Standing in front of the microphone, Taylor looked around at the audience for a few seconds, breathing deeply. From where Clara was sitting, she could see the tremble in his hands where he held his Oscar, but when he began talking, his voice was calm and clear.
“Thank you so much for this honour. I will keep this speech short, as the band have been overworked this evening.”
A chuckle rippled around the theatre as he referred to the band, who started playing when people’s speeches got too long to encourage them off the stage.
“Thank you, Damien Atrosky, for creating such a wonderful role. Thank you, Devon, for being such a talented acting partner. Thank you to all the other actors who worked so hard to make this movie the masterpiece that I think it is. Thank you to the crew who all worked so tirelessly. Thank you especially to Tony from security, whose Nonna makes the best Italian food I’ve ever eaten, and no, I did not tell my trainer that I went to her house for many Sunday lunches.”
Another ripple of laughter spread through the audience.
“Thank you, Mom, for supporting me and encouraging me to dream big. And lastly, I’m most thankful for taking this role, not because of the Oscar it’s given me, but because of the woman I met preparing for it. Thank you, Clara, for taking a chance on me and this crazy life and standing by my side.”
Clara couldn’t stop the tears that formed in her eyes when she heard his words, and she fished in her handbag for the tissue she had stashed there as she knew she would cry at some point in the evening.
With a final wave to the audience, he gazed down at Clara, holding the gold statue aloft. She blew a kiss to him before he strode off the stage.
The rest of the ceremony had been a blur to Clara. She hadn’t known how long Taylor would be gone, and he missed DamienAtrosky winning the Oscar for Best Director, but he was back in his seat, clutching his gold statue in time to see Devon win her category for Best Actress and then the movie Dreamless Sleep winning the Oscar for best picture. He joined the cast of the film as they leapt onto the stage behind Damien while the director made another speech to thank everyone.
The rest of the evening flew past; Taylor and Clara had been shepherded from their seats to the Governor’s ball. They had managed to grab some food, had taken a million selfies with other famous people, and watched his Oscar being engraved with his name.
When Taylor finally whispered into her ear that he wanted to leave, she smiled broadly and agreed.
They had decided at the start of the evening that they would hop in the limo, where Luke would have food and drink waiting for them. Relax for a while as they were driven to the Vanity Fair party, where Taylor was expected to make an appearance and spend an hour there before making their escape.
They had no idea where Gloria had disappeared to, having last seen her in the corner with some of her Hollywood mums club, so they could only assume she had gone somewhere to cause havoc, and they would likely see her at the after-party.
Clara sat in the limo, leaning back against the seat, her eyes closed, and her hand gripped in Taylor’s.
“This has been a brilliant day.” Clara grinned as she spoke, not bothering to open her eyes.
“There’s only one thing that could make it better.” Taylor’s voice rumbled.
Clara chuckled. “Oh yeah? What could possibly top you winning an Oscar?”
“You need to open your eyes for it.”
Clara felt Taylor shift in his seat as he spoke, so his knees were pressed up against hers.
“Oh really?” She sat up and opened her eyes, staring into Taylor’s bright blue gaze, which was fixed on hers.
“Walking into your operating theatre was the best thing that ever happened in my life. Better than any role I’ve ever played. Better than any award I could ever win.”
His face was so serious that Clara’s heart skipped a beat. Was he going to? No, surely not. They had only been together for nine months.
Taylor continued talking, “I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I love you. I will always love you. Will you marry me?”
Clara’s heart stopped beating, and her breath stilled in her chest, and for the second time that evening, tears pricked at the corner of her eyes.
She didn’t even notice that he held a blue box in his hand, open to show a beautiful ring, a single one-point-five-carat solitaire diamond sparkling brightly, even in the dim light, with a rose gold band studded with smaller diamonds. It was a very modest ring when compared to most Hollywood engagement rings, but he knew her well and knew she wouldn’t wear anything bigger, and even the size he had bought, she would probably tell him it was too big.
Her eyes didn’t leave his when she answered. “Yes.”
Taking her hand, he pulled the ring from the box and slipped it onto her finger. Then he pulled her towards him, leaning his forehead on hers and staring into her eyes.
“I love you, Clara Upford.”
Clara’s reply was immediate, “I love you, Taylor Anderson.”
