Behind the Scenes

by Elisa Preston

  Of course, he had kept looking at her. With those clear blue eyes that begged for her affection every time they looked at her. They had kept going with the food, but then he had circled back around to the two of them. The two of them had only shared a few non-work related conversations, and still, sometimes she swore she could feel his heartbeat with hers when he looked at her the way he did. So… tenderly, so respectfully, so fully. In his eyes she felt more beautiful than she ever had. In his eyes, she saw the life she wanted: the joy, the togetherness, the love, the laughter. She knew she would never want for anything with him by her side. Loneliness wouldn’t even be in her vocabulary, should he be the one she spent the rest of her days with.

  “There is no two of us,” she had reminded him.

  He had looked at Virginia like she was the cutest, craziest woman alive, if she thought there wasn’t a distinction between the two of them and any two others working the Gala.

  Then he had asked her one simple question. Well, one question. Simple wasn’t the descriptor she had used for it, though it had been his.

  He had managed to ask her right after she took a drink of the Pierre André Chablis. The intensity of the dry wine was absolutely nothing compared to the intensity of his ask. I mean, his eyes didn’t leave hers, his body stood firmly—firmly—in place. He remained respectful and courteous while serious and committed to his pursuit.

  Her gut said yes before he had even finished asking the question. It said a big, fat yes. It imagined the dress and shoes she would wear, how she would do her hair, and how she would get around telling her mom and Sophie so they wouldn’t make a big fuss about it.

  The words that fumbled out of her mouth gave no hints as to what her gut had just answered. She gave a laundry list of reasons as to why she could not say yes. Unfortunately—or not, depending on how you looked at it—Levi had a counter for every one of her counters. And with each word of his, Virginia’s resolve dissolved like salt in a hot bath.

  So here she was, a day away from not spending Thanksgiving in New York City, and instead spending it with the man who had quickly planted himself in a heart that had long wondered if what she had been feeling for the last six months was actually possible. Turns out, more than one dream was coming true this year. In her daydreaming state, Virginia thought she heard clicking in the distance. No mind, dreaming of Levi and the possibilities for this weekend kept her focus until it was broken for her.

  “Earth to Gin!”

  Virginia’s entire body startled. “Sophie! Why?”

  “Because it’s fun,” she said, smiling. “We’re all set for the linens. And whatever was making you stare into space all dreamy and all punch-drunk-love like. Anything you want to tell me?” She had a gleam in her eye.

  “Well you’re back to yourself,” Virginia said.

  “As are you, avoiding my question.” Sophie’s smile held the love of a life-long friend who wouldn’t let her bestie get away with anything other than the truth.

  “If I tell you, can you promise: a) not to shriek; b) not to make a big deal about it; c) not to tell a soul; and d) not to shriek.”

  “All four of those stipulations are basically a guarantee that I will actually not do any of them. Well, I take that back. I can keep a secret. However, since you are asking me not to shriek or make a big deal out of it, chances are I will want to and therefore… will.”

  Virginia hesitated.

  “Gin. The only secret you ever kept from me was about having a crush on Jimmy Stewart. What is it with you and secrets about celebrities?” Sophie’s eyes and eyebrows danced.

  “What makes you think this has anything to do with a celebrity?”

  Sophie’s signature, break-the-bank laugh rang out, echoing in every corner of the empty ballroom. “Gin, hun, my best friend since diapers, give me a break. And spill.”

  Virginia huffed, knowing there was no going back. She was giving in and she was about to tell. At least she could make it on her terms.

  “Fine. But not here. Let’s order in and gave a girl-talk night upstairs in our room? My treat, making up for not being here to play in the city this weekend.”

  Sophie looked at her sideways. “Does your absence this weekend have anything to do with what we’re going to dish about upstairs?”

  Virginia returned the sideways glance. She raised her eyebrows, coy covering her. “Maybe.”

