A.J

 

A.J took a deep breath before he walked up the front steps of Saint Mike’s. He knew at this time of the day most of the kids would be in class, and that’s what he had wanted. He didn’t want to have to face any of the kids until he knew what his future at Saint Mike’s was.

He had called Stan to let him know he was coming home, but he had resisted asking him if he had heard anything from the Bishop. A.J knew in his heart that it was unlikely that the Bishop would allow him to stay, and as much as A.J didn’t want to have to leave, he had already resigned himself to the fact he was not going to be allowed back into the school.

When he reached the school office, Mrs. Graham looked up, and her face lit up with a smile the moment she saw him coming through the door.

“You’re back!” She exclaimed as she hurried around the desk and quickly hugged A.J. “I hope you’re back for good. I know the children are all missing you terribly.”

“I hope I am, but I guess that’s up to the Bishop,” A.J replied, giving the woman a warm smile. “Is Stan in his office?”

“He’s waiting for you,” Mrs. Graham replied as she reached up and touched his face. “It’s so good to have you back, A.J.”

A.J leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.

“I’ve missed you, Anna,” A.J said before he turned and walked to Stan’s door. Taking a deep breath, he reached up and softly knocked on the door.

“Come in!” Stan called through the door. A.J took another breath before he opened the door and walked into the office. The moment Stan looked up and saw A.J walk into the room, he stood up from his chair and came around the desk to greet him. “Welcome home.”

“It’s good to be back,” A.J said as he gave Stan a hug. A.J was surprised how much he had missed him. He released him and took a step back. “Am I back?”

“We should sit down,” Stan said, and A.J knew what his answer was, right at that moment. He took the seat in front of Stan’s desk and watched Stan as he walked back around to his chair. “So…”

“It’s okay,” A.J said, giving Stan a smile. “I know what you’re going to say, and if I’m honest, it was what I’m was expecting.”

“We can appeal it, A.J,” Stan said as he leaned forward and opened the file that was sitting in front of him. “I have done some research, and there are cases where others have left the church, but they remained in their position in the schools they were working in. If not, I know lots of other schools that would happily snap you up as their coach. I could make calls…”

A.J leaned forward and set his hand down on the file that was in front of Stan.

“It’s okay,” he said as he watched Stan stop and look up at him.

“What? I don’t understand,” Stan said, as he stared at A.J. “We can fight this…”

“It would be pointless,” A.J smiled. “Besides, maybe this gives me the chance to do something I really want to do, but I might need some help.”

“What do you really what to do?” Stan asked giving A.J a questioning look.

“Can you keep a secret?” A.J asked as he leaned forward, and his smile widened.

Rae

 

“I think I may throw up,” Rae said as she and A.J hurried down the corridor. “I really do.”

“Everything is going to be okay,” A.J assured her, and he gave her hand a squeeze. “Just wait and see. Now stop worrying.”

“I just can’t believe it’s today,” Rae said as she gave A.J a worried look. “My heart feels like it’s going to explode.”

“Will you just breathe,” A.J said as he took hold of her hand, and softly pressed her lips to his.

“You made it!” Calum exclaimed as he came rushing toward Rae and hugged her tightly. “I didn’t think you were going to come.”

“I promised you I would,” Rae said as the boy released her, and she gave him a smile. “You are going to blow them away.”

“You’ve rehearsed and practiced for this,” A.J said as he too gave the boy a smile. “You go in there and show them what you’re made of.”

“Thanks, Fa… I mean, Alex,” Calum said, as he gave A.J a grateful smile too. A door at the far end of the hallway opened, and a lady with a clipboard stepped out and called Calum’s name.

“I guess this is it,” he said as he looked at Rae once more.

“You’ve got this,” Rae reassured the young man standing in front of her, wishing more than anything she could go in with him. But she couldn’t. She would have to remain outside while he performed his audition. This was what they had worked for.

He nodded before he turned and hurried down the hallway towards the door, and disappeared inside.

Being there for Calum while he did his audition was part of the reason Rae had wanted to come back to San Francisco. She knew they both had unfinished business, and while it was hard to leave her father, she knew that both she and A.J needed to come back.

Rae was still disappointed for A.J that he would not be allowed to remain at Saint Mike’s. She felt guilty because she knew that it was her fault that he had lost his job, but A.J didn’t seem as upset about it as she had assumed he would be. If anything, he seemed relieved somehow. All that had really mattered to him was that she and Stan had managed to clear the air. Rae finally understood why Stan had done what he had done, and while she still didn’t fully agree with it, she understood he had done what he had with the right intentions.

