EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Lucas
Ten years later
“Explain to me what happened, Lachlan,” the principal says to my son.
“Declan called Jessica a bad name so I told Declan he should apologize. He said no so I told him if he feels bad he can tell me and I’ll tell Jessica for him.”
The principal shoots a confused look to Declan as Jessica, Jessica’s parents, Declan, and Declan’s parents look on.
“Because my dad explained to me how me…me-di-ation,” his says sounding it out syllable by syllable, “works and I wanted to try to me-di-ate what was happening.”
The principal, Mrs. Goodknight, steeples her fingers and then leans back in her chair.
“Declan.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Is this true?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“And what did you do?”
“I called Lachlan a bad word.”
“And what did Lachlan do?”
“He said I could call him all the bad words I want, but I can’t call Jessica bad words any more.”
“And what did you do?”
Declan says nothing.
“Declan?”
“I called Jessica a bad word.”
“And what did Lachlan do then?”
“He tackled me and held me down until the recess teacher came and tried to pull him off of me.”
“And then what happened?”
“The recess teacher had to wait for another teacher because Lachlan is so big.”
“Did Lachlan hurt you?”
“Not really.”
“What do you mean, ‘not really’?”
“I mean he just held me down. He was rough, but he didn’t hurt me.”
Mrs. Goodknight leans forward in her chair and surveys the faces of all the children and us parents.
But I only see her looking out of the corner of my eye, because I’m focused on my boy.
Lachlan is staring straight ahead, looking right at Mrs. Goodknight, ready for any punishment he might receive. He’s ready like a man. Like a young man who stood up for a girl and has no problems accepting any “consequences.”
And I’m proud of him. And no matter what Mrs. Goodknight says, there won’t be any consequences at home. As a matter of fact I’m going to reward him this weekend with a fishing trip. We don’t promote violence at our house or being a bully either, but Lachlan did use his size and strength to his advantage in a way that helped someone who was being picked on. And he didn’t hurt the other boy either. He did all he could and I think he did a darn good job considering the consequences.
And I like that he just held him down until the adults arrived, and I have to admit I find it pretty cool that it took two to get him off Declan. Declan’s not going to forget this day anytime soon, and more importantly I hope he doesn’t forget this lesson.
“Could everyone step outside,” Mrs. Goodknight says, “with the exception of Lachlan and Mr. Lovers.”
The other two children and their parent’s file out of the principal’s office and we wait to hear what the principal has to say.
Either way there’s going to be a lesson learned here today. If we get a result we’re not happy with it will be an experience in teaching Lachlan that things don’t always go your way, even when you have the best of intentions…and even if your actions may have been the best at that moment.
But the good thing is my wife and I specifically picked this school because of Mrs. Goodknight. She’s a throwback to an older time, and she doesn’t take kindly to disrespect, bullying, or especially to inappropriate treatment to women, or in this case girls.
“Lachlan,” she beings. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Ma’am?” he says.
“The word ‘knight’ is part of my last name, but it seems the title is more fitting for the young boy who sits in front of me now than it is for me. What you did out there,” she pauses and I watch as her lower lip quivers. “That’s what I want all the boys in our school to do, and to be honest I couldn’t be more proud of you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And Mr. Lovers, I just want to commend you on raising such a fine son.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Goodknight, and I’ll be sure to pass it along to my wife. She’s the matriarch of our family and the one who deserves the credit.”
“Excellent. And please tell her I can’t wait to see her at the next parent teacher conference,” she says.
“I will.”
“Now gentleman, in a world full of brutes and barbarians you two do stand out like the utmost of gentleman and I mean that as a compliment, please carry on about your day. I’m sorry to have wasted your time.”
“Not at all, Mrs. Goodknight,” I say and we stand and move towards the door.
“And, Mr. Lovers?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say.
“Could you please ask Declan and his parents to step back inside? If they’re not going to raise that boy up right then I guess I’ll make it my personal responsibility to do it for them.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say and I smile.
I look down and see my son is smiling too and I run my hands on the top of his freshly cut hair.
My little guy is doing the right thing and I couldn’t be more proud.
We step outside of the office and I relay the news to Declan and his parents. They say nothing, but step inside.
We’re not fifteen feet down the hallway, when I hear the voice of a young girl.
“Lachlan!”
We both freeze and I turn to see little Jessica standing there with her parents.