  Sophie laughed again, and the two friends headed upstairs so they could share a girl’s night like they hadn’t really had since they’d come to the city to plan the Gala. It had been work and touring, work and touring, every day. Long days, a few late nights, but always straight to bed or on their own devices for the hour or two before bed.

  But tonight? Tonight they would talk and laugh and eat and giggle, discussing matters of the heart, as best friends were made to do.

   Chapter 20

  “See, this is how I expected you to get home from New York. No eleven-hour train ride, as romantic as it can be.”

  Virginia sat cozy, snuggled up in a blanket on her own neutral-colored plush recliner, thirty thousand feet up in the air. The interior of the rented plane was simple and smelled like fresh citrus, courtesy of the freshly sliced oranges and lemons the flight attendants were working on in the kitchen bay.

  Based solely on episodes of The West Wing, the for-rent personal aircraft was more spacious and colorful than she had anticipated. She learned by asking—in awe and wonder—who were some of the A-list celebrities who used this plane. All individuals with Levi’s means. Though, observing him from across the aisle, one would never guess Levi has what he has—he is simple and classic to the nth degree with his daily shirt-and-ties, even on a travel day like today.

  “I like to look nice,” he had said when she asked earlier. “But not too overstated.”

  Virginia had deadpanned him as she wondered how appropriate her outfit was. “I’m in plain trousers and an oversized sweater,” she had said. Stylish, but not winning any awards.

  “And how lovely you look,” he had said, as his face fluttered down to hers for a light kiss on her cheek.

  For months now, Virginia had been practicing control of her flush-and-blush reaction. Moments that she could anticipate, she had come to be able to successfully control it. Sweet kisses on the cheek from tv-crush-turned-real-life-crush? Nope. Not a prayer.

  In a little more than an hour the two would arrive in Toronto, where they would stay for four days, all of which would be filled to overflowing with Levi’s family. Virginia couldn’t quite decide which she was more nervous about: the possibility of being printed in a magazine as Levi’s girlfriend—which she wasn’t—or having to meet his entire family, which, according to Levi wasn’t that big at thirty-five people, but as compared to growing up with just her mom, Sophie, and Sophie’s grandma, felt like Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

  Trying to think of anything else, Virginia focused on the television screen attached to the wall in front of her. Currently it displayed where the plane was along its route, which at the moment, was the most eastern tip of Pennsylvania. Not that it mattered this high up; even on a cloudless day, nothing on the ground was distinguishable. Just a blur of color that seemed incredibly out of focus.

  Was she crazy to have said yes? To have agreed to be Levi’s date at his sister’s backyard wedding? He had assured her that his family was incredibly respectful of his privacy, never posting anything on social media regarding his whereabouts without his permission. He had assured her that it would be fun even though she didn’t know anyone. And he had assured her that should she feel uncomfortable at any time, she could retreat to the room where she’d be staying, no questions asked. Basically, he had given her an assurance for every reason she gave for it not being a good idea.

  Of course he had convinced her, Sophie had said. “You’re in love with him.”

  “I most certainly am not!” An unexpected embarrassment, Virginia’s face blushed immediately.

 
“You have been denying it for months, Gin. Even though it’s written all over your face, all the time. I can even tell when you’re thinking about him. Your face goes all serene and you get this little sneaky smile on your face. Like this.” Her demonstration had been giggle-inducing. Did Virginia really look that ridiculous when she thought of Levi? If so, she was surprised her face hadn’t permanently taken on that expression, since Levi was on her mind all the time.

  “Whatcha thinking about?” Levi asked suddenly, bringing her back to her present reality. Private plane. Celebrity crush. Backyard wedding.

  “The size of your family,” she said, biting her thumbnail. “And landing on the front of People magazine by mistake.” Her long hair sat in a side braid today.

  Levi crossed his ankles and leaned back in his seat. His hands fit comfortably over his middle. “Thirty-five probably does seem like a lot compared to just you and your mom. And did you ever tell me why you’re so public-eye-shy?”

  “It really does seem like a lot. And no, I have not.”

