by Jennifer Joy
“And since when have we ever let perfection hold us back?” he teased.
She laughed. “And I’m glad of it! I wouldn’t change our life to be anything other than what it is. Perfectly happy in its imperfections.”
Will couldn’t have put it any better. Not with a hundred revision passes.
The award presenter called the name of his book. Will sat, stunned and unable to move as the director and actors weaved their way through the sea of black ties, evening gowns, and diamonds seated at circular tables to the stage.
“Will! That’s your story! Get up there!” said Liz, alternately shoving him and clapping her hands.
Will had not felt the same level of panic since he had stood waiting for the elevator in the lobby of the Olympus Hotel. He reached for his pocket, the congratulatory speech Liz had encouraged him to write crinkling under his touch.
Somehow, he made it to the stairs without tripping over his feet or stepping on a dress. If he kept to the edge of the small crowd on the stage, maybe nobody would notice him. He may not even appear on television.
The director gave a nice speech and held up the award on behalf of everyone who had contributed to the film’s success.
The trophy sparkled like the diamonds on Liz’s ring finger, and it occurred to Will that he didn’t need an award to know he’d won. Burgess had been shut down by the revelation of Will’s pen name, he was married to the only woman he had ever loved, and a long queue of ideas simmered in his conscious, waiting to be written.
A path between him and the podium cleared, and to Will’s horror, the director waved that he join him.
“Ladies and gentleman, the creator of this masterpiece,” he said with a bow, backing away as he clapped and leaving Will to thousands of blinding lights.
He reached for the note in his pocket as he squinted his eyes until he saw her. She waved and blew him a kiss and in that moment he knew, just as he’d known at the Starlight Terrace, that the note he’d prepared was all wrong.
“Thank you,” he said, his eyes never wavering from her. Waving his hand around him, he continued, “Thank you for the hard work and dedication it took to bring my story to life, allowing it to touch the lives of more people than I had dreamed possible. Thank you to my readers and the viewers who believe that the world is still a magical place where hope and love shine through and triumph in its darkest moments.” He paused as the attendees clapped. Continuing, he added, “My wife, Liz… Isn’t she beautiful?” He grinned at her, knowing the cameras had panned over to capture her radiant smile. “I want to conclude by thanking Liz, without whom I wouldn’t do half the crazy things I do … or make my characters do.” Chuckles spread through the auditorium, and the music announcing it was time to exit the stage began. There was no time for eloquence, so with a smile meant only for her, he said, “You’re my muse, my love, my life. I love you, Liz.”
When he finally made it back to their table, he saw the tear-stains down her cheeks. He’d made her cry.
He reached for his handkerchief and gently stroked her cheek, praying he wouldn’t make more of a mess.
She pressed his hand against her face.
“I’m sorry for ruining your makeup,” he said, wondering how he could fix it in the dimly let room.
She smiled, her eyes glistening afresh. “These are happy tears, Will. I’ll wear their mark with pride just as I did in the pictures we took after you proposed.”
“At least you didn’t show up to the ceremony with a bunch of balloons,” he teased.
Liz laughed. “Well, this isn’t the Starlight Terrace.” Lowering Will’s hand from her cheek, she wrapped her fingers between his. “I can’t wait to tell our children about that night. It’s the sort of story to be passed on for generations.”
Will sighed, knowing her words to be true. “Because it was so perfect?” he asked with only a hint of sarcasm.
“It was for us,” she replied, pulling him close enough to steal a kiss and fill his head with her unique perfume and transporting him back to that miraculous evening in the Starlight Terrace. The night when she had said “Yes.”
Thank you
Thank you for reading Written in the Stars! I’d love to know what you thought of it, so please click here to leave a review — I read all of them.
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About the Author
When Jennifer isn’t busy dreaming up new adventures for her favorite characters, she is learning Sign language, reading, baking (Cake really is her one weakness!), or chasing her twins around the park (because … calories).
She believes in happy endings, sweet romance, and plenty of intrigue. She also believes there’s enough angst on the news, so she keeps her stories light-hearted and full of hope.
While she claims Oregon as her home, she currently lives high in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador with her husband and two kids.
Other Books by Jennifer Joy
Historical Romances
Darcy’s Ultimatum: The Cousins Series, Book 1
Anne’s Adversity: The Cousins Series, Book 2
The Colonel’s Challenge: The Cousins Series, Book 3
Earning Darcy’s Trust
Accusing Elizabeth
Love Never Fails
Win, Lose, or Darcy
The Honorable Mr. Darcy: A Meryton Mystery, Book 1
The Indomitable Miss Elizabeth: A Meryton Mystery, Book 2
The Inseparable Mr. and Mrs. Darcy: A Meryton Mystery, Book 3
Cozy Mysteries
Cabs, Cakes, and Corpses: Murder on the Equator, Book 1
Rum Raisin Revenge: Murder on the Equator, Book 2
Cold Case Crumble: Murder on the Equator, Book 3