Epilogue
We did it, baby,” Aaron whispers in my ear as we take our place on stage, behind the podium.
Standing next to Aaron’s side, my body shakes with emotions as I fight back tears. It’s a miracle I didn’t trip as we came up the steps and then embarrass myself in front of an audience of millions worldwide. This award is the kind of thing I dreamed about, but never, ever thought might possibly happen. I thought I was lucky when Aaron and I found each other and found love, but this? This is just beyond.
“You’ll have to pardon my spectacular wife – it was her mother who loved being on a stage and the center of attention, not Abby here. The love of Ophelia’s Moore music brought us here on this stage, and we thank the producers who took a chance on a song from an unrecognized artist; and we thank every last fan moviegoer; and most especially, we thank the Academy for honoring Ophelia Moore’s song The Love Mystery , from the movie of the same name.”
I squeeze Aaron’s hand, excitement surging in my body. I smile through the tears welling up in my eyes, so unbelievably proud of my mom’s song and so eternally in debt for Aaron and the work he and Ace Records did to promote her album after I regained the rights to my mom’s work.
Aaron looks at me, gesturing toward the microphone. I smile and nod, while he moves aside.
“I… Thank you all so much. The last three years have been truly unbelievable, which I have to thank my incredible husband here for. And a big thank you to everyone who listened to my mom’s music and who loved it. It should be her on this stage tonight, but I know she’s looking down and smiling. This is for you, mom. We miss you.”
Kissing the heavy statuette, I close my eyes and lift it up above my head, truly hoping that she is looking down on us and is celebrating this long overdue recognition of her work.
An usher comes over to guide us off the stage as music begins. If it wasn’t for the firm grip of Aaron’s arm around me, I’m not sure if I could walk straight, because my knees are so wobbly it feels like the earth is shifting beneath my feet. My fingers are already cramping because of how tightly I’m holding the award statue.
“I can’t believe we did it,” I finally say, when we have a moment before the obligatory interviews.
“I knew we would,” Aaron says, leaning over and giving me a big kiss. “The music is amazing. Your mother was truly a visionary.”
“I owe everything to you for returning my mom’s album to me. It means everything to me that you did that—”
“Even when you didn’t want me to?” Aaron teases, pulling me into a hug and giving me a kiss.
I melt from the comfort of his kiss, immediately forgiving him for the millionth time. It bothered me for a while that he did what he did, but I now recognize it as an act of caring and love, not as manipulation.
“Yes, even though you did what I said I needed to do on my own. I realize, now, that I could have never done it on my own, even if I could have raised the money. My mom loved music so much and she never wrote new music again, after this.”
“All I ever want to do is keep you happy, Abby. I love you with all my heart. I’ll always do anything to make sure you have anything and everything you want.”
My heart swells with love for my dear husband. Meeting and falling in love with him fundamentally changed my life. I went from struggling with everything and feeling like the world was stacked against me, to feeling secure and loved for the first time since I lost Mom.
“Are you ready for the parties? We have a big night ahead of us.”
Lacing my fingers through Aaron’s, I smile at him.
“With you by my side, I’m ready for everything.”
“Tonight was something else,” I say, collapsing into the back seat of the limo, the adrenaline high of the night just starting to wear off. Even though I haven’t been drinking tonight, because I wanted to remember every moment of the night, I know I’m going to feel hungover tomorrow because of how overwhelming this has been.
Even though I’ve met countless celebrities and musicians since marrying Aaron, it still doesn’t feel “normal” to me. When it’s just Aaron and me, he’s my husband and he’s a normal guy, and I can forget how famous and rich he is. But tonight? Tonight was incredible and breathtaking.
I met so many of my favorite actors, who seemed genuinely interested in me. It was hard not to wonder if they were just being “LA nice,” but even if they were…I still got to meet them! Plus, it was so much different, because Aaron and me were among the Oscar winners who were the center of attention.
“I wish I could have met your mom,” Aaron says, sliding in next to me on the seat and then pulling me close as he wraps his arm over my shoulder.
“Me, too.” I rest my head on him and my hand on his thigh. Whenever we’re together, we’re always touching each other. Early on, I was always touching him to remind myself that this was real and not a dream. Now, I just want to always be close to him. He’s my husband and our lives have entwined more than I imagined would happen, even in a marriage. It always feels like there’s a piece of him missing when we’re not together, and he’s said he feels the same way.
When we finally get home, I immediately take off my heels and out of my dress, and slip into a short nightie and silk dressing gown.
“Do you want anything, babe?” Aaron asks as I join him in the living room. He’s taken off his jacket and tie, his crisp white shirt open at the neck. Little wisps of his chest hair are visible above the open buttons, and desire pulses through me immediately.
“No. I’m good, thanks.” I walk over to where he’s sitting on the couch and he immediately turns off his phone and puts it aside. I curl up next to him, resting my head on his leg. He runs his fingers through my hair and tugs at my dressing gown.
Across from our couch is my Mom’s gold record. The platinum record is in his office. I like having the gold one here, because it was such a milestone achievement. Aaron had Ace Records put everything behind marketing the album and it paid off big time.
“I know today has been exhausting,” Aaron says, pulling my dressing gown back further, his fingers moving from my shoulder and under the silk covering my breasts.
“Oooh, that feels nice.” I close my eyes and angle my body so that my breasts are easily reachable for him. I reach down and rub his leg as his fingers move over my breasts, massaging them and lightly pinching my nipples. “I’m not too tired for this.”
“Good.” Aaron’s voice is husky and when I open my eyes, he’s watching me with such love and passion that it still takes my breath away. The love we share is beyond even what is described in books and movies, it’s just… Love is in everything we do, from making love to discussing what to have for dinner.
“You know what would be really nice,” I say, getting up and moving my body so that I’m straddling his lap. I wrap my arms around him and kiss him deeply, our tongues urgent as they dance together. Every demanding thrust of his tongue sends lust rippling over my skin. When he cups my ass with his hands and thrusts up against my hot core, I know I won’t last long once he’s inside me. All my emotions are still on overdrive.
“What would that be?” Aaron’s voice is thick and he lowers his head so that he can take one of my nipples in his mouth.
“Oh!” I cry out. My breasts have been so sensitive, because I think my period is coming. Each lave of Aaron’s tongue makes my core hotter. I need him inside me, soon. I raise myself off his lap, my fingers fumbling with the button and zipper of his tux pants. “I want to work on having a baby. I want to be a mom.”
“Work?” Aaron teases, smiling as he looks up at me. He raises his hips and pushes his pants and boxers down. His thick cock is hard as steel and pressing against my core and my body is screaming to feel him inside me. “That won’t be work. That will be pleasure.”
Aaron focuses his attention on my breasts again and I moan as he slides me onto his perfect cock. I rock my body over him, an urgency building inside of me as pleasure expands throughout my body. Our bodies move perfectly together and Aaron’s breath hitches as he holds me tightly. Neither of us are going to last very long.
“Then let’s get to pleasure. I can’t wait to have a family with you. I love you so much!”
“I love you, too, Abby.”