  Levi sat up, taking notice of her anxiety. He leaned toward her, his hands folded together and his serious eyes remaining on hers.

  “I was just twelve when my Dad died. He had been running for senator. He was hit by a drunk driver. I can say that I don’t hold onto his death, and neither does my mom, bad things happen you know? We got twelve years as a family. A lot of people don’t even get that. I’ll just never forget how uncomfortable those first few months were with reporters hanging around everywhere. Just for a picture of me or my mom or both of us. We were in the papers, online, everywhere. It was too much. I vowed never to be friends with or marry anyone in the public eye.”

  He continued watching her, his blue eyes holding court, as per usual.

  “It has worked quite well,” she said, a light smirk playing peek-a-boo on her lips. “Until recently.”

  Levi’s thousand-watt smile brightened. “I’ll take credit for that.”

  Virginia returned the smile in kind, and the two stayed frozen in time.

  “In my defense, though, you tapped on my arm. I was perfectly content hiding under my hat, reading my book. So, really, I cannot be blamed for this.”

  Her light giggle was drowned by the white-noise of the airplane. “This, what?”

  In his look, Virginia saw trepidation, caution. After their kiss a few weeks ago, she had made it clear that their relationship was to be strictly business. Yet, he had pursued her as his date to Ashley’s wedding, making the case for a getaway weekend.

  Just as friends, he had said. She had scoffed at that impossibility, given their chemistry, but he had held firm. I will do nothing outside of what the moments call for. Then he had given her his most hopeful smile, complete with a wrinkled forehead and raised eyebrows and lips curled up in complete and total adorableness.

  Why had she even agreed? Sophie had insisted it was because she was in love with him. Virginia’s mom had insisted it was for that reason, and because she needed a break from the Gala. As for herself? She didn’t really have a reason. A good one, anyway. The lame reasons she had given herself included wanting to see Toronto (she wouldn’t see the outside of Levi’s parents’ home), wanting to see a backyard wedding in the winter (that one was a little true), and never missing an excuse to help with an event (this was her life’s work, she didn’t need extra events on her plate).

  “This … this thing where we keep finding ourselves on an airplane,” he said, smiling.

  “We do, don’t we?” She said, her words and her heart charged with emotion.

  Virginia was so not used to this. She held her emotions together, she kept her cards close to her chest, and she had so rarely come across a man who might strike her fancy enough to make her nervous. Yet, here she was, emotions wide open on her undoubtedly googly expression, as she sat across from a man who challenged her, made her laugh, and attracted her in as many ways as one person can attract another.

  Still, there was the public figure thing.

  And the living-in-different-cities thing.

  And the absurdity of having a celebrity crush turn into the actual love of your life.

  So, again, why had she agreed? She pondered the possibilities as Levi broke their silence. “I’ll be there with you the whole time,” he said.

  Slowly, carefully, he held out his hand.

  An invitation? To hold his hand? For tonight or all of time? Well, sure… to either one, if her heart had anything to say about it.

   Chapter 21

  The first time Virginia met Levi’s family was by accident when she had plowed into his office—okay, not plowed, but that’s how she remembered it when she thought of all the faces staring back at her all of a sudden when she had gone in expecting just one. This second time, she was prepared with a smile and a bouquet of flowers she made Levi stop for on their way to his parents’ house from the airport.

  “Remind me of your parents’ names,” Virginia whispered as they walked toward the doorway.

  “Curtis and Kate. They love their family, their home, their church, and the snow,” Levi whispered back.

  And snow they were going to get. Every weather forecast she had heard or read for the last two weeks predicted record snowfall in the coming weeks from Detroit to Boston. It hadn’t started yet in Toronto, but both Virginia and Levi smelled it the moment they stepped off of the plane. The air was crisp, still, and moist. Ready for snowfall. Ready for winter. Ready for change.

