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    Parker Owens
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

A to Z - 67. Chapter 67 Epilogue

em>Epilogue
No special warnings for this chapter.
Questions and issues raised in this chapter or any other chapter can be discussed at the A to Z story thread here: http://www.gayauthors.org/forums/topic/40860-a-to-z/

Happily Ever After.

Well, 'ever after' hasn't happened quite yet. It has been seven years since your last entry in that journal. We were given beautiful matching bound books as wedding gifts, and you've been writing in a series of those ever since. Mine have become sketchbooks. After seven years, we're still together and still very much in love.

But 'ever' isn't here yet. We have a lot of life together left to live.

As for happily? Yeah. Happy. Definitely happy.

We've met plenty of people who are going through life unhappily for a lot of reasons. Some are victims of terrible misfortune, some suffer from their own bad decisions. Some choose unhappiness, over and over again.

Marilyn O'Shea told us that we could choose happiness, and I think we did, seven years ago.

This isn't to say every day since our wedding has been hearts and flowers. The world still has bigots and hopelessly small-minded fools. And, like any couple, we have had our trials and arguments from time to time.

The summer between junior and senior year in high school turned out to be pretty stressful. You insisted that I go to an architecture program at the University of Miami. It was important for me to do it, and the experience was really helpful. I learned a lot. But I didn’t want to go, because I'd be leaving you behind. We'd be apart, and I didn't want that. When I got back, I would be going directly to swim camp – and we'd be apart for two more weeks.

Those five weeks were brutal for both of us – we tried to use our cell phones to see each other every day, but you were working for Eustace again that summer, and cell service at the farm was pretty sketchy. It still is. You discovered that there were two places with a reliable signal: up at the pond, and up in the hayloft. Phone sex with you in the hay? Oh, boy.

When swim camp was finally over, I expected mom or dad to pick me up, but you surprised me and came to do it yourself. You'd gotten your driver's license while I was away and never told me. I'll never forget how I jumped into your arms in front of everyone in the lobby when I found you waiting for me at the dorm. And then you helped me pull a prank worthy of Frank on a couple of the guys who'd actually been hitting on me while I'd been there. But that's another story.

Best of all, Eustace decided that you were perfectly capable of watching the farm and handling the list of tasks that needed to be done for about a week. He figured it was time to take his grandkids on a fishing trip. He left us together at the farmhouse for a whole week.

Yes, we worked very hard; you wanted everything to be perfect when Eustace came back. But we also played – and not just in bed, either. We wrestled in the hayloft getting the hay in, discovered an icy swimming hole deep in the woods, and threw weeds at each other in the garden. You took me up to the pond for a starlight skinny dip. I will never forget making love to you on the grass under the stars for as long as I live.

We came back to the farm in the fall at Thanksgiving that year.

Eustace invited us – all of us, mom, dad, you and me, along with Ambrose and his family, and Allan Walker and his family, and your grandmother Walker – to the farmhouse. The place was packed. Eustace put all the younger children in a fixed-up space in the far back of the house, while the adults got sorted out in all the various bedrooms; you and I got the hunting cabin.

I get a blissful, warm feeling thinking about that, still.

I'd forgotten that you'd never seen a Thanksgiving before; never lived through the smells, the excitement, the anticipation, the joy, and, of course the taste of such a holiday. Come to think of it, I'm not sure I can remember a meal like that one, either. To watch you experience those days was a gift to add to the huge pile of things we had to be thankful for that year.

After the meal, we had to lean on each other for support as we staggered back to the cabin under skies so clear and cold that every star in heaven must have been visible.

Living at home while being married and in high school was weird. Hell, the situation challenged almost everyone. Our friends seemed unsure of how to treat us until we made it clear we weren't any different than we had been. At home, mom and dad had to learn how to talk to us as people who weren't quite adults, but pretty close. Chores and coordinating life got to be much more cooperative and less dictated. On the other hand, I had to learn to keep my voice down during what mom discreetly chose to call "playtime."

Now that was seriously embarrassing.

Mom and dad kept their promise to help us learn how to be a married couple. Dad gave me instructions on how to "fight fair," instructions that sounded a lot like Father Brewer's counsel. Nonna Costanza came back up to teach you how to cook Italian.

