Page 86 of 7 Dirty Lies

Epilogue

Three yearslater...

My nerves werethrough the roof as I took Colt’s hand.The crowd erupted in cheers, which only multiplied the butterflies in my stomach.Maybe not butterflies.This thing happening in my gut was way too harsh for beautiful butterflies.It was more like dinosaursfighting.

“Breathe, babe,” he said as he tucked my hand into the crook of his arm and began guiding me down the red carpet.“Remember, you don’t need this.You alreadywonone.”

As if that mattered!Sure enough I got my nomination and win forThe Price of Love.We became the center of a media firestorm as people got hold of the “story behind the story.”The idea that I played Colt’s mother and we fell in love on the set of filming his family saga, while writing the movie that told the tale of ourstory?

Crack.Tabloidcrack.

But it was great for the movies.The Price of Lovewon four statues that night and had since gone on to become a classic love story for the ages.And of course all of that only made everyone insane to seeThe Poetry of Love.(Yes, Ted insisted on the names being similar for marketing purposes.) I didn’t complain because it was accurate and had helped make the movie a critical and box officesuccess.

Which was why I was here, walking the red carpet at the Academy Awards for a second time.The Poetry of Lovewas nominated for everything, including Best Original Screenplay, and I wanted to vomit.It was so much to have on my shoulders.I wanted my cast to win.I wanted Ted to win.I wanted my director and cinematographer—who was ageniusI might add—to win.It was like having twenty-five babies on their birthday but not everyone wasgettingcake.

And then my ankle turned.Not badly, butenough.“Crap.”

“What?”Colt was instantly onalert.

“My shoe.It’s not tight enough.It’s sliding around and I can’t walksteadily.”

He shook his head and grinned.“Babe.I got it.”And then he was on his knees, lifting my full-length sapphire blue skirt.“If youwould?”

I held up the skirt and watched as he moved with deft skill to tighten the strap around my ankle.When the click of the cameras turned into a crazy firestorm of clicking I realized this must be quite the sight: me in my gown, Colt in his tux on his knees, fixing my shoe.It was like Cinderella, Hollywoodstyle.

He must have noticed the change around us too, because he ran his thumb over my ankle and gave it a comforting squeeze, then stood up, wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, and pulled me to him for a soft kiss.Just soft enough to leave my makeup intact, but just passionate enough to show me—and everyone else—just how much helovedme.

Then he smiled without pulling away and whispered, “You are beautiful, you are brilliant, and you’ve got this.”He waited until I met his gaze and gave him a nod.Then he released me and tucked my hand back intohisarm.

“Thank you,” I whispered as we keptwalking.

“Always.”

Of course all anyone could talk about as we met with each reporter was our love story, and then they wanted to know if my shoe was okay.“Is he real?”One reporterasked.

“Oh he’s real.Just remember, he’s also all mine.”I winked to lighten the mood, but I really wasn’t light.I was now looking at every woman drooling over my man and considering hiding him at home for the rest ofhislife.

“What will tomorrow look like if you win tonight?”Another reporter named Sandyasked.

Oh, I’m getting married tomorrow.“I’m sure we’ll sleep in and have breakfastinbed.”

“Will you have both Oscars in bed with you?”shelaughed.

Colt answered.“Allthreeactually.We have her grandmother’s as well and we wouldn’t want to leave Vivian out ofthefun.”

The two Oscars were currently serving as the world’s best bookends on the world’s best poetry collection.I guess that meant I needed to win one more to make twocompletesets.

“What a dynasty,” the reporter continued.“What do you think your grandmother would say about having another Academy Award winner in thefamily?”

I’d felt her so many times over the years.I still believed she was there pushing me toward Colt.I felt her echoes at the ranch and knew she’d have loved it there.“I think she’d say it runs in thefamily.”

I don’t know how I would have gotten through the night if Colt weren’t there.He sat beside me cool as a cucumber.He held my hand and kissed me whenever my nerves got toocrazy.

Kisses were really good for calmingmedown.

My version of Ted won Best Supporting Actor, so did my brilliant cinematographer.It was good news heading into my category, but I couldn’t help thinking the other nominees were just as deserving.I wanted to win because...well, I wanted to win!But it would also be so perfect to know our love story won an award on the weekend of our wedding.Maybe I just believed in poetic thingslikethat.

“And the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplaygoesto...”

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