Sorry for such a long wait. I kept changing my mind about what I wanted to happen and then I would write and rewrite drafts. Finally the epilogue is here! Thank you all so much for all your support. I had a lot of fun writing this! And I'll post Of Love and Happiness soon!
Epilogue
"Remember your lunches on the kitchen counter," Makenna says. "I have to get to the hospital." Waltzing into the room she threw on a jacket and scurried over to give the three of us a kiss on the cheek. "Have a good day at school, guys," she continued.
"Bye Mom!" Jacob says. Aaron ran to the door to hug Makenna's legs. She smiles and picks him up. I smirk and walk over to take him from her arms.
"I'll see you soon, Aaron. I love you! I love you too Jacob!" I clear my throat. She looks at me and tilts her head to the side.
"Aren't you forgetting anyone?" I ask.
"I don't think so." She smiles. "I love you too, I guess." I roll my eyes playfully. She laughs. "I love you guys. I'll be back later."
After Makenna leaves, I drive the boys to school. I make sure they walk into their classrooms before I go to work.
It is handy that I start a bit later than Jacob and Aaron, and relieving. Makenna doesn't want them to ride the bus, but she usually leaves for work before I do.
After Aaron has made it to his classroom, I walk back to the car quickly and drive to my own school.
Outside my classroom stands Robin McKay. I like her. She reminds me of me when I was in high school. The overachiever, top of the class, the know-it-all. I never mean know-it-all in a bad way, and she is such an optimist that whenever kids would call her a know-it-all she smiles and thanks them. I admire her confidence.
"Good morning Mr. Prior! How are you? What will we be doing in class today?" I chuckle at Robin's enthusiasm.
"I'm good, Robin," I say. "How are you? Did you have a nice weekend?"
"I did!"
I smile at her and unlock the door. I turn on the lights as I enter. The room is cold like it always is when I come to work.
"That's good. Today we will be finishing our discussion on the plague." Her nose crinkles in disgust.
"Good thing I have a counselor's appointment."
"Who's your counselor?" I ask. Robin slips off her backpack and sits in her assigned seat.
"Mrs. Rogers," she says with a smile. I chuckle.
"Of course," I say. "How silly of me to forget." Robin laughs.
The first bell rings and the kids start filing in. I get a few "good mornings" and a couple of "hellos." The final bell rings and I begin class.
"We'll be continuing our discussion today," I say. The class groans. Half way through Robin stands and heads toward the door. I nod at her and resume the conversation.
I go through this twice before the bell rings for lunch. I remember when I was one of the most unpopular kids in middle school and my mom told me that after high school the cliques go away. But then I went to work in a high school and they came back. All the social studies teachers eat together, and the science teachers, the math teachers, the foreign language teachers... Though every Friday I make a point to have lunch with my sister.
"Hi," I say. She smiles and walks job the room. She sits down at the closest desk.
"I think she has a crush on you," Tris says.
"Who?" I ask.
"Robin McKay," Tris says. "She talked about you-"
"Uh, Tris... Student-counselor confidentiality is a thing, you know?" She chuckles and gives a gasp of mock horror.
"This was before our meeting. She was talking to Rachel Warner in the waiting room."
"You're so nosy," I say.
"Curiosity runs in the family," she says. "And anyway, it's not uncommon to have a crush on a teacher."
I understand the examples she's referring to, but I ignore them.
"Did you?"
"Not so much when I was younger, but now, yes."
I smirk. "Who? Oh, of course."
"Your classrooms are only yards away," she says. "I can't believe you forgot about my husband."
I'm glad Tris moved back to Chicago after college. I missed having these conversations with her, where we can playfully tease each other. I hope Jacob and Aaron have this kind of relationship.