Destined You & I (Completed)

Epilogue

2058
(K64, A63)

"It's time for bed." Arthit pulls the cover over his granddaughter.

"But I'm not sleepy yet. Can you tell me a story?" Suzy asks with puppy eyes.

"What kind of story?"

"A love story," Suzy suggests with inquisitive eyes staring at her Grampy.

"Hmm....I'm not a good storyteller." Arthit frowns trying to think of how Little Mermaid goes.

"How about your story?" Suzy quickly sits up to listen.

"My story? Hmm....let me think."

~~~blah blah blah~~~

"The end. Now go to sleep." Arthit once again tries to lay Suzy to sleep. Her mother is currently in labor, so her father brought her over to stay the night.

"Wait! Not yet! Then when did you get married?" Suzy must know the crucial details. Adults keep leaving out the good stuff.

"Aish....when we needed to."

"Why did you need to? Didn't you get married because of love?" Suzy sits back up.

"No, you don't need to be married to be in love. But we stayed together because of love."

"I don't understand. Then why did you get married then?" Suzy frowns. Why are adults always making things so complicated?

"We got married in order to adopt your daddy, and that also gave us you. Now, will you please go to sleep?" Arthit lays Suzy down again.

"Just one more question. Where did you and Grandpa get married?"

"In New York. Now, is that all, Princess?" Arthit lays Suzy down for the fourth time.

"Just one more question. Grampy, why do you and Grandpa like living in this small house instead of the big house like ours?"

"Because a home is not about size, but the people inside it. This place has a special place in our hearts that nothing can replace. Just think, this room used to be your daddy's and before it was his, it was your Grandpa's room."

"And now it's mine when I stay over." Suzy smiles proudly.

"Exactly. Now, it's time to sleep." Arthit brushes Suzy's bangs to the side.

"Arthit, is she asleep yet?" Kongpob pops his head through the door. He's been waiting for his husband to join him for their nightly stroll to the riverside through the back of their yard.

"No, Grandpa! I'm still awake." Suzy immediately sits up seeing her grandpa.

"Kongpob! Now, she's all excited again."

"Oops. I'm sorry." Kongpob smiles meekly seeing his husband's exasperated glare.

"Grandpa, Grampy told me your love story." Suzy excitedly sits up again.

"Oh. That's nice. I'll let you two get back to it."

"Not so fast, Kongpob. It's your turn now." Arthit waves his hand, beckoning his husband to come over. He's been talking for so long that his mouth is dry. Suzy had so many questions and interrupted him so many times while he was telling their story. It should be Kongpob's turn now.

"Yeah, Grandpa. Tell me what you did with all that money your Grandma Jenny gave you."

"Hey, that's Great Great Grandma Jenny to you, little missy."

"Yeah yeah, Great Great Grandma Jenny."

"Well, after years of working for a company called Johnson & Johnson, I became one of their suppliers instead. I started a small ets fabric factory that's used for medical grade bandages amongst many other things. And now your dad has expanded the business to include other products. Someday, when you're older, you can add other products you like too."

"Like candy?" Suzy's eyes immediately glow at the prospect of having her own candy factory.

"Maybe. Now, will you go to sleep?" Kongpob tries to lay Suzy down.

"What did you do at the company, Grampy?"

"I never worked at the company. I worked at the orphanage. I'll bring you there to play with the kids next time when I visit."

"Yeah, your Grampy was the director there. That's where we met your daddy." Kongpob smiles fondly. He still remembers the day Arthit called him during the middle of a meeting, demanding him to go to the orphanage to meet their future son. It was love at first sight with their baby, Panit. They even quickly got married in order to put in their adoption application. Their wedding wasn't anything fancy but it was nice with close family and friends. Thailand hadn't legalized same-sex marriage yet at the time, so they took the opportunity to go back to NYC and visit some old friends while they got legally married in New York.

"Okay Suzy, that's enough questions for now. Tomorrow morning we're going to meet your new baby brother at the hospital. Aren't you excited? Now, you don't want to be too tired to get up in the morning, right?" Arthit really wants to go on their nightly stroll before it gets too late. They love taking the short walk down to the riverside to look at the bridge from afar. They've been doing this for over forty-five years.

"Yes, I can't wait to meet him. I'll go to sleep now. Goodnight." Suzy quickly lays down and pulls the covers over herself.

"Goodnight, Suzy." Kongpob gently closes the bedroom door. He turns around and Arthit offers his hand to him with a warm smile.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Always, my love."

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