50. Epilogue
Six Months Later
Jon opened the gate to the pasture, put two fingers in his mouth, and whistled his evening whistle—two short thrills followed by a long one. The July evening was still bright, despite it being 6 o'clock in the evening, but the light was starting to get that golden tinge in the air.
Jon thanked God for hungry stomachs. Otherwise, he'd never get the animals inside with the long days and mild nights. They responded to his whistle readily enough. The cows, donkeys, horses, and sheep, who'd been grazing on the green grass newly refreshed from a recent rain, ambled his direction. The pigs, too, came running as fast as their trotters could trot them. They didn't want to end up on the empty end of the feeding trough by dawdling.
Jon leaned on the open metal gate and watched them come with a sense of satisfaction. Joy the horse was moving quicker these days. Her heart monitor test had shown that she did have bradycardia, and arrhythmia, due to her long years of neglect. But thanks to Elijah's remedy, Joy was perkier these days.
As for the rest of the animals—many had their own aches and pains since they'd all been rescues, but they were doing well, enjoying the farm sanctuary life.
The pigs got to him first, rushing past onto the cement walkway alongside the barn. All the doors to the stalls were open and they piled into the various sections of the barn in a rush of hooves, fur, manes, moos, and whipping tails. He waited for the stragglers. Ophelia, like the porcine queen she was, took her time. And Joy was never gonna be a speed demon. They passed Jon, and he closed the pasture gate and latched it, then went along the side of the barn closing doors.
He fed the cows and horses first, scooping grain into piles in the long trough from the aisle. He watched for a bit, making sure everyone found a pile and got their share. Then he went into the pig barn. As usual, he had to rearrange a few pigs, encouraging pigs who were in the wrong stall to move, to squeals of complaint and hungry demands for food. When everyone was where they were supposed to be, he shut the stall gates and put out the food. The pigs got grain from the feed store along with pieces of apple, carrots, and pickings from the garden. It was high season so there was a cornucopia of greens and beans to go around.
His days were long this time of year, what with Samuel working in the garden most days and Elijah off doing his own job. They'd had a teenage farmhand, Raphael, for a few weeks in April. He'd been another rescue from Samuel's youth hotline. But he'd gone back to his family in Ohio. It suited Jon fine working alone. The animals were company enough until his true love got home.
He'd already cleaned the stalls, put down fresh straw, and filled the water trough earlier so there wasn't much else to do. He checked his watch. 6:30. His heart kicked up a notch. Someone was due home.
He went to leave but, as usual, Priscilla was at the gate of her stall, oinking at him eagerly. She did this every weeknight—insisted on going with him. He let her out and the two of them left the barn and headed up the driveway.
Jon's heart lifted with anticipation. It was a fine day. He'd made plans and it was going to be so good . He couldn't wait.
Elijah's car pulled up. He'd bought a twenty-year-old Chevy from a local family. The vehicle wasn't much to look at, but it was mechanically sound—Jon had checked—and it got Elijah to and from his patients' homes.
A vision in gray-green scrubs emerged from the car—Jon's own fairy prince. Elijah's arms and face were tan from working on the farm on the weekends. He looked mussed and a little tired, but his eyes shone with happiness and satisfaction. It was a good look on him.
Jon wrapped Elijah in his arms and gave him a sound kiss. It might have lasted longer, but Priscilla poked both their legs with her strong snout, demanding to be included. Jon let Elijah go so he could scratch and coo to the pig, giving her his usual evening greeting. Elijah kissed her nose, and Priscilla adoringly nudged his chin.
"How was your day?" Jon asked.
"Good." Elijah smiled. "Four appointments. I had to drive to Ephrata for one." Jon knew he wasn't a fan of freeway traffic. "But it was nice anyhow. They're all so grateful for the help."
"Of course they are."
What had started out as a part-time trial in January had quickly become more. Once word got around about Elijah's gifts among the hospice staff and patients, he was in demand. The job became full time on March 1. Sometimes, it was almost too much, Jon thought. Elijah often had a call on the weekend when someone was passing and the patient or family requested him. Jon didn't love that, but he loved that Elijah was always willing to go. And he loved that Elijah was able to use his gifts to help people. He'd grown into himself, and Jon was so proud of him he could scarcely contain it sometimes.
Arms around each other, they walked Priscilla back to the barn and put her in her stall. Elijah spent a few minutes saying hello to the other animals.
As they walked back up the driveway, Jon asked, "You okay?" He always asked because some days were hard working hospice. But he could tell by Elijah's eyes that today hadn't been a bad one.
"I'm real gut. Hungry though."
Jon smiled. "I hope so. Because I planned somethin' different for dinner."
"You did?" Elijah looked curious. "What?"
