Page 35 of After the Red Carpet
“She must have really loved him.”
Ella shrugged.
“What?” Finn asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m sure she did love him, in her own way, but perhaps it would have meant more to simply realize his vision. He wanted this place to be about the arts, not about him. Love isn’t about gold statues or opulence. The grandest gesture is seeing someone for who they are and honoring what’s important to them.”
He pecked her cheek just as they reached the doorway, where an usher was waiting to escort them to their front row seats. Margaret Hughes, dressed in a black satin gown, her gray hair styled in waves like the night she met Albie, sat between Jean and Ella.
When it was time for the Lifetime Achievement Award, the host called Jean to the stage to present the winner. Ella took Margaret’s hand, and they smiled at one another. Jean stood at the podium and said, “Thank you to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for bestowing this high honor upon my dear friend, the great Albie Hughes. So often, you get these awards wrong, but this time there has been no error.” He paused as the audience laughed. “Albie was a gifted actor of stage and screen, one of the greatest I’ve ever known. He was also a hell of a lot of fun. Truth be told, I cast him in so many roles because I had so much damn fun sharing a bourbon with him after a day of shooting and listening to him tickle the ivories whenever a piano was in the room. Albie was a straight shooter; there was no veneer. He lived life to the fullest, making the most of each experience, and that is what comes through in his many memorable performances.”
Jean stepped aside as the lights dimmed and a film highlighting Albie’s career played on massive screens, ending with a scene fromCelebrationand still shots of the cast taking their final bow. When the lights came back on, Jean said, “It is with great pleasure that I welcome Margaret Hughes to the stage to accept this award on her husband’s behalf.”
The entire audience rose. Ella hugged Margaret, and then Finn escorted her up to the stage before returning to his seat. Margaret stood, tears in her eyes and a warm smile on her face as the audience remained on their feet, clapping thunderously. When she caught her breath, she said, “Thank you very much.” The audience took their seats. “My darling Albie didn’t care much for awards, called them rubbish. It’s probably best you waited until he passed to bestow this great honor upon him, else I fear he may not have showed up to accept it and deprived us all of this opportunity.” She paused as everyone laughed. “I’d like to thank the Academy for recognizing my husband’s body of work, and Jean for that lovely introduction. Albie knew he was ill when he went off to make his last picture. He viewed Jean knocking on his door at that moment as a gift from the universe, a final chance to make a piece of art that would outlast him, or any of us. As it turned out, he became very close to everyone on set and said it was the best shoot of his life. What a glorious way to go out. For that, I’d like to thank the cast and crew ofCelebration, and all those who were part of that special experience. He was especially grateful to be part of a film that asked life’s big questions. Yet for my Albie, the answer was always simple: love. Jean was kind to call him a straight shooter, but the truth is my darling could be a bit of a grump.” Everyone laughed and Margaret continued, “But he never failed to believe in love above all else. That’s what he brought to his many belovedcharacters, and it’s certainly what he brought to my life. Thank you kindly for this honor.”
The audience leaped to their feet in applause. Finn put his arm around Ella and kissed the side of her head as they joined the chorus of cheers.
Finn struggled to clasp his cuff links as Ella emerged from the bathroom in a strapless chartreuse gown that hugged the curves of her body, her long spiral curls pulled into a messy bun, her lips stained red, and strands of sparkles dangling from her ears. “Wow!” Finn exclaimed, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. “You are breathtaking. God, look at your incredible green eyes. I’m . . . I’m speechless.”
Ella blushed. “Here, love, let me do that,” she said as she fastened his cuff links and smoothed his lapels. “Now you look Oscar worthy. You’re impossibly sexy in a tuxedo. Makes me a bit blue that this is our last hurrah.”
Finn was barely listening, too fixated on his bride. “I’m serious. You are stunning. Showstopping. I wish we could just stay home,” he said, taking a whiff of her perfume. “Are these diamonds?” he asked, touching her earlobe.
“They’re costume, paste, I think. Found them at a flea market. The dress is vintage too. Jason helped me scour all the best places until we found the right pieces. I wanted to wear something special and one of a kind for your big night.”
“Sweetheart, try not to get your hopes up. I don’t have a shot in hell of winning. The whole season, they’ve been honoring the acting in the film through Willow. It’ll beamazing if she wins Best Supporting Actress tonight, such a comeback story. I’m thrilled for her. As for lead actor, Grey Hewson took the Globe and the SAG for that biopic he did. It’s his year. I have no expectations of an upset.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Someone once told me that lightning always strikes when we least expect it. Shortly after, I met you.”
“This film already gave me everything I could possibly want,” he said, kissing the tip of her nose. “Besides, if there is somehow a surprise tonight, it should be Albie who takes it, posthumously. I’m flattered to be nominated alongside him.”
“Trust me, if Albie has any pull from the beyond, he’s using it on your behalf. No matter. It’s just wonderful how the film has been recognized.”
“I’ve never cared about awards season or any of this stuff, but it’s been different this time around. I’m feeling a bit nostalgic. Tonight is the end. It’s been a blast reconnecting with Jean and the whole gang, celebrating the film. It reminds me of how our love story began,” he said, kissing her forehead.
Ella smiled. “Our love story has many chapters. Maybe after tonight, we’ll start writing the next one. But for now, we should party with the gang into the wee hours. Now come on, let’s go get you that trophy.”
Finn laughed, linking his arm with hers, and they headed out.
“YOU LOOKED SO GORGEOUS ON THEred carpet that I could hardly focus on what the reporters were asking me,” Finn whispered as they walked down the theater aisle to their assigned, front row seats. “You’ll be on the cover of every magazine tomorrow, yet again. You outshone every actress here.”
Ella giggled. “I think you may be biased.”
“It wasn’t just me; no one could take their eyes off you. Jean practically drooled when we bumped into him. He’s still got a crush on you, you know.”
“Jealous?” she joked.
“Always.”
“Silly. You are my one and only. I’m so lucky to be on the arm of the most handsome, most extraordinary man here, the man of my dreams.” They gazed at each other for a moment before she continued, “Did you see Willow speaking with the press? She looks like a fairy princess in that gorgeous, sparkling ball gown. I’m so happy for her.”
“If she scores gold tonight, it’ll be another one for Albie. He predicted great things for her, and it seems he was always right.”
Ella smiled just as Michael and Lauren, as well as Charlotte and her husband, stopped by to say hello on the way to their seats. Ella leaned over and kissed Finn’s cheek. “Good luck tonight, my love,” she whispered, just as the host took to the stage to begin the ceremony.
Before long, it was time for the final acting category. Out of the corner of her eye, Ella saw Willow clutching her gold statuette, still teary-eyed from her speech in which she dedicated the award to her mother and grandmother. Ella took Finn’s hand and gave it a squeeze as the nominees for Best Actor were announced. “And the winner is . . .” The presenter tore the envelope open, did a double take, and announced, “Finn Forrester forCelebration!” Finn gasped as the entire audience rose to their feet in a standing ovation. Stunned, he turned to his beaming bride.
“Congratulations, my love,” she said, touching his cheek and kissing him softly. He shook his head as if to process what was happening, and then made his way to the microphone as the audience continued to roar.
