Chapter 21

twenty-one

. . .

Julius glanced at his watch, tapping his foot on the tarmac as he let his hand rub gentle circles on Hillary’s back. The private jet should be arriving any minute now. He’d tried to get Hillary here without any delay in her surprise arriving, but it seemed the weather had other plans for the chartered plane.

Next to him, Hillary pulled her cardigan tighter around herself, eyes scanning the horizon as if she knew what she was looking for.

“Julius, what’s going on? Why did we leave the set? Who would we need to pick up at a private airport?” Her brow furrowed in confusion.

He tried to hold back his smile, not wanting to give anything away until the moment the hatch door opened on the plan. “Can’t a guy surprise his favorite co-star with a little gift? We’ve been working nonstop, Hillary. You deserve a break. And it took me about two weeks to get this sorted, try to remember you enjoy my surprises”

She arched an eyebrow. “A break? What was the yacht?”

Julius chuckled. “Absolute perfection. Trust me, you’re going to love this just as much, for different reasons.” He hoped his vague answers would satisfy her journalistic curiosity, at least for now. This surprise had taken weeks of careful planning. He couldn’t let it slip out prematurely.

“Have I ever told you that I don’t actually like surprises?”

He chuckled. “Actually no, I just thought you liked guessing them. Consider this my official last surprise.”

Hillary opened her mouth to press further, but the growing roar of jet engines interrupted her. They both turned to the jet still in the sky. The sleek white plane touched down gracefully on the runway before taxiing toward them. Julius watched her eyes widen in surprise.

The plane rolled to a stop just over a thousand feet away. A few minutes passed before the door opened, stairs unfolding to the ground a moment later.

He shifted from foot to foot as he watched her scan the room, searching for the gift he had hidden. His heart raced, palms sweating with anticipation. Would she ever find it?

This was it the moment of truth. Would she be thrilled? Overwhelmed? He realized how much her reaction meant to him.

A chorus of joyful shouts rang out seconds before anyone came out of the plane. Hillary gasped, hands flying to her mouth as a group of people emerged from the plane.

Julius recognized them straight away from the photos on her dresser. Her parents, both beaming with pride. Her sister, her roommate, and her best friend filed out next, though at this distance he couldn’t be entirely certain who was who.

“Mom? Dad? Oh my god!” Hillary ran forward.

Julius hung back, not wanting to intrude on the reunion. Warmth bloomed in his chest as he watched Hillary’s unrestrained joy, her earlier hesitation melted away. In that moment, seeing the radiant smile lighting up her face, he knew he’d do anything to make her happy again and again.

She turned back to him, eyes shimmering with unshed tears and a giant grin on her lips. “I can’t believe you did this. How? When?”

He grinned, pleased with her awestruck reaction. “I have my ways. And I figured there’s no one else you’d rather celebrate your acting victory with than your family and closest friends. You’ve worked damn hard, Hillary. You’ve earned this.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “This means everything to me.”

Julius nodded, his heart swelling at the sincerity in her words. “Hello!” He called with a wave, not entirely shocked with one of the three women visibly swooned. “I’m Julius.”

“We know,” one who looked considerably like Hillary but without glasses chirped. “Dana. Younger sister, seventeen months younger.”

“And you’re Cara?” He glanced at the medium-height woman with dark curls framing her face and a stoic gaze.

“You’ve been in her apartment to see a picture?”

He snickered. “Her hotel room. She brought photos of you all which is how I knew who to invite here.”

“I for one am thrilled she’s not just sitting in her room writing and rewriting articles.” A woman who appeared to be Hillary’s age with a full sleeve tattoo and brown-black hair extended her hand. “Aisha. Her roommate since our NYU days.”

He went to shake her hand, but was interrupted.

“My dear!” An older version of Hillary with graying hair and a blue tracksuit engulfed him in a hug, pulling him close. “I never doubted for a minute when she told me you were dating.”

“Mom!” Hillary hissed from beside him.

“Nonsense, Hillary has told me all about you both. Dennis and Cheryl.” He extended his hand to her father, a short man with a wrinkly polo and a slight receding hairline.

“Truly inspiring move, young man. Movie star or not, you’re making me proud to know my daughter has found herself someone who seems invested in her happiness.”

Though Hillary didn’t shriek at her dad, Julius turned to see her seemingly trying to shrink into the ground, her face bright red.

“Have I told you how much I enjoy when you blush?” he asked, offering her his hand.

“That’s probably for the best, considering how often it happens.”

“Now, before they kick us off the tarmac, our carriage awaits,” he made a deliberately grand gesture as he pointed toward the limousine.

“A limo?” Dana squealed. “I didn’t even get to be in a limo for prom!”

Hillary’s groan was even more adorable as she made it a point to slide her hand into his.

“Thank you,” she kissed him quickly. “No one has ever done anything like this for me.”

“Well, we’re not done with the day yet. Come on,” he walked them back to the car that had brought them to the airport, her family trailing behind.

Waiting for them all to take a seat, he slid onto the plush leather seat beside Hillary, Julius couldn’t help but marvel at the way her face glowed with happiness. She was radiant, her green eyes sparkling as she listened intently to her sisters’ lively story.

