When I glance to Adam, his smile takes away all the nerves of giving my first on-the-spot camera interview.
“It’s next in line. I’m excited for you all to hear it,” I respond.
“Okay, move the line along,” the security guard says.
Adam starts to pull me away, and I turn to wave to the woman.
“Thank you for the interview,” she yells out.
Maggie grips my arm, her smile saying it all.
This is really happening.
When our limo pulls up, my poor sister has a hard time sliding across the seat with her pregnant belly, but once she’s in, her face lights up. The opulence is not lost on her or my parents.
This is what I’ve always dreamed of. I wanted to be the person to give them this. To show them what I could do and treat them to a lavish lifestyle.
The hotel is only a few blocks away, and when we arrive, the chaos is no different than the place we left. Though there’s no longer a red carpet, limos and taxis line the streets. Security tries to keep the fans at bay as celebrities pour out of every car that lines the entrance.
We wait our turn as people scream from behind the ropes the hotel set up.
“We love you, Adam,” a group of girls screams when he rolls down the window to wave.
Maggie loves all of the excitement, but I can tell my parents are a little overwhelmed by the entire experience.
The limo comes to a stop, and the bellhop opens the door for us. Adam hops out first, only to be met with screams so loud that my dad covers his ears.
They’re letting people out of their rides in rows of three, and we’re the last ones in this batch, so we have the longest walk to the entrance. The hotel is handing out gift bags, and Cailin runs ahead to get one.
Adam and Linda jump to chase after her, but Linda calls over her shoulder, “I got her,” so Adam backs off and pulls me close as everyone else exits the limo. Maggie is quick to smile and wave at everyone who looks her way.
People from all around are screaming Adam’s name, begging for him to look their direction. He waves at a few before wrapping his arm around me to pose for a picture.
We continue our walk when I feel a firm hand grip my shoulder. When I turn, I see my father with his eyes soft and glistening in the lights that flash all around us.
His slight smile as he stares at me means more than any word he could say right now.
A camera crew runs our direction, holding a microphone out toward us after saying, “You must be Sarah’s father. Tell us, how proud are you of your daughter?”
My dad blinks a few times, before glancing down at me and pulling me closer to him. “We couldn’t be more proud of our little girl.”
I lean in for a hug. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“And this man right here.” He reaches out his arm from around me to touch Adam’s shoulder. “He’s been a huge blessing in our lives, in more ways than one.”
Seeing my dad welcome Adam into our family makes a tear slip down my face. I wipe it away, smiling big at the camera.
The woman’s eyes crinkle at the sides as she gives me a closed mouth grin. “Congratulations, Sarah. You’ve made it.”
I turn to my dad, then Adam.Yeah, I finally have.
Epilogue
Sarah
Seven Months Later
“Let’s blow this popsicle stand!” Cailin shouts as we head toward the bus, ready to head to the next venue.