“School finishes out next week,” A.J said as they sat side by side in the hallway of Juilliard, waiting for Calum to finish his audition.

“I know,” Rae sighed as she rested her head against A.J’s shoulder. “There’s no point in me looking for a temp job at this stage. But at least we have time to think about what we are going to do once school starts back.”

“Funny you should mention that,” A.J said, and Rae could hear a trace of excitement in his voice. “Because I have some news.”

“Oh!” Rae said as she sat up and looked at A.J expectantly.

“Well Stan has this friend,” A.J began, and suddenly he seemed a little nervous too. “He is the headmaster of a school, and he is looking for a new gym teacher, and he has offered me the job.”

“Oh wow!” Rae claimed as she threw her arms around his neck. “That’s amazing news; I’m so happy for you.”

As Rae released A.J from her embrace, the look on his face told her that things were not that simple.

“What’s wrong?” She asked giving him a worried look. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Well, there is one problem with the job,” A.J sighed as he dropped his eyes briefly from Rae’s and took a deep breath before he looked back up at her. “The job isn’t in San Francisco.”

“I see,” Rae said as a knot of fear formed in the pit of her stomach. “How far away is it?”

“Probably too far to commute,” A.J said, as his lips slowly turned up into a smile. “The school is in Dublin.”

“DUBLIN!” Rae exclaimed, stunned by what he had said. “Are you serious?”

“I know how much you hated leaving your dad,” A.J explained. “But you came back here with me anyway, because you knew I had to face up to everything, and for that, I will always be grateful. But I don’t really care where we live, as long as we’re together. So, I asked Stan if he could make some calls because I knew he still had friends from his time working in Ireland. It was a long shot, but I guess I was lucky. So, what do you say?”

“You… you want to move to Dublin?” Rae asked as her heart raced. “Are you really asking me this?”

“Rae, I have never been part of a family,” A.J replied. “I know I have Stan, but it’s not the same. Right now, your family needs you, and more importantly, I believe you need them.”

Rae stared at him for a moment, as happy tears danced in her eyes. Then she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him.

“Thank you,” she whispered against his neck. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, Rae,” A.J replied. “I just want you happy.”

“I am,” Rae replied, as she hugged him tighter. “I really am.”

Suddenly the door Calum vanished through a few minutes before, opened and a very happy Calum came hurrying out and down the hallway.

“How did it go?” Rae asked, and she and A.J stood up.

“I GOT IN!” Calum screamed as he hugged Rae tightly.

“They told you?” Rae asked, surprised by what he said.

“Well it’s not official,” Calum replied. “But the head of the panel said that with my talent, they would be lucky to have me in their school. I’m going to Juilliard.”

“I’m tired,” Rae said as she stepped off the elevator. They had just come straight from the airport after their flight from New York. “But I am so happy right now; I don’t imagine I will get much sleep tonight.”

“I’m glad you’re happy,” A.J replied as they reached the front door of Rae’s apartment. He slipped his key into the lock but stopped before he opened the door and looked at Rae. “You make me happy too, Rae; happier than I ever imagined I could be.”

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers before he turned the key in the lock and stepped back to let Rae walk into the apartment.

She froze the moment she stepped through the door, and her heart almost burst with joy. The room seemed alight with what looked like a million tiny candles and almost as many twinkling, fairy lights. She took another step into the living room, as her eyes welled once more.

“How did you do this?” Rae asked as she looked around the room, completely blown away

“I had some help,” A.J laughed, and Rae knew that Daisy was definitely behind this. She turned back to A.J and was stunned to find him down on one knee. Her hand quickly flew to her mouth.

“Rachael Catherine Sullivan,” A.J said as he gave her a huge grin. “I never imagined that I would meet someone that would steal my heart completely and truly; but the moment I met you, I knew my life would never be the same again. You have taught me how to truly love, you have given me a family I never imagined I would have. You have changed my world, making it a brighter, happier place. So, I have a question to ask you.”

He held out a small velvet box in one hand, and opened it with the other, revealing the most beautiful solitaire ring Rae had ever seen.

“Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife,” A.J asked as tears now danced in his eyes.

“Oh my, God,” Rae cried as she dropped to her knees in front of him. “Of course I will marry you.”

“I love you, Rae,” AJ whispered as he took her face in her hands. “I know I have broken the last vows I took, but I give you my word, I will never break this one. I vow to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”

“No more broken vows,” Rae replied with a smile.

“No more broken vows,” A.J repeated, before he pulled Rae into his arms, and kissed her again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The End