Their advice and example really helped when we applied to college, because we were both so tense and anxious that we wouldn't both get into the same university – me for architecture, you for agricultural engineering. You were absolutely adamant that if I got in and you didn’t, you weren't going to school.

We got the best deal at State. I got a swimming scholarship, and you got a full ride from a little-known scholarship fund for victims of violent crime. At first, it was me all the coaches and admissions people were after; later, it was you.

And it was you who supported me through some pretty dark times after my shoulder got injured in my junior year, and I lost my scholarship. You never wavered even when I wanted to quit and let myself go.

You never, ever wavered, not then, and not when I had to take an internship year in San Francisco two years ago. More time apart. You went to work while I went off to study and apprentice for a year. I was miserable until you were able to come out and rescue me. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

We had our fights, too.

One big disagreement was over money. Specifically, the money your father's estate left to you, once all the legal dust had settled. With the sale of your old house and everything in it, the amount turned out to be pretty impressive. And it turned out there was a rather large, mysterious savings account your father had maintained – it had thousands of dollars in it.

Your Uncle Ray cleared up that mystery for us, eventually. It was blackmail money. Your father had been setting it aside, month by month, to hand over to your uncle once he was released from prison. But your father, greedy, tight-fisted and cheap as he was, found excuse after excuse to put your uncle off once he got out.

Of course, they fought over it, and your dad was murdered. But your uncle never found the account number, so he never touched the money.

You wanted nothing to do with any part of it. You called it "filthy money," and refused every attempt by my dad to get you to deal with the cash at all. At one point, you wanted to give every penny away.

I argued that you ought to keep it, use it to go to college with, or use it to do something that your father would surely have denied you as a way of posthumous spite.

Eventually, you gave in, once I suggested a way for you to clean up the money from the estate by giving some away – you chose a charity for runaway kids – and letting my dad invest the rest for a while.

In the end, we were both right. Because you kept the money, we could use it for something really important; because it didn't go to college payments, we have a home of our own now. And not just any home. When Eustace decided it was time to get out of farming completely, you worked out a way for us to buy the farm.

It's ours, now, with no debt. We just finished moving yesterday, and we're unpacking all this week. I'll be able to travel on short trips for most of my work, and we're turning one of the rooms upstairs into my studio. My wedding present to you – that portrait of you I did when I first got you to pose for me the fall we met – that's going to hang in the living room. I had it framed right before our wedding, and it still suits you perfectly. We'll have a library downstairs, but these journals had to go on a shelf in the bedroom where I can see them every day. I don't think I'll ever want to leave.

Everyone congratulated us on making this move to the farm – our parents, Kaz and Terry, Ambrose, all our friends and family. And I think there may be a little bit of envy there, too. But I watch your face whenever you receive a compliment from someone. You always reply that you've just been very lucky.

In a way, that's true. You have. Good fortune let you survive eight years of brutal horror with your father. Luck brought you to Eustace; more luck brought you to me. But that's only part of the story. You’re the most courageous, persistent and energetic person I know. It took bravery to walk away from Carlsberg, courage to take to the road on your own. It took guts and persistence to stay on the road, day after day, in the rain, in the heat, hungry and weak and vulnerable. It took fantastic audacity to pretend – for a whole semester – to be a normal kid, while living a dual life as a homeless boy, hiding in the library closet. And it took courage to take me on as your husband, even though so many people didn't think it very wise.

You have been the great constant in my life. Your love for me, and mine for you, only seems to get better and stronger. More than this place, more than this house, you are home for me.

 

(Undated addition – written on the inside back cover)

I smile whenever I read this.

I sometimes sneak into the house while you're working, Zander, or when it's lunchtime and you're traveling, and I re-read your final note in this journal. You wrote it five years ago, and it still makes me happy. To anyone who reads this: I want everyone to know that Zander still makes me happy, even after twelve years.

A lot has changed in the five years we've been here.

The farm is expanding – the flock is bigger and healthier now than when we took over. I've made some great contacts that get me better prices for both wool and meat than Eustace got, which means there's money for improvements.

I'm thinking about how we can branch out, try other things. I want to try fruit trees; Zander wants to build three or four rental cottages for vacationers. Architectural gems, by the look of their design sketches. They'll attract aficionados who might pay to stay in something stylish or offbeat. Maybe you're onto something, Z.

We might have the money to buy some more acreage soon, so we'll see.

