“Do you think you’ll win this year?”
“We’ll find out in a couple of hours,” I replied.
“There’s a theory going around that a director can’t win unless she looks like she’s filled with angst and suffering and pain, and you look very cheerful.”
“Well, I don’t think Lucindo was filled with more angst and suffering and pain than I was last year, and he still won.” I laughed, proud of my ability to make jokes about my past calamity. The ability to laugh at the jokes, too. The certainty I had moved on.
“How do you feel about Mike Gennaro presenting Best Director?”
Moved on and became strong enough to accept the past as it was. “Makes me want to win even more this year.”
Scene 91
Maggie
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Academy Award winner Mike Gennaro.”
The lights changed in the theatre along with the screens on the stage as Mike emerged in a dashing white tux. I clapped with the audience, mesmerized by being the closest to him I’d been in almost a year. At this moment, I was supposed to think of nothing but the anticipated award, yet as I stared into Mike’s eyes, all my thoughts revolved around him and him alone.
Jim held my hand, and I glanced at him. He was smiling, yet his eyes were anxious. “Are you excited?” he asked, a thousand other questions on his face.
I looked back at the stage. At Mike. “Very.”
Mike cleared his throat, holding an envelope—the envelope—with both hands. “Since 1929— the year of the very first Academy Award ceremony—only one woman has ever won the Academy Award for Best Directing. Tonight, this could change.” He paused while the audience clapped again.
I smiled as people looked in my direction, and Jim squeezed my hand.
“Here are the nominees for Best Directing.”
A clip played on the big screen above Mike. DIRECTING appeared in all caps next to a statuette. Prerecorded clips of a star from each movie saying a few words played while Mike announced the names of each nominee and their movies before each clip.
ForDark Hopes, Jim was the one talking on the screen.
“She likes to create these worlds that let us see the other side of things. Because according to her, everything is not what it seems. She sees beyond the hero and beyond the villain. For instance, she takes the best looking guys and turns them into dark and twisted characters to bring that side of the villain we don’t notice or don’t want to notice. The best part is that she brings it out not only for us to see, but to love, too. That’s the brilliance of Maggie Dawson.”
I gazed at Jim, mouthing “Wow. Thank you.”
There was another round of applause, and Mike opened the envelope without looking. “And the winner is…” He stared at the envelope for a moment or two. Then his eyes lifted from it. Glittery eyes that focused only on mine. “Maggie Dawson.”
My heart skipped a beat as the theater erupted in applause. In awe, I stared at Jim, who was on his feet clapping frantically, grinning from ear to ear. I swore and heard Jim’s laughter as I did. Then I was on my feet, too, hugging and kissing him. He was saying all kinds of endearing words while other members ofDark Hopesfamily congratulated me, surrounding me with affectionate gestures.
“This is the first Academy Award and second nomination for Maggie Dawson.”
I walked to the podium to collect the award, flanked by a standing ovation, my eyes glued to a wet pair of dark brown ones.
Mike’s thumb was at the corner of his eye as I climbed the steps. When I reached him, the hand holding the statuette was shaking, his free arm fidgeting. I could tell he was reluctant to hug me. To end his doubt, I opened my arms.
For a moment, I could hear nothing but the sound of his shuddering breaths on my shoulder and the wild beating of his heart against my chest. My arms wrapped around his waist, and I didn’t want the moment to end.
“Congratulations,” he whispered in my ear, and then his lips caressed my cheek.
My heart throbbed.
As he drew back, his arms lingered on my shoulders and his eyes on my lips. “You look so beautiful.”
I trembled. “Thank you.”
He handed me the statuette, my blue gift still on his wrist. His eyes dropped to my cherry blossom bracelet as he stepped back.
