farm boy // joshler

35: epilogue, part ii

tyler's point of view

(another year later)

"daddy, parent teacher conferences are today!" grace tugs on the bottom of my shirt. "we have to go! it's my very first one!"

mason looks at me with a soft smile on his face. i smile back at him and then look to our daughter. "i haven't forgotten, lovebug. this is the third time you've mentioned it since we got home. it doesn't start for another two hours."

"what're we gonna do for two hours?" she pouts. "we've been standing in your bedroom for a long time and i'm boooored."

"gracie, we've been standing here for like five minutes. dad's changing and then we're going to just sit around a bit. i know you're antsy. you'll live." i bend down to kiss her forehead. "why don't you go play?"

"fine," she says, wandering off into the house.

mason steps out of the bathroom freshly shaven and wearing a different shirt than before. i smile at him and step forward to take his hands in mine.

"you look nice," i tell him. "you got someone to impress?"

"i do." he leans forward and kisses me once. "you."

"well, it's working."

-

when it's finally time to leave, we all get into the car and head off. the ride is short, and grace spends it humming along to the radio.

it's only been a few couple years since we adopted her, but i already know i will never love anyone as much as i love her.

one of mason's hands is intertwined with mine and he keeps the other on the wheel.

we arrive to the school and find a parking spot, and then we walk in. grace leads us around, showing us all of the classrooms.

"and this is where we have art!" she says, leading us into another room. art has been her favorite so far, and i'm excited to see what she's been working on.

we step in and my eyes roam around the room, looking for the teacher. and then i see him.

but no, that can't be right. that can't be him.

i lean down to gracie's height and tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. "gracie, sweetheart, what's your art teachers name again?"

"mr. dun."

i stand back up and then look to him again.

the parent he was talking to is moving past us to leave the room, and then we make eye contact.

"hey, tyler."

my eyes begin to well with tears as every memory floods back to me with that warm smile.

"hi, josh."

T H E E N D

(an: the end for real this time lol. i hope you all enjoyed this story just as much as i did. i love it and all of you so much. endless gratitude. the sequel, 'the city,' is up and completed on my profile but it pales in comparison to what i built here. in my opinion at least. i like to leave the ending at this. but if you're curious [ha], and okay with a lower quality plot/writing to get some closure, its there.)