Page 54 of Love Unscripted
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said quietly then she stood. “You should go. I have an engagement this evening.”
As he left, Camille sat back down, suddenly exhausted.
Chapter 10
The restaurant Camille had chosen was called Geoffrey’s Malibu which was about ten minutes from Aaron’s home and, he estimated, twenty to twenty-five from hers. It didn’t strike Aaron as an equitable trade. When he’d suggested somewhere closer to her so that he could shoulder most of the driving, she’d objected immediately. Geoffrey’s, she insisted, was worth the distance. She didn’t mind at all.
He couldn’t argue. He’d been coming to Geoffrey’s for as long as he could remember. It was a Cortelli favorite, woven into the fabric of his childhood. The fact that Camille liked it too impressed him. It suggested discernment. Good taste.
The recent rain had worried him but his concern proved unfounded. The day had broken open into something glorious: bright sun, clear skies, the sea glittering as though polished. Judging by the sparse crowd, others had been less optimistic about the weather. He was grateful. The relative quiet promised privacy—enough seclusion to discuss Scripture without intrusion, yet public enough to feel appropriate. Their homes hadn’t been an option. This was, in every sense, the best of both worlds.
On arrival, he was led to an intimate table on the balcony overlooking the ocean. He ordered a drink and waited.
Camille arrived barely three minutes later. He stood instinctively and pulled out her seat.
She looked striking—black long-sleeved blouse, crisp white pants. Effortless. Elegant. But beneath it, something else registered almost immediately.
She seemed… withdrawn.
“Are you alright?” he asked once the server had taken her drink order.
She met his eyes at last. “Sure. Why do you ask?”
He shrugged lightly. “You seem upset.”
“No. I’m fine,” she said shortly.
He let it go. This wasn’t a therapy session after all. Whatever weighed on her, she clearly didn’t want to share it.
They turned to the menu, ordering efficiently: to start an olive salad for her, jumbo coconut shrimp for him. The entrée, filet mignon for Camille, prime ribeye for Aaron.
He prayed aloud before they ate, thanking God and asking His blessing over the meal.
The service was impeccable—attentive without hovering. With the ocean shimmering beyond the balcony, the weather flawless, and the restaurant half-empty, everything seemed aligned for a beautiful evening.
They took turns reading Esther chapter two while waiting for their food. By the time their plates arrived, they were ready to eat. Aaron glanced at his phone, then set it aside. He’d rehearsed most of what he wanted to say, though he’d jotted down a few notes just in case.
After a few bites of steak—perfectly grilled—he dabbed his mouth and began.
“Okay. First, some context. There’s a four-year gap between chapter one and chapter two.”
Camille tilted her head. For the first time that evening, interest flickered across her face. “Really? I always assumed it happened immediately.”
“I did too,” he admitted. “Until my brother pointed it out. Apparently, during that time Xerxes went to Greece to expand his empire. He lost. Badly. Came home defeated.”
She took a sip of red wine. “That explains a lot. Seeking a queen afterward—he probably needed comfort. Reassurance. Proof he was still… a man.”
She said the last cheekily and Aaron laughed. “Very possible. His attendants certainly seemed to think so. They suggestedgathering the most beautiful young women in the kingdom and choosing a new queen from among them. One of them was Esther. And this is where we meet Mordecai—her cousin, who raised her after her parents died.”
He paused, scanning the restaurant. Still quiet. Still private. His gaze returned to Camille. Candlelight softened her features, caught in her hair, warmed her olive skin. The thought shaped his next words.
“Esther was very beautiful.”
She met his gaze. For a heartbeat, neither spoke.
He cleared his throat and retreated to safer ground. “But the text suggests her beauty went deeper than appearance. Do you know how the text suggests that?”
Camille glanced down at her phone. “She pleased Hegai and won his favor. Since he was a eunuch, I’m guessing it had more to do with her character than her looks.”