“Wait,” she says and she takes off running towards us and doesn’t stop until she has Lachlan in a hug. He looks confused but figures that he should wrap his arms around her too. He’s still a young boy and doesn’t know how to react in all situations, but what matters is he sure knew how to act when it counted most for Jessica.
“Thank you,” she says and she kisses him on the cheek. She pulls back and looks at him and then takes off running back to her parents.
They’re smiling from ear to ear and they give us a friendly wave.
Lachlan waves back and I give them a quick tip of my chin and we’re off.
“How did that feel, son?”
“That was…really cool,” he says.
“That’s how girls are. When you do nice things for them they always find a way to be…well…really cool back…which is pretty cool in and of itself isn’t it?”
“Yes, dad.”
I rub his head again and put my hand on his shoulder.
My little man. My blood. The first child of his mother and I.
And my boy is doing the right thing and that makes me prouder than anything.
And I know it’s going to make my wife proud too.
And Lachlan’s two brothers and two sisters.
We’ve got a good story for the dinner table tonight and Lachlan is for sure going to be our “Hero of the Week” which we award one of the kids each week, when one of them wins the award, we place a big gold sticker next to their name on the poster we have on the wall next to the fridge.
If Lachlan keeps this up we’re going to need a bigger poster board.
And if all our kids keep acting this chivalrous and making me this proud we’re going to need a bigger house.
Because there’s nothing I love more than watching our family grow together.
And that all starts with her.
My wife. The mother of my children. My best friend. My lover. And my life.
She’s everything and not that she has any enemies, but if she did those enemies of hers would be enemies off our entire family.
Because we’re the Lovers. More than just in name. We’re one for all and all for one.
And we always side with the family. Always.
Especially when our boys act like the perfect little men and our girls act like the perfect little ladies.
And
with the help of my wife, and her guidance and love, they always do.
Just another reason why I love her and will continue to do so…forever and always.
A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS
Book 1: Baby Lust
Book 2: Veteran
Book 3: Built
Book 4: Bambino
Book 5: Rescued
Book 6: Leader
Book 7: Professor
Book 8: Burned
Book 9: Worldly
Book 10: Pistol
Book 11: Policed
Book 12: Driven
Book 13: Lucky 13
Book 14: Lumberjacked
Book 15: Protector
Book 16: Carpenter
Book 17: Italian Stallion
Book 18: Gardener
Book 19: Budapest Billionaire’s Virgin
Book 20: Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 21: Cocky CFO
Book 22: Fireman’s Filthy 4th
Book 23: Mechanic
Book 24: SEAL’s Secret
Book 25: Police, Pooch, and Smooch
Book 26: Fireman’s Fake Fiancée
Book 27: Billionaire’s Virgin Ballerina
Book 28: Bitcoin Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 29: Veterans Day Daddy
Book 30: Cowboy’s Christmas Carol
Book 31: Police Officer’s Princess
Book 32: Statham
Book 33: Bodyguard
Book 34: Greek God
Book 35: Billionaire Single Dad's Babysitter
Book 36: Mountain Man
Book 37: SEAL’s Justice
Book 38: Royal Romance
Book 39: Doctor Mountain Man’s Special Delivery
Book 40: Crocodile Dan D
Book 41: Mountain Man’s Secret Baby
Book 42: Doctor Bad Boy’s Secret Baby
Book 43: Cop’s Babysitter
Book 44: Nanny for the Cop Next Door
Book 45: Small Town SEAL’s Saving Grace
Book 46: Cop’s Fake Fiancée
Book 47: Billionaire’s Nanny
Book 48: Cowboy’s Babysitter
Book 49: Steamy
Book 50: Brother’s Best Friend
Book 51: Possessive Professor
Book 52: Firefighter’s Babysitter
Book 53: Soldier’s Secret Baby
Book 54: Ward’s Independence Day
Book 55: Doctor Next Door
Book 56: Possessive Policeman
Book 57: Coached by the MMA Fighter
Book 58: Boss’s Babysitter
Book 59: Virgin in New York
Book 60: Rock Star’s Baby
Book 61: Possessive Protector
Book 62: Possessive Australian
Book 63: Best Friend’s Brother
Book 64: Possessive Cowboy
Book 65: Summer Romanced
Book 66: Possessive Prince
Book 67: Lovers’s Enemy
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Lovers's Enemy: An Older Man Younger Woman Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 67) Page 6
