EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Diana
Two years later
I reach up with a wet wipe and rub the Popsicle off from around the outside of Brian’s mouth.
“Can I have another one, mom?”
I’ll never get tired of being called that. Mom.
“Yes, but only because we’re on vacation.”
Brian reaches into the cooler and picks out another Popsicle. He chooses green this time. I can’t wait to see how his tongue’s going to look now. It’s currently brighter red than a stop sign, thanks to the first Popsicle.
“Can you pass me one, buddy?” Joshua says.
“Sure, dad. What color?”
“Let’s go with blue, to match the color of the ocean.”
Brian digs for a blue one and then hands it to Joshua.
“Thanks.”
Brian digs out another and then takes off running, forgetting to close the cooler.
“That little bugger!” I say. “I told him only one.”
“Watch,” Joshua says.
Brian reaches the waterline and quickly presents one of the Popsicles to Brianna. My heart about melts.
“What a sweetheart.”
“He’s looking out for his sister. Just like we asked him.”
“Just like you look after me,” I say, extending my hand from my beach chair towards Joshua. He takes my hand in his and looks over at me and smiles.
Life is great, and has only got better since we adopted Brian.
He’s been the perfect brother to Brianna. They’re in the same grade so he’s able to keep an eye on her during the day. It’s not that anyone would give her any troubles, she’s a great kid, but if anything did happen it’s nice to know Brian’s there to have her back.
And speaking of backs, that’s where I plan on spending my time on this weekend getaway.
It’s nice to be able to take a quick flight down to Mexico for the weekend, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
After Joshua sold his business he had a lot of free time on his hands. Never one to sit around, he shocked everyone and decided to run for mayor.
I would say everyone, but I can’t really. Nothing he does shocks me.
Just like I wasn’t even surprised when he ousted the incumbent and won.
And this is our little victory time off before the real work starts.
Never in a million years when I was studying did I think I’d put the skills I learned to use as a political campaign manager. Surprisingly it was a lot of fun. A lot different than watching House of Cards, but fun all the same.
But nothing brought me as much fun as spending time with our growing family.
After we got engaged Joshua explained to me how his Bitcoin operation worked. At least he tried.
I didn’t really understand the whole computer money thing, but what I did understand was that he’d taken that computer money and turned it into real money.
A whole lot of money.
And as nice as it was to have money, we really didn’t use it to buy nice things. Sure, we spent some on Joshua’s campaign, and on a lot on traveling at first.
But not material things. We may be billionaires, and it’s crazy just to think that, but we used the money on family experiences…not material things.
And of course we invested in the kids. Our kids. We wanted them to have the kind of education and experiences that couldn’t be taught in classrooms.
And not just our kids, but other kids as well.
Now that the campaign was over, Joshua was going to get to work on making our city a better place.
And we hadn’t told anyone yet, but I was going to get to work on making our city a better place for kids from all over the country.
We wanted to provide services for kids in need. I knew what it was like to lose a parent. Brianna and Brian knew as well.
I wanted to help others, and show them that there’s a happily ever after out there for all of us, no matter what.
Sometimes it’s even right where you’d least expect it, like just next-door.
Joshua always reminds me how much his life improved that day I showed up on his doorstep.
As much as he thinks he won out that day, I know I got the better end of the deal.
But that’s why we work so well together. We both know we won everything, when we won each other’s hearts.
And that’s what I want to share with others. No matter your circumstances, if you can surround yourself with caring, positive people then change is possible. Improvement might come in baby steps, but it will come.
And speaking of baby steps I’m planning on bringing up the idea to Brian that we adopt a baby. It was always my dream to have one, and even though we couldn’t do it on our own, we could do it with some help.
I know Joshua is a great listener and will give it serious consideration. He loves kids just as much as I do. I just want to give us some time to relax this weekend, before I go and start trying to make our family grow even bigger…again.