sisters are the smartest and most talented, and you, well, Al completely worships you. You’re his hero.” Surprise and joy washed across Finn’s face. Ryan continued, “You’re the reason he took those animation classes over the summer. He thought if he could use his artistic skills to do something in filmmaking, it would be another way to be close to you. To have something in common and be more like you, but in his own way.”
“I . . . I don’t know what to say,” Finn stuttered. “I just assumed that I had screwed up and . . .”
“It’s just hard for some guys to tell their fathers, that’s all. In Al’s case, it’s because of how much he loves you. Looks up to you.”
Finn smiled warmly. “Thank you. Thank you for telling me all of that. It means a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome. I probably shouldn’t have pressured him. I just wanted our relationship to be free, for him to be free. Truthfully, with how he gushed about you guys I also wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Now I get it.”
Finn chuckled. “Sometimes we all need a little push. It’s nice to see how well you know him and that you care about each other.”
“We do, sir. I do,” Ryan said, straightening his shoulders.
Finn patted his back. “Shall we rejoin the others?”
When they got outside, Ella said, “I think we should all go change. Let’s meet out back when we’re ready.”
Soon Finn was waiting outside in a simple black suit, underneath a canopy of wildflowers created for the day as a nod to Ella’s wedding bouquet thirty years earlier. The kids each stood beside their partner. Ella appeared in a strapless sea-colored gown with a tea-length tulle skirt, her long spirals partially pulled back and adorned with small crystals. Finn could hardly exhale when he saw her. Their eyes glued to each other, she walked to her beloved, and they stood face-to-face, holding hands.
“You are stunning. You take my breath away,” Finn said.
“I picked the dress because it’s the color of your eyes.”
He smiled bashfully. “Shall I go first?”
She nodded.
“Ella, I fell in love with you so quickly, so deeply. I never thought it would be possible to love you more than I already did. Yet my love has grown and deepened with each passing day. When I look at you today, I see the gorgeous, sexy, brilliant woman I met all those years ago, but I see so muchmore: the excitement on your face every time we explored a new travel destination, the look of love in your eyes each time you told me we were expecting, the wonder in your eyes when we saw sonogram images and heard the heartbeats of our children, the tenderness on your face when you cradled our babies in your arms, the anticipation in your eyes as you watched them take their first steps. I see your face during countless moments—your joy, courage, compassion, worry, heartache, and enthusiasm. I see all the laughter, happiness, and closeness during every private moment we have shared. Ella, my partner, my one true love, today I take you for who you have been, who you are, and who you’ll become, and for all that we’ve created together. Thank you for all the moments. I will spend every remaining moment of my life loving you. I choose you. I choose us. Always.”
Tears filled Ella’s eyes. Finn used his fingers to brush away the salty water.
“Oh, Finn, when you were talking, all that I could think was that during all those moments, what I saw was the look inyoureyes. We’ve shared so much.” She caressed his cheek and he smiled. “When we first met, I was terrified of my feelings for you. I loved you so deeply. It was all new to me. I didn’t even understand what that kind of love was. When I tried to compare it to other things, tried to make sense of it, I was always left feeling more adrift. That’s because love isn’t like anything else. Love isn’t about me, or you. It’s about this intangible thing we create together. Love exists in the space between where we end and another begins. Thanks to you, my whole life has happened in that glorious space.” He smiled and she ran her finger across his eyebrow. “Finn, we made the decision to keep our relationship at the center of our lives, no matter anyone or anything else. That has been our great secret and why I can look around with such pride at all we’ve created and thenlook back into your eyes and know that it was always the two of us. I promise to love you for all my days. I choose you. I choose us. Always.”
Finn took his bride’s face in both his hands, and they kissed passionately.
Everyone began clapping. Betty, Georgia, and Albert all found themselves overcome with emotion, sniffling and dabbing their eyes. Betty smiled as tears trickled down her face. Khalil used his thumbs to gently wipe the wetness. When Betty composed herself, she announced, “We have a gift for you. Let’s all head to the screening room.”
The group moseyed to their home theater. Betty, Georgia, and Albert stood in the front of the room, while everyone else settled into leather recliners.
“Mom, Dad, we love you both so much,” Betty began. “You’re the best parents anyone could hope for. Thank you for supporting us and allowing us each to become who we are.”