  “Virginia!” Kate Adams exclaimed her presence before the front door was fully open. “I am so happy to have you here this weekend! Come in, come in.” Kate waved her hands, bringing Virginia and Levi in from the cold.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Adams. I appreciate the invite,” Virginia said, smiling. The woman was completely relatable, in dark jeans and a relaxed-fit maroon chiffon top. Her gold necklaces—two of them, the pendants too small to see without staring—dangled gently below her neck. “These are for you.” Virginia extended the bouquet.

  “Sunflowers, my favorite!” She reached in for a hug. “And call me Kate, please. I love that Toronto brings them in from warmer climates during our winter months! It certainly brightens up our cold, gray days. Thank you, Virginia.” She squeezed Virginia’s forearm.

  “Welcome to Toronto, Virginia,” Curtis Adams said as he bent slightly down to give her a hug. “We’re happy to have you this weekend. Levi speaks highly of you.” His voice bellowed in the tall entryway.

  “As he does of you, sir.”

  Curtis’ smile peeked out under a mustache, which Virginia didn’t remember seeing when they had happened upon each other in July at Levi’s office. No mind, the smile was genuine all the same.

  Ashley came bounding into the group, leaping into Levi’s arms. “Big brother!”

  Virginia watched as Levi squeezed his sister. They had such undeniable sibling affection for each other; Virginia knew their bond was strong, and so she knew it was a big deal for Levi to have asked her to join him this weekend. He could have just as easily come alone, focused on his sister and his family. Instead, he wanted to share it with her.

  Virginia made her way to the edge of the entryway so she could see what all she could see while Levi and his family finished their initial chatting.

  Through openings, she noticed alternating gray and color. From her vantage point in the entryway, she saw a silver-gray with a bright, white chair rail on the sparse kitchen walls. Most of the area was non-wall, either a window or an opening into another room, or cabinets and appliances. Past the kitchen, a light yellow and gray colored the living room. Close by, in an oversized formal dining room off of the entry, a pieced-together dance floor sat inside a room split in color: steel gray on the bottom, cream on top. One twelve-by-twelve canvas photo of the four of them sat perched on the wall. Other than that, it seemed all décor had been removed in order to make room for what Virginia assumed was the dance floor.

  Virginia stretched her back to see more of the u
pstairs, but Levi caught her. “Hey, we’ll give you the tour after dinner,” he said, winking. “Mom has baked ziti on the table.”

  Levi ushered Virginia in past the entryway, and the weekend began.

  That evening and the following day, the one before Ashley’s wedding, followed suit of those first few minutes. Kindness and warm welcome radiated everything this family said and did. And Levi was right; even with twenty of them staying at the house, it was nothing. It was full and fun.

  Between the finished basement that had two bedrooms and a large living area—sleeping seven all together—plus the living space on the main floor, the office off of the kitchen, and the upstairs that housed four more bedrooms, every nook and cranny was filled with a family member.

  Virginia loved it. They played card games and board games, they laughed together and ate together and knew so much about each other’s lives. They even put up the Christmas tree together, which sent Virginia’s event planning self into minor panic mode.

  “Are you sure your sister doesn’t need any help prepping for tomorrow? I mean, everything is so relaxed today. If I was getting married tomorrow, I am positive I would not be this relaxed.” Virginia sliced the air with her hand.

  Levi smiled but didn’t take his eye off of the popcorn string he was untangling for the eight-foot tree adorning the living room. “We’re good. The food is being catered in, you’re looking at ninety percent of the guest list, and the floor has already been laid outside. If it snows overnight, which it is supposed to do, we will just sweep off the floor twenty minutes before the ceremony. The fake streetlamps lining the aisle are also set out there. No extra decorations inside.” He looked up briefly and smiled a see-everything-will-work-out kind of a smile. “All set.”

  With a face like that, who wouldn’t believe him?

  Virginia and her mom, and Sophie and Sophie’s grandmother, they all had had fun, too. They made holidays enjoyable with their own traditions, their own games, their own everything. And she had never wanted for anything, really.