30. Epilogue
Epilogue
One Year Later:
Lights flash in tandem as I step down the gleaming red carpet. The gown I chose from the Herstory’s collection trails behind me, glittering gold and skin tight to my body. Its sweetheart neckline plunges low and shows off my pushed up chest. With off-the-shoulder cape sleeves and a scrunched up high-waisted skirt, it highlights my plump body from my arms to my legs.
Reporters call my name from every direction. I swivel to face them all, making sure they get good shots. The two loose curls hanging in the front of my face sway slightly as I move, while the rest of my hair stays in place on the top of my head. I smile, raising my free hand to wave.
Holding on to my other arm is Errol. His suit is a vintage twenties-style pin-stripe with cigarette pants and an unbuttoned jacket. The long skinny tie he wears is tucked neatly into his vest. He just got his hair re-twisted, so all the lines of his locs are clean and separated. With gleaming skin and shining teeth, we look like superstars.
We stop a few times to say some words to the reporters, but everyone just wants to ask about our relationship. Now that the movie is out, the buzz of the director dating the new found actress has brought the media out in droves. When we reach the last one we’re directed to talk to, they ask us what’s next.
“Well, about that.” Errol steps back and drops to one knee, pulling a box from his pocket.
The noise of everyone else fades away as my sole focus goes to him.
“Farrah Darby, love of my life, bane of my existence. Will you do me the honor of letting me be your husband?” He opens the box, and inside is a pearl-cut diamond ring, with more diamonds all along the band. The center stone is so big it looks almost heavy to carry as he lifts it out of the container. My heart stutters, looking down at it and him. My breath catches, and I feel myself get lightheaded as I hold it in. All at once, I am flooded with so much excitement, the rush of it pushes against my eyelids. Before I can help myself, I drop down on to my own knees and pull his face into my hands. I kiss him so thoroughly, it’s like he resets me.
Taking in one big breath, I scream the word loud enough for everyone to catch.
“Yes!”
The noise of the red carpet floods back in, and I can hear everyone calling my name. I don’t care. I can’t look anywhere but at him as one tear slides down his face.
We stand together, and I hold up my hand, letting the reporters get a picture of the newly engaged couple. They snap plenty, then Errol leads me towards the theater. Standing at the edge is Monty, with a wide smile on her face.
“I helped him pick it out,” she says before hugging me.
“You did good, girl.” I hold my hand up letting the diamonds sparkle under the light. She congratulates me, and I can barely hear her over my thundering heart. Errol pulls me to the side and grabs my face between his hands, looking down on me with all the love he has.
“You’re going to be my wife.”
“Maybe,” I say smiling.
“Maybe?”
“Depends on how well you behave these next few months. You may have ordered the upgrade, but it hasn’t been applied yet.”
Pressing his forehead to mine, his breathy laugh brushes against my lips.
“You will never make anything easy, will you?”
I shake my head as I shoot him a wink.
“Good.” He pulls me into his arms.
The movie opens to roaring applause, and a standing ovation.
It is so good that it overshadows the talk about the whirlwind romance between the director and actress. Enough articles are still printed about us that a narrative is written about how we came to be. While they say he swept me off my feet after we finished filming, we know that he really knocked me off of them at our first meeting. It’s our own inside joke, as we cherish the moments of every heated conversation that led to every sweet word spoken.
In typical fashion, this makes women want him even more. I know he is mine, and he will never give any attention to anyone else. I move peacefully with the trust he has solidified for me.