Stardust (The Starlight Trilogy #3) (34 page)
Read Stardust (The Starlight Trilogy #3) Online
Authors: Alexandra Richland
“Back in 1953, many people—myself included—were disheartened by the film industry. Personally, I thought compassionate individuals were weak and a bad fit for such a cutthroat business, so initially, I questioned my instincts when I first saw Beth. In fact, it took me a good half hour to approach her at Schwab’s. But I’m so glad I did. Beth restored my faith in humanity. She taught me that following your heart is the best way to make decisions, and applying this philosophy over the years has never steered me wrong.”
Nathan focused on the front row. “Beth, although no amount of words will ever adequately express how much your friendship means to me, I hope I have provided you with the answer you’ve been searching for. I also hope my speech hasn’t come as a surprise, because you should already know how amazing you are.”
Beth dabbed her eyes as applause broke out. Aidan leaned in and kissed her cheek while their children and friends looked on with proud smiles.
Nathan flashed a grin at her husband. “Then there’s Aidan Evans. Aidan is known as a pioneer in the film industry—a talented actor and director who inspired many notable names and fought for creative freedom. Now, this year, he has done something even greater. His organization, GWA, has reached a milestone—twenty years of providing young people stricken with cancer with the opportunity to reclaim their childhoods. Aidan, you are the ultimate Golden Warrior. I consider you not just my friend and client, but also my brother.” Nathan placed his hand over his heart. Aidan nodded in respect and imitated the gesture. “Beth, Aidan, I think I speak for all of us here tonight when I say that you have enriched our lives and the lives of the GWA children greatly. Individually, you are remarkable. As a couple, you are unstoppable. I love you both.”
The audience rose to their feet and applauded. Beth and Aidan traded glances that communicated a unified thought: They were fortunate to have such wonderful friends.
Nathan cleared his throat. The theater quieted and people sat down again. Beth’s eyebrows furrowed. According to tonight’s program, the benefit ended with his speech.
“And now, ladies and gentlemen, there is a young man here who wanted to say a few words. Please welcome Theodore Timmons.”
The audience burst into applause as eight-year-old Theo emerged from backstage and walked to the podium, dressed in an official Golden Warriors T-shirt, which was provided to every child associated with GWA. He had attended a camp last summer, after his doctors gave him the all clear following his second round of chemotherapy. When he first arrived, he was frail and depended on a wheelchair for mobility. He was sad and withdrawn as well. By his third week at the camp, he ran and frolicked with the other children without tiring. He also performed the lead role in the end-of-season play.
Tonight, Theo looked even healthier. His hair had grown back. He had gained weight, and his complexion held a rosier hue. His parents had sent Beth and Aidan a letter two weeks ago, notifying them that he was officially in remission. They were thrilled to receive the news.
Nathan handed Theo the microphone.
“Hello.” His tiny voice carried throughout the hall, emphasized by the venue’s acoustics. “My name is Theo and I had leukemia, but my doctors say I’m better now. Beth and Aidan didn’t know me before the summer, but they let me come to their camp anyway and even paid for me so my mom and dad didn’t have to. I made a lot of friends at the camp who had cancer like me. Being at the camp made me happy and I forgot I was sick. When I went back to school, I told all my classmates I’m a Golden Warrior, and they think I’m really cool. Thank you, Beth and Aidan. You’re the nicest people ever.”
Theo returned the microphone to Nathan and descended the steps to the main floor. Beth and Aidan stood and embraced him amongst acclamation from the crowd. Aidan’s chin quivered as he held on to the boy, struggling to keep it together. Beth, on the other hand, couldn’t hold back her emotions.
Theo grabbed their hands, pulling them toward the stage. “But wait. There’s more!”
Beth and Aidan followed him to the podium. Hannah, Nicholas, Matthew, Olivia, and Connie joined them as the crowd continued to show their support.
Olivia took the microphone, her gaze twinkling with mischief. “Aidan, Beth, we have a surprise for you.” She motioned to the side of the stage. “Come on out, everyone!”
Beth’s hand flew to her mouth as a group of about fifty smiling children of various ages and ethnicities emerged from behind the curtain, wearing GWA T-shirts and carrying a large banner that read in multi-colored crayon,
Thank you from your Golden Warriors
.
