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There are still plenty of people around to see the scene. The parents cheer us on, so happy to see it, and join us in celebrating the happiness that Nelson and I will relish for so many years to come.
And to think, it all happened because I showed up to the Fall Ball as an avocado to make a thousand bucks.
Life’s silly and fun, and I think with Nelson, it’s going to stay that way for years to come.
EPILOGUE 1
NELSON
One year later, we’re faced with the final duty of our Fall Ball crowning: to pass the crowns to the next king and queen.
The preacher presented Nicole and I with ours, and I was told it was because the previous year’s king and queen had moved out of the county. But since we’re not going anywhere, we’re more than happy to pass on our crowns to the next lucky couple.
We stand on stage, hand in hand. Thankfully we weren’t asked to wear our award-winning taco and avocado, and could dress properly for the chilly weather. There are wedding rings on our fingers, a reminder of our bond being made official. The past year has been wonderful and serene, and everything I hoped for.
We had such a raucous wedding too. The Rough family come over from Home, and the Rowdys and the McCormicks had to spend time in the same space.
With an open bar no less.
Fortunately for us, it worked out for the best, no bloodshed or anything.
Lots of Nicole’s uncles and cousins, when they had a little whiskey in them, realized the feud was dumb and were singing along to old country songs soon enough. The quality of the singing honestly should have been offensive to everyone, but when everyone is guilty, nobody is, and the Rowdys and Roughs joined right in too.
Hopefully all that feud nonsense is now fully a thing of the past. But there’s always a chance for stupid to rear its ugly head.
“And this year’s King and Queen of the Fall Ball...” Preacher Landon announces, “are that lovely couple dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus!”
He points them out in the crowd and they make their way onto the stage. It’s an older couple, who cleverly used their age to their advantage for their costumes. He has a long gray beard, and she has the school marm look down pat. He doesn’t have the red jacket, but I guess it’s October, and Santa isn’t on duty yet.
“Personally?” Nicole whispers to me. “I would have disqualified them for being out of season. We don’t need Christmas invading Halloween.”
“They put their effort in though. That beard is way more authentic than any mall Santa get-up.”
“Oh yeah, I’m not doubting their dedication, but I like Halloween, Nelson. It shouldn’t be consumed by Christmas.”
I’m more smitten by how adorable I find them. They’re sixty years old at the very least, their hair all gray. I think they moved into town recently, but in their short time here it’s already clear they’re madly in love with one another, and have been for a long time. They’re so excited to win the contest too, holding one another, kissing, laughing.
It’s like looking into the future for me. It’s what I want for Nicole and myself. To love and care for one another even as we turn old and gray. And looking at my love? It will happen. Barring any unfortunate tragedies, such as the one that claimed my mother, we’ll be together, holding one another, until we turn from young, giggling twenty-somethings to middle age to old to absolutely ancient.
When I’m a hundred and twenty years old, unable to see, barely kept alive by a ventilator, I’ll still be happy as long as she’s right there beside me.
We present Mr. and Mrs. Claus with their Fall Ball crowns, and they are overjoyed. The crowd is raucous, cheering madly.
I pull Nicole into my arms to embrace her and steal a kiss from her. Our job is done, and the duties of royalty are now this couple’s problem.
We walk back to my truck, me looking at her.
She glances right back at me, knowing exactly what she wants.
* * *
We head back to my cabin. It’s still our home, if only for now. We both agreed that such a small place isn’t a long-term solution, being nowhere to raise a family.
Fortunately, my cousins run a construction company, and were all too happy to cut us a deal on building us a good family home that’ll last us the rest of our lives, and even our children’s lives. Such a project takes time, though, so for now? As small as the cabin is, it’s home.
The fire is crackling, and I tend to it. Nicole is in the kitchen, frying up some meat, the spices she’s using filling the house. I recognize that smell.
Tacos. Of course.
