21. Epilogue – Deena
Epilogue – Deena
Two years later…
“Are you sure you two don’t want to stay on the team for another two years? The International Games will be here before you know it.”
Paula gave Coach Radcliffe a warm smile. “We’ve already checked that off our bucket lists and now we’ve also competed in all the marathon majors. It’s time for us to retire to small town life.”
When Paula and I decided to try being a couple after her visit to Minnesota, we spent some time trying to figure out our options. In the end, I decided to ask my sports agent to negotiate a two year extension on the contract that had just expired, which made my new expiration date the same month as Paula’s.
I continued to do remote work at the University, the same as I’d been doing, and since I’d already given up my apartment in California, I moved into Paula’s place. When we weren’t training or competing, we returned to Mather and stayed at my house there.
After two years together we’d met each other’s families, seen each other at our best and worst, and realized one thing for certain: we were it for each other. We’d had our ups and downs, with both of us needing to work on communication skills, but thanks to our promise to never go to bed angry, we’d learned to work through the hard things with as much enthusiasm as we enjoyed the easy things. We were going to be each other’s happily ever after, as Paula liked to say, and even though I liked to roll my eyes when she said it, deep down I believed it too.
I believed it enough that I’d agreed to marry her.
We were getting married at my parents' house at Christmas, and Paula’s entire family was coming to join us. They were in for a real treat, because Minnesota in December was not for the faint of heart.
While I was able to return to my University job full-time once our contracts expired, it took a while for Paula to figure out what she wanted to do. She could get a job in Minneapolis, but that would mean a lot of driving from my house in Mather. Then, by a stroke of luck, we heard that the health teacher at the local high school was retiring.
Since she had a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, the school district agreed to hire Paula contingent on her getting her teaching license, and as a bonus, she was going to coach both the girls and boys for Track and Field. It was a dream job for her and would offer a lot of flexibility for when we were ready to start a family.
“Well, be sure to invite me to the wedding,” Coach said.
She didn’t hug me, and I appreciated it. She’d worked with me long enough to know I didn’t like anyone to touch me. Besides Paula of course.
As we walked out of the sporting complex for what would likely be the last time, my fiancée caught my hand in hers and gave it a little squeeze.
“Are you ready to get started on the next phase of our lives?” she asked.
“I sure am.”
Her face broke out into a smile so big I couldn’t help but smile.
“Let’s get home then.”
***