Some things you forgot to include, Zander: how did you forget Terry and Kaz's wedding the summer after we graduated? Their kids – twins! – call us uncles, as if they don't have enough of relatives of their own. Or the time you just about got into a fistfight because some guy in college was flirting with me? I had to drag you away, but deep down, I felt thrilled at your protectiveness. Or what about our trip to Africa? You joked that the only scenery I looked at were the shepherds and their flocks. You left out a couple of trips south to see Delia Walker. Do I have to remind you how I felt about all those beach boys ogling my husband? Or remember how you got me out of my self-conscious funk and into the surf, where nobody cared what I looked like, and all I could do was take joy in your abundant happiness? Remember?

Maybe you're right. Maybe I am too focused on how lucky I've been. Fine. Maybe I should say that I've been blessed. Is that better?

Every day God sends is a blessing when I wake up next to you.

Tonight, we've had another blessing which has me taking notes again. Right after the supper dishes were put away, someone came rapping on the kitchen door. There stood a thin, wiry boy, maybe fourteen. Tangled red hair, searching green eyes. I didn't need to ask his last name – it was obvious.

He had cuts on his cheek, chin and forehead. Bruises were going to blossom elsewhere on his face, I could see. He stood there a moment. "My name's Reed. Reed Anderson, and I'm looking for work. Do you got any?" The teenage voice just about cracked. His lip trembled.

I wanted to wrap the kid in a hug, but you were more sensible.

"Nope, no work tonight," you said cheerfully, "but we've got some leftover supper, if you need, and a table to eat it on. Come on in."

Food lit the boy's eyes right up.

I put together some supper really fast, while you peppered the kid with questions. Turns out little Reed got caught sucking off one of his cousins in the tool shed. His daddy decided to 'beat that gay shit right out of him.'

Didn't work; daddy's been beating on Reed for about a month now.

There's a room upstairs for Reed. You're upstairs with him right now, helping him shower and getting his cuts cleaned. He's staying. I took some pictures, and I'm calling Ambrose in about fifteen minutes. We'll fix Reed's daddy if I have to take on the whole damn Anderson clan. And we're keeping his boy.

See what happens? I spend a few minutes writing in the old journal, trying to calm down and think rationally, and I'm just getting angry again.

But there isn't any backing down on this. Reed isn't going back to Andersonville. You're right, Zander: you are my love and my hope and faith; we're home for each other. And I think we're about to discover that there's room in our home for someone new.

But that's going to be another story.

em>I wish to express my deep, deep gratitude to Craftingmom for editing all of A to Z. Her wisdom, encouragement, patience and enthusiasm were invaluable.
If you have any final thoughts or comments to make, please leave a review. I have appreciated and valued every one of them.
Copyright © 2016 Parker Owens; All Rights Reserved.
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 
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Chapter Comments



On 03/12/2016 07:40 AM, Dathi said:

Nicely finished off, leaving a gap to write a sequel should you choose to. Thank you for sharing this wonderful tale, this is one that I avidly looked for every time I opened the site page. I am normally a Sci-fi reader so your story is a bit out of that genre but your well rounded and convincing characters and situations kept me entertained and constantly coming back to check for updates. My interest was maintained through out and I was able to engage in the tale with both intellect and emotion, this is important to me to enhance my experience and enjoyment from reading. Thank you again for this wonderful story and I do hope that there will be many others presented by yourself.

I am really happy you chose to read A to Z. I, too, am a sci-fi reader, but did not think myself able to write in that genre. Andy's story came to me last year, and it quickly took off. You are very kind and generous in your remarks - I am especially glad you thought the characters convincing and realistic. Thank you so much for your thoughts and support.

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On 03/12/2016 10:42 AM, Imjustasnormalasthenextt said:

I'm already so sad that its over :( BUT DAMN SON THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST STORIES ON THIS SITE! So thanks so much for sharing :)

I, too am sad to see the story end, in a way. Andy and Zander will linger on in my head for a very long time, I think. There are so many great writers here on GA whose work is admirable and inspiring. I am glad you think A to Z is like that for you. Many thanks to you for reading!

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On 03/12/2016 11:47 AM, Defiance19 said:

I hated having to read the epilogue, but it was absolutely brilliant. Perfect, and I loved it. Reed was a surprising but lovely addition. There are indeed possibilities to fill in the 'ever' part of their HEA and that leaves me hopeful that we run into Andy and Zander again..

