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Kids. Would we have our own family one day? I smiled, really liking the idea of having a little Ari and Jet running around our house.
Ari leant in. “How about later, when everyone has gone home, we celebrate today, and I wear the gown and cap and nothing else?”
I groaned. “You know I won’t say no to that.”
“You could wear the champion ribbon again.”
I chuckled as my phone pinged with a text. “Blake says he’s on his way. Says congrats to the uni grad and sorry for running late. And, wow, he’s bringing a woman along.”
“Well, well. Blake and a plus one. Do you know who?”
“No idea. News to me.”
“Never thought I’d live to see Blake coupled up.”
Just then, Ari’s phone pinged with her email alert. She frowned at her screen. “It says … shit.”
“What?”
“Department of Education,” she whispered.
“Open it.”
“But what if it’s a rejection? What if I’ve been offered a job in the middle of nowhere?”
“If it’s a rejection, you’ll apply for more jobs. And if it’s in the middle of nowhere, I’ll visit. You’ll visit here in the school holidays.”
“We have a plan,” Ari murmured, her thumb hovering over the email app icon.
We had talked late in the night many times about what we would do if she got a job far away, if she didn’t get a job close by, or at all. Job markets were fickle. But we could make it work for forty weeks of teaching, no matter where she was.
“We’ve done long distance before, Ari. We are champions of long distance.”
She offered me a smile, and I leant in for a quick peck. “Now, open it.”
She clicked the app and paced in front of me as her emails downloaded. She selected the first one, her eyes rapidly scanning the words. “Oh my God,” Ari whispered, clutching my shoulder.
Long distance would be okay, I reminded myself. We are champions of?—
“I’ve been offered to teach year two at Ballydoon Primary. I start in six weeks.”
“Holy shit, a local job? You serious?”
I read over her shoulder:We are pleased to offer you a teaching position at Ballydoon Primary with year two. Attached are your superannuation and induction documentation.
“Holy shit,” I said again. “You’re really going to be here. Right here.”
“No long distance required.” Ari grinned. “Told you, I’m here to stay.”
A BONUS EXTRA EPILOGUE
(Because you’re worth it, dear reader!)
Jet
Deal breaker: What are your thoughts and beliefs about marriage?
Twenty-two pimply faces stared back at me.