“I hope you’re all ready for an adventure,” Julius announced, his voice cutting through the joyful conversations. “Because I’ve got a surprise lined up for today.”

“Another one?” Hillary turned to him, her eyebrows raised in a mix of curiosity and amusement. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you? Wasn’t their arrival the last?”

Julius grinned, enjoying the playful banter. “You haven’t seen anything yet. Besides, this surprise is part of that surprise, I couldn’t fly them here with no agenda. Today, we’re going sheep shearing.”

The limo erupted in a chorus of laughter and surprised gasps. Dennis chuckled heartily. “Sheep shearing? Well, that’s not something we do every day, is it?”

“That’s the point,” Julius explained, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “It’s a chance to try something new, to create unforgettable memories together, and it’d be a shame to not try something so important to the local culture.”

As the limo wove through the countryside, the group fell into easy conversation, sharing stories and jokes. Julius sat back, content to observe the familial dynamics. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so at ease, so genuinely happy in the company of others.

Before long, the limo turned onto a winding gravel road, rolling hills and lush pastures stretching out on either side. In the distance, a quaint farmhouse came into view, surrounded by weathered wooden fences and grazing sheep.

“We’re here,” Julius announced as the limo came to a stop. He watched as Hillary and her loved ones filed out, their faces alight with anticipation and curiosity.

As he stepped out into the fresh country air, Julius felt a sense of peace wash over him. Here, away from the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, he could simply be himself. And seeing the joy on Hillary’s face, he knew that this was exactly where he wanted to be. Leaning back into the limo, he extended his hand for Cara, Aisha, Dana and then finally Hillary.

“Such a gentleman,” Cara retorted, brow lifted. “Hillary has really poor taste in men. Usually finds ones too obsessed with their video games to really pay attention to her.”

“Cara,” Hillary hissed. “Bringing them all was not a great idea,” she laughed to Julius and Cara rolled her eyes.

Julius watched as a weathered farmer in overalls and tall boots approached the group, his face creased with smile lines and his hands rough from years of working the land.

“Welcome, welcome!” the farmer called out, his voice warm and inviting. “I’m so glad you all could make it out to our little slice of heaven.” He grinned. “If you can follow me, there’s sheep waiting to make your acquaintance. Excuse me if I slip into my native slang, trying out your American English.”

That earned him a chuckle from them all as they moved to walk behind him.

The farmer led them toward a large barn, its once vibrant red paint now weathered and faded, but still retaining its charm. As they stepped inside, the familiar smell of hay and animals greeted them. The space had been transformed into a cozy gathering area, with bales of golden hay serving as seating and rustic lanterns strategically placed to cast a warm glow. The wooden beams overhead creaked softly, adding to the rustic charm of the space. It was a perfect setting for an intimate gathering on a cool evening.

“Now, before we get started,” the farmer began, his eyes twinkling with enthusiasm, “let me tell you a bit about the importance of sheep shearing.” He launched into a captivating tale, weaving together the history and necessity of the practice.

Julius found himself hanging on every word, marveling at the farmer’s passion for his craft. He glanced over at Hillary, who was listening intently, her green eyes wide with fascination.

“Alright, who’s ready to give it a go?” the farmer asked, rubbing his hands together. Excited murmurs rippled through the group as everyone stood up, eager to try their hand at shearing.

As they made their way to the sheep pens, Julius fell into step beside Hillary. “This is incredible,” she whispered, her voice filled with wonder. “I never knew sheep shearing could be so interesting.”

Julius grinned, his heart swelling with affection. “That’s the beauty of new experiences,” he replied softly. “They open your eyes to things you never even considered before.”

The group gathered around the pens, watching intently as the farmer demonstrated the proper technique. Then, one by one, they took turns carefully shearing the sheep, laughter and chatter filling the air.

Julius marveled at the sight of Hillary’s family and friends working together, their faces flushed with exertion and joy. He joined in, relishing the feel of the wool beneath his fingers and the satisfaction of a job well done.

As the afternoon wore on, the group took breaks to sip lemonade and share stories. Julius found himself drawn into the easy camaraderie, his heart lighter than it had been in years.

Suddenly, he felt a gentle touch on his arm. Turning, he found Hillary standing beside him, her eyes shining with emotion. “Julius,” she murmured, her voice soft and sincere, “I can’t thank you enough for this. For everything.”

Before he could even think of a response, she boldly leaned in, her soft rose-colored lips meeting his in an unexpected kiss. His whole body melted into her embrace, his strong hands coming up to cradle her delicate face with tenderness and longing. If they’d been alone with the sheep in this barn, there was no doubt he would have given her another adventure the way blood rushed south. Their breaths mingled together in a sweet and heady dance, their hearts beating as one in the heat of the moment. It was a kiss that stole away all recognition of the smelly sheep pens and her family.

When they finally parted, Julius rested his forehead against hers, his heart racing. “Hillary,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion, “I...”

But she silenced him with a finger to his lips, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Come on, there’s not much time left, I want to feed one of the baby sheep!”

And as the sun began to dip toward the horizon, casting a golden glow over the farmland, Julius followed Hillary, knowing he’d follow her just about anywhere if it meant seeing her smile.