The Road Home

Epilogue

Harper wished she had practiced sitting in her draped Louis Vuitton black gown for at least a minute before sitting in it for three hours. And it seemed tighter than it was the first time she had tried it on. It wasn't nearly as comfortable as she thought it would be. She shifted in her front row seat at the Dolby Theatre and glanced at the amazing man to the right of her. He hadn't let go of her hand the entire night and she was still a bit shocked that he had wanted to attend. She could have happily skipped it but looking at him now, she was glad she got the chance to see him in that sleek, black Saint Laurent tux. He winked and she knew he could read her thoughts.

"We could be home in bed right now," she whispered.

"Right after you win," he offered flirtatiously.

She shook her head and hoped she wouldn't and had already tried to explain that winning another Oscar would force her back into the press if only for a bit. But he was excited and so proud of her. "You worked hard for this. You deserve it," he would say anytime she scoffed at winning. Another reason she loved him so much. And, much to her dismay, it looked like she might win. The movie had been a hit. It had already taken Oscars for Costume and Production Design. Brett was a shoe-in for Best Director. It was up for Movie of the Year and Harper was probably the only Supporting Actress nominee there hoping she didn't win. But even with all the pomp and circumstance of the biggest award night in Hollywood she just wanted to be home cuddled next to her favorite person. 

She reminisced over the previous year and what a rollercoaster it had been. The phone call from Statler, the first time she saw the Palomino, seeing the script and the wave of panic of not only learning a new language but being able to speak it fluently, and then finding a family. She couldn't believe how much she loved all of them. Ben and his family, the Andrews, and the Tambors. She didn't need awards. She had already won.

She thought of the day Ben came to the house and told her he loved her and how they stayed wrapped up together for the next three weeks. He had gone with her when her tour started and flew back and forth when his Fall classes began. She thought of the morning he took her back to the mountain to watch the sunrise and then proposed afterwards. He had given her his grandmother's ring. It had seen sixty years of a good marriage. Harper looked at the dainty gold band on her left hand and knew it was so much more than just a ring. It was forever and she couldn't be more thankful.

    "Get ready," Ben and Brett sounded like dual speakers on either side.

    She watched the presenter open the card with bated breath and hoped she wouldn't have to try to climb those steps in her heels.

    'And the Oscar goes to..."

    Ben hollered first. He came to his feet about the same time Brett did. Harper was more amused at her fiance than another Oscar. The humble man who couldn't stand Hollywood had been so excited about her winning tonight. He was adorable.

    Before she knew she was placing it on the stand in front of her. She made eye contact with Ben sitting on the front row. He was beaming.

    "Thank you so much. I'm shocked. I was rooting for someone else," she said seriously even as the crowd laughed. "Last year was the worst year of my life. I cried more than I knew I could. It was like living in a nightmare that just kept persisting. And last year was the best year of my entire life. I laughed and smiled more than I knew I could and felt like I was living in a dream that I never want to wake from." She glanced at Ben and quickly wiped a tear away.

"This movie was one of tragedy, resilience, and a powerful love. So thank you to the Academy for recognizing that. Thank you to the fans. To Brett Sawyers for a ridiculously brilliant idea and for making us work harder on a movie than anyone thought possible. Thank you to the cast and crew for creating something beautiful. And," she looked at Ben and wanted to pour out her heart. He nodded as she smiled, "Thank you."