Olivia handed the microphone to a little girl in the front, who wore a baseball hat on her balding head and a bright grin on her face. “Hi, Beth and Aidan. We made this drawing for you because you allowed us to go to your camp and have fun and we really appreciate it.” Blushing, she handed back the microphone.
Matthew stepped forward. “All right, kids. This is it. One! Two! Three!” He lifted his hands like a conductor of an orchestra.
The children raised the banner and waved it enthusiastically, shouting, “We love you, Aidan and Beth!”
Beth retreated next to Hannah and Nicholas to give her husband space. Although she had started GWA with him, it had been his idea and she’d always consider it his success story. He deserved to be singled out for his accomplishments.
Aidan took the microphone from Olivia. His other hand remained clasped with Theo’s. “I’ve never been very eloquent when it comes to expressing my feelings, so I ask for your patience as I attempt to tell you all how special you are to me.” Tears shimmered in his eyes as he looked at the children. Beth had never been prouder of him than in that moment. “This has been one of the greatest evenings of my life. I’m going to hang up your banner in my home, so I can be reminded every day of what true passion and determination to live life to the fullest is all about. You are all an inspiration, and I am honored to stand amongst you this evening.”
The children raced over to him, shrieking playfully and laughing. The boys and girls who weren’t holding the banner circled him, their little hands reaching out for a group hug. Aidan gathered as many of them as he could in his arms and finally allowed himself to weep openly. By this time, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Families often credited GWA with helping them in the fight against cancer, but the truth was their own resolve, love, and dedication were what got them here today. The camps merely provided a vehicle for them to tap into their inner strength.
Aidan was usually a confident man—cocky to some—but tonight, he displayed the man Beth knew intimately: the vulnerable and generous Aidan that he often hid from others.
On many occasions, he’d shared how alone he’d felt after his mother’s death. He hadn’t suffered from a physical ailment like the boys and girls on this stage, but mentally and emotionally, he’d been broken. Growing up, he had always wished he’d been given a chance to experience a normal childhood. Now, here he was, granting that same wish to other children. Without a doubt, Catherine Evans would’ve been proud of her son as well.
Flashbulbs exploded as the photographers swarmed the main floor. The audience rose to their feet, whistling and clapping with enthusiasm that would never be forgotten.
Aidan waved at Beth, inviting her to join him.
Surrounded by the people they cared about most, he tucked her under his arm and brushed his lips to her ear. “I love you, little dove.”
Beth reciprocated with a kiss. She loved him more and more each day and would continue to love him even after she took her final breath. He completed her and made her a better woman. He was her friend, her husband, her lover, her soul mate. Her rebel with a compassionate, noble, and inspirational cause.
Actor Paul Newman’s Association of the Hole in the Wall (now called the SeriousFun Children’s Network) and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp inspired the Golden Warriors Association and the Golden Warriors Camp. If you’d like to learn more about Mr. Newman’s extraordinary organization, please visit www.seriousfunnetwork.org and www.holeinthewallgang.org.
I would like to thank Laura Smith, Chantal Lambert, and Cara Langston, author of
Battle Hymn
s and
The Glassmaker’s Wife
, for proofreading
Stardust
and offering valuable suggestions. I also would like to thank Tiffany for believing in the trilogy from the beginning and counting mice with me like it’s 1891. To the book bloggers who have read, reviewed, and promoted
The Starlight Trilogy
, I appreciate all you’ve done for me. To my readers: It took six years to get to this point. Thank you for supporting
The Starlight Trilogy
and my other stories.
Finally, I’d like to thank actors James Dean and Marlon Brando, the original rebels, for their performances in
East of Eden
and
On The Waterfront
, respectively. Their groundbreaking approaches to acting introduced me to classic films, Old Hollywood, and Turner Classic Movies. From there,
The Starlight Trilogy
was born. I am forever grateful.
Alexandra Richland spends rotating twelve-hour shifts working as a registered nurse at a Toronto hospital, indulging in her love of science and medicine and caring for patients with their own unique tales to tell. When she is not on duty, Alexandra escapes into her own imagination. Therein lies a fantasy world of thrilling adventure, gorgeous men, classic Hollywood glamour, exotic getaways, and a seductive dose of romance. Alexandra captures these stories in her popular novels,
The Starlight Trilogy
and
Frontline
, her novella,
Slip Away
, and her short story,
Gilded Cage
.
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/Alexandra.Richland
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