"You'll see."
They went to Jon's little apartment. Elijah had moved in with him months ago. They'd talked about finding a house nearby to rent. The apartment was pretty small for two people. But Elijah was in no hurry and Jon had to admit, it was nice to roll right out of bed and be at the barn in seconds.
Jon had a place in his mind though. A little one-level ranch, maybe two bedrooms. Someplace, eventually, to expand what Elijah was and what he did. Jon could picture a consulting room like his mother had. Maybe even a wall to document some of Elijah's more interesting cases. He had a clear vision of these things, but he didn't bring it up much with Elijah because, right now, Elijah's focus was on his hospice job. As it should be.
"Do I have time to shower before dinner?" Elijah asked, as he got ice water from the fridge.
"’Course. I need to run out while you do that. Meet you back here in 30?"
Elijah raises his eyebrows, looking very curious now. "What are you up to?"
Jon just shrugged and smiled mysteriously.
Elijah gave him a quick kiss and headed for the shower.
Jon ran out to get the takeout he'd ordered and finish setting up. Thirty minutes later, he led Elijah by the hand down the driveway toward the barn.
"Where are we goin?" Elijah asked, bemused. "You givin' me hay for dinner?"
"Shh. It's a secret."
It was high summer, and the big bushes along the driveway were filled with blossoms. The forsythia was done, but two large-bract hydrangeas had just started their peak season and the butterfly bushes were in full bloom. The scent of the jasmine wafted on the breeze. As Jon wove his way through the newly mown trail that led them to the center of the meditation garden, the perfume of roses joined the jasmine on the humid night air. The light had gone golden and, as they entered the garden proper, Elijah gasped.
In the middle of the little circular area of grass was a small table and two chairs. Jon picked up a book of matches and lit a white taper candle. There were two covered plates and wineglasses filled with non-alcoholic sparkling cider. The bottle sat in a galvanized pail from the barn that Jon had filled with ice.
Elijah put his hand over his heart. "Oh, Jon!"
Jon regarded the tableau with pleasure. Then thought if someone had told him six months ago that he'd ever do this for someone, he'd have laughed his ass off, cynic that he'd been. But this was Elijah, and Elijah deserved all the romance.
"I was trimmin' up these roses the other day," Jon explained, waving his hand at the circle of gorgeous red blossoms. "They're so perfect right now. I thought it was a shame anyone hardly ever uses the meditation garden. Gave me this idea."
"It's wonderful." Elijah's voice was a little choked. He stepped up to Jon and gave him a warm kiss that lingered. That kiss alone was worth the effort.
Jon held him tight for a long moment, his eyes closed, soaking in the feeling of his lover in his arms.
Elijah's stomach grumbled. He laughed. "Sorry. It just smells so good."
Jon smiled. "Let's eat before it gets cold."
Elijah broke away and sat at the table. "What is it?"
"Take a peek."
Elijah lifted the cover on his plate and Jon did too. On the plate were pieces of fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn, and buttered noodles. Elijah gasped. "Oh my goodness! You're my hero."
Jon laughed. "Yeah. It smells pretty fine."
They took their time and enjoyed every bite. Elijah made noises of pleasure as he ate, but they hardly said a word. Jon loved that Elijah didn't feel the need to fill every moment with idle chitchat. Besides, they talked enough with their eyes and with occasional touches of hands or feet under the table. Words could hardly have expressed their mutual pleasure in the meal, and in the company, any better.
When they'd both cleaned their plates Jon said, "I have chocolate cake for dessert, but it's back at the apartment. I figured we might want to put a little space between dinner and dessert." He patted his stomach.
"Good. I'm stuffed." Elijah leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head. He laughed, his grin wide as he stared up at the sky. "I don't know how I got so lucky. I'm so happy."
Suddenly something occurred to him. He looked around, his eyes wide.
"What?" Jon asked.
Elijah didn't answer for a moment, glancing around in wonder. Then he met Jon's gaze. "It's now."
"What is?"
Elijah's eyes grew damp, and his throat bobbed in a swallow. "Remember I told you about my vision when I was eight years old? The last thing I saw was me sitting near a bunch of red roses. It's this moment, Jon. And I was lookin' at someone who made me so happy and there was so much love. That's you. And it's this moment right here."
He reached out for Jon's hand. Jon's heart was a helium balloon as he gripped Elijah's fingers and attempted to stay seated and not float off somewhere. He nodded, not trusting his voice.
"It's here. And it's you," Elijah said again, his eyes full of love.
"I hope it'll always be me who makes you look like that."
Elijah slipped from his chair and sat on Jon's lap, wrapping his arm around Jon's shoulders.
"They just whispered in my ear," he said softly. "They said: it'll always be you."
THE END