Bikeriders Serenade

Back To Reality

The next day, it was back to reality. Ashley, with the help of Austin's wife, Lucy, navigated her first full day home with Lora. It was a whirlwind of diaper changes, feedings, and tender moments, and while it was exhausting, Ashley felt a deep sense of fulfillment.

Meanwhile, Austin found himself back behind his desk at Heartland Studios, diving into his work. He was crafting a new script—a comedy about a group of friends whose supposedly relaxing vacation spirals into a slapstick adventure filled with hilarious mishaps. The idea brought a smile to his face as he imagined the chaos unfolding on screen.

As he was typing away, his phone rang, interrupting his creative flow. Glancing at the caller ID, he saw it was his agent, James. “Hey, James! What’s up?” he answered, curious.

“Austin! I have some fantastic news,” James said, his voice filled with excitement. “The movie you worked on about Lisa Marie Presley has been nominated for nine Oscars!”

Austin’s heart raced. “Nine? That’s incredible! What categories?”

“Two of them are for you—Best Director and Best Writing!” James exclaimed.

Austin leaned back in his chair, disbelief washing over him. “Wow, I can’t believe it! This is amazing!”

“I know! You’ve really outdone yourself with this one. We need to start preparing for the awards season. Interviews, press events—you’ll be in the spotlight,” James continued.

“Sounds like a lot of work, but I’m ready for it,” Austin replied, a grin spreading across his face. “This is such a huge honor.”

“Absolutely! Let’s get together soon to strategize. You deserve to celebrate this achievement,” James said, his enthusiasm infectious.

After hanging up, Austin took a moment to process the news. He felt a mix of excitement and gratitude, knowing that all his hard work was paying off. He couldn’t wait to share the news with Ashley and Lucy, who had been his biggest supporters throughout the process.

As he stepped out of his office, he could hear laughter coming from the living room. He walked in to find Ashley and Lucy playing with Lora, who was giggling at their antics. “Hey, ladies! You won’t believe what just happened!” he announced, unable to contain his excitement.

“What is it?” Ashley asked, her eyes lighting up.

“I just got off the phone with James—our movie about Lisa Marie Presley got nominated for nine Oscars!” he said, beaming.

Ashley’s face broke into a wide smile. “That’s amazing, Austin! Congratulations!”

Lucy clapped her hands, her excitement matching Ashley’s. “You deserve it! We’re so proud of you!”

As they celebrated together, Austin felt a rush of joy. It was a reminder that even amidst the challenges of new parenthood, life had its beautiful moments, and he was grateful to share them with his family.

Navigating the Spotlight

A few weeks later, Austin met up with his agent, James, at their favorite restaurant. The atmosphere was lively, filled with the clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation. They settled into a cozy booth, and after ordering their meals, the conversation turned serious as they discussed the upcoming awards season.

At one point, James looked directly at Austin, his expression shifting to one of concern. “You do know that they might ask you about how you reacted to the news about Lisa Marie’s death, right? Especially since you two were so close.”

Austin nodded, a heaviness settling in his chest. “Yeah, I know. They asked me about it when I was promoting *Elvis* after the Golden Globes, but I only briefly talked about it.”