 

I'm grateful to have been a part of Andy and Zander's journey. I was both moved and inspired by their tale. Thank you for this incredible story Parker.

I am very glad you enjoyed the epilogue, despite hating what that meant. Reed was an intriguing idea I couldn't resist. You have been most kind in your reviews and generous with your thoughts. Let me thank you for taking the time to read and respond to Andy's journal week after week. I truly appreciate it.

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On 03/12/2016 01:48 PM, droughtquake said:

Thank you for introducing us to Stefan and taking us on an epic journey through Eric and ending with Andy. There were so many twists and turns to Andy's story, but it never felt like you were just jerking us around randomly without reason or purpose. Parker, you are particularly skilled at hinting in one direction and then taking us to a completely different level.

 

A to Z has been the gem that I had been searching for ever since I first started sifting through the dreck-filled 'sanitary landfill' that is Nifty. In the years that I've been reading Gay fiction online (after decades of reading physical Gay books) I have found a handful of extremely talented authors who equal or better those who have been published. You have joined that select group, Parker Owens!

 

While I am still waiting for many sequels A to Z, I look forward to your other future creative efforts! I think I have provided you with many possibilities for continuing Andy and Zander's story far into the future. (Hint: some authors write semi-related stories set in the same location and others extend their tales into multiple generations.)

 

I look forward to writing many reviews of your stories to help me recover from the conclusion of this stage in Andy's life with Zander.

I blush to think A to Z qualifies to be in a select handful of stories. There are so very many talented writers here on GA alone. For the time being, Andy and Zander must rest as they are - happily contented and at peace. I know that means going through A to Z withdrawl, but I suspect you and I are on that journey together. Thank you so much for reading the story, and for your many perceptive and kind reviews.

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On 03/12/2016 02:21 PM, rizmec said:

One of the best written stories in ages on this site! I for one will be awaiting a sequel.

Thank you for your really kind response. I really appreciate your reading Andy's story!

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On 03/12/2016 04:56 PM, Prateek said:

There is this clear, brown, whiskey-ish tinged glass of Earl Grey resting lazily on the table in front of me. Its been sitting like that for ten minutes now, and even though I really want to sip in the warm liquid and feel my nose and throat react to the subtle strength of the concoction like a cold child wrapped in the benevolence of a blanket, I merely inhale the aroma and stop. And smile. And remember. And isn't this story similar to this cup of tea – magnificent in his beauty like amber in a crystal goblet, but something to inhale, not something to sip from too soon? Or ever? Three nights ago, I came across this story and I finished it this morning. And there is something about this story that makes me sit at my laptop right now and drop a review, and with it, a part of me no one really knows about.

A to Z has made me question the very principles I live my life by. I have always believed that each one of us is capable of so much love that if we let it all out, the world will collapse under the weight of it. So I have loved in a reserved way, you know, the way you love people as if they belong to other instruments. As if they are not yours to love completely. This story changed exactly that about me. Andy and Zander are two of the most beautiful characters I have come across and they make me believe in the idea of a soul-mate. Their story has left me wondering about hopefulness that comes with the feeling of love and all the revealing of the bare bones of humanity.

Knowing Andrew and Alexander has been a mesmerising journey filled with intrigue, pain, love, tears and that feeling that makes that younger, duller part of you go slack, shift and then come loose like a noose knot coming undone at the drop. And I cherish this feeling so much that I'm sure that one of these days, I will revisit this story and live the tale of Andrew and Alexander once more (and cry once more).

This story is not just a majestic idea bound in alphabets and paragraphs. It is the gloriously written plot of a novel which holds the promise of indecipherability since its inception in the author’s brain. If anything, It is that. To top it, it has two of the cutest characters. And since remembering them puts me off-track in a strangely lunatic sort of way, I should probably focus on gulping down the cup of Earl Grey, now cold, but also pregnant with reflections of my thoughts, or the story. A cup of tea, sometimes, is all it takes.

To end it all, I thank you, Parker Owens, for giving me this story and with it, bringing a change in me that was desperately required. Thank you.

