“It’s safe to say that every woman in America just swooned.”
We laugh, say our good-byes and move on to the next interviewer. The questions are similar, and the good wishes are genuine, as is the support for Natalie. I love the way my community has come together to back us both.
On the way into the auditorium, we’re stopped every few feet by people who want to say hello and meet Natalie. I introduce her to some of the biggest names in the business. She is gracious and adorable as she tries to hold on to her composure and not turn into a giddy fangirl.
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” she whispers after she meets Julia Roberts. “I had posters of her in my room when I was little.”
“She’s a doll. I’m glad you got to meet her.”
“Could I hit the restroom before we go in? The champagne and excitement are catching up to me.”
“Sure thing. I could go, too.” I gesture to the security detail to let them know we’re going to the restroom. “I’ll meet you right here, sweetheart.”
“I’ll be quick.”
Everyone is so incredibly nice. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the outpouring from the Hollywood community has been overwhelming. Running into Julia Roberts and having her call me by name was the craziest thing that’s ever happened. Well, other than meeting Flynn, of course.
As I’m headed into a stall, a woman comes out of the next one. I do a double take when I recognize Valerie Ward, Flynn’s ex-wife. Oh God...
“Well, what do we have here?” she asks with one of those small, nasty smiles catty women do so well. “The new Mrs. Godfrey. Congratulations. You’ve managed to do what so many others have failed to accomplish. You’re the Valerie antidote.”
I know she wants me to react, to say something I’ll regret, but I refuse to let her goad me. Rather than take her bait, I start to duck into the stall, but she grabs the door, refusing to let me close it.
Leaning into the stall, she says, “What’s a nice, sweet girl like you doing with a beast like him? Has he tied you up yet? Beat you? Clamped your nipples? Plugged your ass?” She takes a breath, her eyes glittering maniacally. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. Good luck, sweetheart. You’re going to need it.” With the palm of her hand, she smacks the door shut in my face. It narrowly misses hitting the side of my head.
My hands tremble as I slide the lock into place. What was she talking about? Valerie’s words race through my mind as I try to make sense of what she said. The man she described bears no resemblance to my Flynn. And the way she called me sweetheart in that condescending tone. Is that what he called her, too? Am I foolish to think that name belongs only to me?
The encounter with Valerie lasted a matter of seconds, but she’s left me reeling and wondering if there’s any truth at all to what she said. She’s good. I have to give her that. Somehow I manage to take care of business, but I need more time than I have to regain my composure.
Did Flynn see Valerie come out? Is he talking to her now? Are they having a contentious reunion? Or is he unhappy to see her and worried about what she might’ve said to me? A line has formed inside the ladies’ room, and I feel the eyes of everyone on me as I wash my hands and reapply my lipstick. I take a few deep breaths, hoping I’m not giving anything away to the curious women who are watching me. Some of them I recognize.
I murmur a hello to everyone who speaks to me on the way out.
When he sees me coming, Flynn pushes off the wall between the men’s and women’s rooms and smiles widely. He doesn’t look upset or pissed, which leads me to believe his path and Valerie’s didn’t cross. Lucky him. I decide to keep my encounter with Valerie to myself so as not to upset him on his big night.
He puts his arm around my shoulders and brings me close enough to kiss my temple. “How bad do I have it when I miss you in the time it takes you to pee?”
His sweetness puts me immediately at ease, despite the ugliness Valerie spewed at me. “Pretty bad.”
“If this is bad, baby, I don’t want to see good.”
Everyone is looking at us. Everyone is interested. Everyone is curious. I’m the woman who changed Flynn Godfrey’s mind about marriage. I realize that for the rest of my life, I’ll always be the woman who changed his mind about marriage. I can live with that.
Once again, we’re seated with Flynn’s Quantum colleagues, Hayden, Jasper, Marlowe and Kristian. Marlowe, Jasper and Kristian hug us, and they congratulate us again on our marriage. Hayden is the last to greet us, and he hugs us both, which I take as a hopeful sign.