Award Winner Supermodel
Fenella
Two years later…
Ihold Laird’s hand, squeezing the palm that’s damp with sweat.A smile appears on my lips as I try to calm the nervousness he’s been carrying since we left the house.This is the first award ceremony for him.Dave too can’t sit still in his seat either.
I can’t deny I feel the same.My heart races even as the host throws jokes that make the whole audience laugh.Still, I try to stay calm because I don’t want to make Laird more anxious than he already is.
“The winner of the Best Indie Mobile Game of the Year is…” The music stops, the announcer pauses, tension builds.
“My Supermodel!”
“Oh, thank God.”I gasp behind my hands that cover my open mouth.“Congratulations, honey.”I shoot up and hug him beside me.I cup his face in my hands and kiss his lips, strong and quick.
He grins and whispers, “Thank you, baby.”He then hugs Dave.
“Congrats.”I shake hands with Dave, who’s also jumping up in excitement.
The two of them rush toward the stage.They look like a pair of celebrities.Laird and Dave are both in dark gray suits.Obviously, I picked all their outfits.
Laird beams as he holds the trophy in his hands.He studies it, kisses it, then passes it to Dave so he can take turns clutching the golden award.
“Hi, everybody.We never expected to win this award.Thank you so much for the support and love you’ve given to My Supermodel.And thanks to the most beautiful supermodel ever to exist in the world, my wife, Fenella.”The room erupts in applause.
“Aww, honey…” I whisper to myself; palms pressed to my mouth.
He goes on to thank everyone who supported them—investors, studios, family, friends.When they finish their acceptance speech, they disappear behind the stage.
After a while, they come back to their seats beside me.Laird hugs me and kisses my cheeks and lips.He keeps whispering thank you over and over.He kneels down to my protruding belly and kisses it.
His hands rub my belly as he whispers to our baby, “Thank you, baby.I love you.This is for you.Come out and get it.”He grins while showing the trophy in front of my stomach.I laugh at his words for a moment.He pulls me into his arms again.
* * *
“How are you, Fenella?”the host asks.
“Great, thank you.”My eyes sparkle as I give her a wide smile.
“How’s the baby coming?Have you had a baby shower and the gender reveal yet?”
“The baby’s fine and healthy.The baby shower will be in the eighth month, together with the gender reveal.I was just about to invite you,” I say with a giggle.
“Oh, I would love to come!”
Our light conversation in the podcast studio flows warm and easy.We laugh a lot and talk about everything from fashion to entertainment.
“Tell me how it feels to be the inspiration for the best indie mobile game of the year.Seven awards at once.You broke a record.How did it all start?”the host asks, breathless in astonishment at Laird’s achievement.
“Honestly, I still can’t believe it.Laird and I visited the Rackers Bite office, which was basically the family room of a tiny house.At first, I just wanted to get to know the small business he was building.Then Dave walked in after buying cigarettes and asked about my job.”
“Came back from buying cigarettes?”
“Yes.He parked his roaring motorcycle.Brrrm.Then he walked in through the back kitchen door and saw me.He goes, ‘Hey, what’s up, dude.’”We burst into laughter at how absurd the moment was.
“After that, he asked about my job, what I did, and a bunch of things about the fashion world.Then he went into this trance.Something he calls an inspired moment.”We giggle again, along with the crew behind the camera, including Jessy, who’s laughing hard.
“Right after that game became a hit among kids, teens, and women, you built your own modeling agency.Isn’t that like achieving the ultimate goal in the game but in real life?A supermodel and a successful business owner.”The host leans in, curious.