Dear Prateek -

 

 

Your review made me stop and concentrate on drawing breath, it was that lovely. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to write it, and so eloquently, too. If A to Z inspired you or helped you see something hidden, then perhaps the story accomplished its purpose. Andy and Zander certainly took over large portions of my own interior life as I wrote the story. They continue to haunt me now, and will for some time, I think. I am most grateful for your very generous and almost lyrical response to A to Z; still more am I thankful that you took the time to read Andy's journal. May the love his story releases in you fill you and the world you live in. I think he would smile at that.

 

 

Again, many, many thanks.

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On 03/12/2016 09:46 PM, quokka said:

WOW !!!! What an awesome story, this is by far now my most favourite story on GA, (Sorry Circumnavigation, you come a close second now).

Thankyou for this great story, and if their is a sequel coming, I am very much looking forward to reading it.

Thanks again to you and your editor for an outstanding job, definitely worth an award.

Kind Regards from Down Under - Quokka

I am so very happy you liked A to Z. How good it was of you to write. I am also glad that the descriptions of place and people - fairly specific to a region in North America - translated well enough to Down Under. Craftingmom deserves enormous credit for her tireless job at editing. Without her, this story would never have seen the light of day.

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On 03/12/2016 11:49 PM, impunity said:

Sorry I haven't been a consistent reviewer of your story. I just wanted to let you know that I have been a consistent reader, and very much enjoyed it. Thank you.

Thank you for reading Andy's story. That you took the time to read it and complete it despite the heavy going in the early chapters makes me very glad indeed.

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On 03/13/2016 01:24 AM, dughlas said:

There are stories that you want to go on forever because you're not ready to say goodbye to the people, I say people because they have become much more than simple characters in a story, they are distinct persons in themselves. You have given us this sort of story. I'm not yet ready to say goodbye and yet I must. You've told us that their happiness not only continues but grows, as Andy says, they are blessed.

There is far more I could say but it would be redundant of what many have already said so I'll simply say ... Thank you!

I am so very glad you made your way through A to Z. It is hard to say farewell to Andy and Zander, but we can be happy (for now, at least) they are contented and very much in love. Thank you so much for reading Andy's journal and for sharing your thoughts.

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On 03/13/2016 01:54 AM, polo66 said:

Great story, I'm going miss these great characters you brought to life. I wait with great anticipation, for the many future characters you bring to life in your future stories. Thank you very much for such a great read.

Thank you so very much for reading Andy's story and for your kind reactions. I am very happy you enjoyed the tale, and thought it worth the time to read. That you want more is music to any author's heart.

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Your story was absolutely wonderful. It took a while to convince myself to read it. It just looked like it was going to be a terribly depressing story and my assumptions was right in the beginning. I fought through times I would get scared getting through the bad moments. I would walk away and fight my own memories of torment from inner and outer demons. This story touched me deeply. I was praying for a happy ending for Stefan/Eric/Andy the entire time. I was afraid if it wasn't a happy ending I was going to break into pieces. I only hope that my own happy ending is at least a fraction of the joy you wove for Andy. If you ever decided to publish this wonderful story I will be one of the first to buy it. I would have it in my bookcase and show it off along with my other favorite books. (The ones I don't care for get shoved into the closet. Lol)

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On 03/13/2016 05:52 PM, lvlrogueone said:

Your story was absolutely wonderful. It took a while to convince myself to read it. It just looked like it was going to be a terribly depressing story and my assumptions was right in the beginning. I fought through times I would get scared getting through the bad moments. I would walk away and fight my own memories of torment from inner and outer demons. This story touched me deeply. I was praying for a happy ending for Stefan/Eric/Andy the entire time. I was afraid if it wasn't a happy ending I was going to break into pieces. I only hope that my own happy ending is at least a fraction of the joy you wove for Andy. If you ever decided to publish this wonderful story I will be one of the first to buy it. I would have it in my bookcase and show it off along with my other favorite books. (The ones I don't care for get shoved into the closet. Lol)

I shave many favorite books, too, and some of them need to be revisited. I am glad this story touched you, and I hope you will find a place you can call your own 'happy after' while the 'ever' has yet to run its course. I know the earlier chaps were hard to get through. It simply seemed to facile to gloss over it all; it was Andy's journal. Thank you so very much for your kind words; they are most encouraging.

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Thank you so much for letting us all share in this wonderful story. A journey from horror to happiness which has reminded us all that we are human and that there is no greater good that we can offer to our fellow humans than kindness.

