The Swan and The Sergeant - Alana Albertson Page 0,60

hand through, and we walked down the long white hallway, right to where John was stepping off the stage. I couldn’t help it—suddenly I was fourteen years old again. John was my dream long before Xavier’s poster went up in my bedroom. I didn’t even care that John was gay; my knees actually went weak standing so close to him.

“Good luck, love,” John said, touching my arm.

I’d just touched John Matthew…while holding Xavier’s hand! Could life get any more fabulous?

We took our place onstage. Bret and Robyn stood next to us, and I rushed over and hugged Robyn. Then Bret and Xavier jumped in, and we all hugged each other. It probably looked so hokey, but that was just how it was tonight. I swirled in emotions. Looking over at the audience, I saw I wasn’t the only one. Bret’s Marines were sitting next to Xavier and Robyn’s kids, everyone looking so proud. Xavier’s whole band had shown up also.

The place was packed tonight, standing-room only. I knew on television the ballroom looked huge, but there were only about four hundred people stuffed into the crowded soundstage. The cameras panned overhead to create the illusion of a sea of people. I didn’t have to see the millions of viewers at home to feel their eyes on me. This finale wasn’t like any of the others. This one, I really cared about.

“Good luck, Selena,” Robyn told me.

I took her hand. “You, too.” Robyn gave me a hesitant smile and squeezed my hand as we all four lined up for the final announcement.

The music came on. Matt took his position. “For the past fifteen weeks, these couples have lived in the studio and endured endless hours of practice and blisters on their feet. Right now, we will finally reveal the winner of this season of Dancing Under the Stars.” He smiled so big, I swore his bleached teeth actually twinkled from the bright lights. “The winner of the crystal dance shoe trophy is…”

I looked over at the judges’ table. Benny was grinning at Bret. He mouthed, You did it!

I bit my lip.

Matt read the card. “Robyn Quintana and Bret Lord!”

My screams were drowned out by the howls of the audience as Bret lifted Robyn and twirled her around in the air. He did it! All the dancers and stars from the season flooded the stage. Xavier embraced his wife as confetti hailed the stage.

Bret looked me in the eye and kissed me on the lips, the camera inches from our faces.

Ten years later, Bret Lord had won another dance competition.

Then he dropped to his knees and pulled a ring box out of his pocket.

Oh my god!

“Selena, will you marry me?”

Finale

I sat in front of the television in Kuwait, my Marines around me. The familiar theme song blasted through the speakers.

“Come on, man, do we have to watch this crap? The fight is on,” a corporal yelled.

My eyes remained glued to the screen. “I’ll switch in a few. This is the only way I can see my wife.”

“Welcome to Dancing Under the Stars. This season, we’ll thrill with our best lineup ever, including a heavy metal drummer, an Olympic figure skater, and an Academy-Award-winning actor. But first, a showcase of our professionals,” the host said.

The ladies hit the stage. Not much had changed—Vika, Nicole, Elizabeth, and Jenny were still there. There was a new girl also, some knockout with long, black hair.

Ray leaned toward me. “I knew you would come back to your senses and get out of the Corps. You will be back on that stage in a year.”

“It’s crazy. I can’t believe it myself. I got more than I ever wanted.”

Had I ever. My total prize money with endorsements had equaled $250,000. I had donated it all to Pierce’s family. Pierce’s wife, Kimberly, had initially refused to accept the money. She eventually gave in and used it to purchase a home and set up college funds for her children.

The only item I kept from the show was my truck. And I made peace with that decision.

“That samba was choreographed by former Dancing Under the Stars champion, Selena Lord.”

The camera panned to Selena, who sat in the audience. She looked beautiful. Her hair was now dark, and she was dressed in a mint-colored wrap dress that showed off her tiny baby bump. She blew a kiss to the camera, and I knew that it was meant for me.

We’d had a small wedding ceremony on the beach in Bolinas, with just our families,