Page 72 of Jace 4Ever
Nelson
Cary came bowling through the crowd and smashed into me. “You did it!”
I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her off the ground to spin her once. “I did! First one to win for both categories!”
“It’s insane. And you got part of the best picture!”
“I’ll have two on the mantle.” I couldn’t stop the grin. “Two! Holy crap!”
My phone jangled in my pocket and I pulled it out, swiping to answer. “Hello?
“Hæ Hæ, Sonnur!”
“Pabbi.”
Cary patted my shoulder and pointed me away from the crowd. Jace was chatting with someone from Industrial Light and Magic, so I left him to his networking.
“You won, Son!” My father’s voice was ecstatic, and I heard people in the background.
“Pabbi, it’s like six in the morning. Have you been up all night?”
“No, no, Nils. Not at all. We all woke up at four to watch. Gunnar was grumpy about it, but that seems to have disappeared now that his uncle has Oscars.”
“I’m coming home for a week next month. I won’t have the statues yet.”
“Do you think that’s what this is about? You’ve fulfilled a dream, Nils! That’s what this is. The statue is just a symbol.” My father paused. “A very nice symbol.”
I laughed. “I plan on displaying them. Don’t worry. I just feel bad that Gunnar won’t get to see it.”
“He’ll just have to come visit,” Dad said. “He’s considering Columbia for economics.”
“Really? He’s thinking about coming here?”
“You have all those rooms you keep talking about,” Dad said. “He got excited about studying at Columbia. It would work.”
“He is always welcome to one. If it’s not available he can crash in my spare room.”
“Good. When are you coming? I’ll have Helene make up a room—”
“I’m not imposing on anyone, Dad. Plus, Jace is coming with me. I planned it so he could make it one of his set switch weeks.”
“You’re still with him.”
I glanced over at Jace standing with the ILM guys, talking animatedly about what I was sure was some technical stuff that I had no interest in. It was all critical for making the film work, and if he loved it, then he could have fun talking about it.
“I am still with him,” I said. “I love him, Dad. I plan to keep him around a long, long time.”
“Good man,” he said. “Bring him home. Introduce me to my future son-in-law.”
“Yes, sir,” I said.
“In the meanwhile, go celebrate your victory. We’ll have some lutefisk for you.”
“That is one thing I assure I don’t miss about home.”
“Go, drink your champagne!”
“Love you,Pabbi.”
