by Twyla Turner
“I knew you’d do it, baby.” Gabe whispered in her ear before kissing her lips and stepping back so she could have her moment.
“Oh. My. God! This is so not happening right now! And I know what you’re all thinking right now, I shouldn’t be here because I’m obviously about to drop a load any minute. But nothing was gonna stop me from being here for this moment!” The audience burst with laughter at her joke. “So I want to thank the Academy for even thinking of me, especially when I was in such talented company. I want to thank my parents for always being there for me. I’d like to thank John Grimm for putting it all together and making it into such a wonderful movie. And last but certainly not least, I’d like to thank my wonderful husband for believing in me.” Sunny looked back at Gabe with watery eyes. “I would have never had the courage to follow my dreams if it weren’t for your faith in me as a writer. Love you, baby. Thank you!” Sunny finally lost her composure, as tears ran down her face.
Gabe came up to help her walk off stage. He then led her to the press room, where she took pictures with her Oscar and answered a few questions. That was when the twisting and turning of her stomach intensified and doubled her over in pain. Holy shitballs Batman, that hurt!
“Sunny!” Gabe shouted as he bent down to steady her.
“The babies…I think…they’re…coming! It’s…time!” Sunny groaned in pain.
“Fuck!” Gabe cried out, and then stooped down to scoop her up in his arms. “Get the hell out of the way!” Gabe yelled as he quickly strode out of the room, camera flashes exploding in their wake.
“Gabe…put me down…I’m too…heavy.” Sunny gasped, gripping her stomach.
“You’re fine Sunny. I’m not going to let you try to walk.” Gabe reasoned.
“Ugh! Fuck…that shit hurts!” Sunny cried feeling another contraction radiate from her back to her stomach.
“I’ve got you, Sweet Girl. Just hold on.” Gabe soothed.
“Don’t give me that ‘Sweet Girl’ shit, when that’s what got me here in the first place!” Sunny growled.
Gabe just smiled and carried her out to the limo.
~~~
Fourteen hours and one miracle epidural later, Gabe held the two sweetest baby girls he’d ever seen. They were tiny with tan skin and heads full of jet black curls. He counted ten fingers and ten toes on each baby, by kissing all forty of them. Sydney and London. Perfection. His eyes filled with tears at the enormity of the moment and pride at how well Sunny had done. A few curse words had been thrown his way and his hand nearly crushed, but nothing he couldn’t handle.
Gabe walked the babies over to their mother, who smiled with exhaustion. Helping her, Gabe placed each baby into Sunny’s awaiting arms.
“You did so good baby. They’re perfect. And so are you.” Gabe leaned down and kissed Sunny on the forehead.
“They’re amazing!” Sunny said in awe as she kissed their noses. “Thank you for putting up with me. And sorry if I yelled at you.” Sunny looked up at him sheepishly.
“You had every right, considering what you just went through.” Gabe brushed a limp curl from her face.
“Well this has certainly been the best twenty-four hours of my life, excluding the day I married you.” Sunny grinned at him, and then glanced over at her golden statue sitting on the table next to the hospital bed, and then down at her babies.
Gabe looked at his perfect family and his heart swelled to triple its normal size at the sight. Sunny’s entire body was drenched in sweat; her hair was stuck to her face and matted in other places. Her makeup from earlier in the evening was nowhere to be seen. And yet she was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen as she held their babies. My Sweet Girls.
The End
Acknowledgements
Let me just say that so far it’s been an incredible ride releasing my first two novels. The creative side of the writing process, plus learning the ropes of self-publishing and figuring out how to market and promote my books have been exciting and gratifying. And there have been some great people along the way that have stood by my side and I’d like to take the time to thank them.
I’d like to thank everyone who gave me encouraging words during the process of writing Awe-Struck. And thank you to those of you that praised Star-Struck, which gave me the motivation to continue writing the story of Sunny and Gabe.
Again I’d like to thank my parents who continue to support me financially and creatively. They cheered me on for every purchase and review I have received since the release of Star-Struck.
Also, I’d like to thank my aunt and uncle, Mary and Barry Blackmon, for also supporting me financially and professionally. If it wasn’t for you guys I doubt I would’ve been able to travel around and “find myself” and gain some of the experiences to which I love to add to my stories. You helped keep a roof over my head for a quite a few years while I was in California and helped me get started in Japan. And for that I can’t thank you enough.
Thanks again to Sue, Randi and Sammy for being my beta-readers. Your initial praise and editing skills gave me the courage to put my work out there.
Thank you to Marina Acevedo for helping me with the Spanish translation. Your quick help is greatly appreciated.
I’d like to give a great big shout out to my illustrator Suzy Almblade for your AMAZING art work. Seeing the cover almost made me cry, it’s so beautiful. You took my vision and made it into a reality and for that I couldn’t thank you enough!
And thank you to my fans. Ha, I have fans!!! It gives me such joy every time I get a review at a retailer or a comment posted on my Facebook page that says how much you loved my characters or how much you related to Sunny. I hope you stay by my side for my future books to come, of which I have quite a few ideas and plans. ;)
About Twyla Turner
Twyla Turner currently resides in Arizona. She was born and raised in Joliet, IL; and has also lived in Chicago, Japan and California. Having been an avid romance novel reader since Jr. High and minored in Creative Writing, she felt that it was finally time to start combining her two loves and life experiences and putting them down on “paper”. Which experiences, she’ll never tell…well maybe, if you ask nicely.
Other books by Twyla Turner
Star-Struck
(The Struck Series: Book 1)
Connect with Twyla Turner
http://twylaturner11.wix.com/twylaturnerauthor
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/twylaturner11
https//www.facebook.com/twylaturner11