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On 03/14/2016 01:42 AM, BrianM said:

Thank you so much for letting us all share in this wonderful story. A journey from horror to happiness which has reminded us all that we are human and that there is no greater good that we can offer to our fellow humans than kindness.

How very happy your enjoying the story makes me. Kindness and generosity and love we the hallmarks of our humanity; Andy shows us this, and so did so many others he encountered in Blackburn and on the road. Thank you for reading A to Z, and for your encouraging thoughts.

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What a great ending to a story that could have ended very differently!! I will cherish this story for a long time to come. Great job Parker!!

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On 03/14/2016 02:09 PM, slapshot said:

What a great ending to a story that could have ended very differently!! I will cherish this story for a long time to come. Great job Parker!!

I thank you very much for reading Andy and Zander's story. That you find it compelling enough to consider re-reading is a great joy to me. I am so glad you reached the end, and hope you will enjoy it again...

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On 03/20/2016 03:41 PM, Jade1988 said:

Omg I didn't want this to end!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!

I am very grateful for your simple, eloquent affirmation. Thank you for reading Andy's journal, and staying with it to the end.

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Can't tell you how much I enjoyed this epilogue! I love it when an author cares enough about his characters (and his readers!) to fill us in on the "happy ever after" our heroes deserved. (Yeah, I wish more authors did this!)
Such a finely woven, superbly told tale. Now about the next story hinted at here... <grin>
Your story has been a great investment of time and emotional energy--both yours AND mine! THANK YOU for making this intriguing story happen!

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On 03/21/2016 12:01 AM, Robert Rex said:

Can't tell you how much I enjoyed this epilogue! I love it when an author cares enough about his characters (and his readers!) to fill us in on the "happy ever after" our heroes deserved. (Yeah, I wish more authors did this!)

Such a finely woven, superbly told tale. Now about the next story hinted at here... <grin>

Your story has been a great investment of time and emotional energy--both yours AND mine! THANK YOU for making this intriguing story happen!

Your comment about enjoying the epilogue made my morning. Thanks very, very much. Your compliments are very kind, and I hope to be worthy of them someday. You are right that A to Z took a huge amount of time and emotional energy. I loved every moment. I figure everyone needs a rest for a while. In the meantime, I am waiting for new ideas to percolate to the surface. I am very, vey happy you enjoyed A to Z, and you are most welcome!

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What a beautiful story and such a precious gift to your readers.
I wish you have not ended your story so I can still have something
to go back to night after night before I sleep. Thank you for part-
ly taking away my bad dreams and replacing them with adventure. I
wish now that you will continue Andy's saga with Reed's story. Thank
you so much.

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On 03/23/2016 01:01 PM, Back2basics59 said:

What a beautiful story and such a precious gift to your readers.

I wish you have not ended your story so I can still have something

to go back to night after night before I sleep. Thank you for part-

ly taking away my bad dreams and replacing them with adventure. I

wish now that you will continue Andy's saga with Reed's story. Thank

you so much.

You are so very welcome, and I am glad this story touched you. All stories must end, though, and I am content Andy and Zander are happy and in love. There are so many other great stories waiting for you here, too! Thank you so much for reading A to Z and for leaving such a very kind comment.

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I cried throughout the whole epilogue; they were tears of happiness though.

 

I went through a range of emotions while reading Andy's journey: despair, anger, hope, joy, sorrow...you name it. Andy and Zander, and with them, the supporting characters of Zander's parents, Kaz, Terry, Eustace, Ambrose, Andy's uncle and Grandma Walker...will live on in my memory. I miss them already.

 

I was beyond thrilled that A&Z bought Eustace's farm, but I was even happier that nothing bad was mentioned about Eustace. There have been so many epilogues I have read that have one of the characters dying, and I wouldn't know how I would have handled that if anything had happened to Eustace. So thank you, Parker, for keeping him (and all of them!) alive in my memories. :)

 

I know from the other review responses (boy, there were tons of reviews! :) ), there probably won't be a sequel. I'm so glad the story ended where A&Z are kind of 'paying it forward' by taking Reed in. I know there would be no way Andy would ever let someone else suffer like he had.

 

Thank you so much for writing such a beautiful and well-written story, Parker. And please thank Mom for me for her awesome editing!

 

I can't wait to read more of what you have in store! :)

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On 03/26/2016 08:36 AM, Lisa said:

I cried throughout the whole epilogue; they were tears of happiness though.

 

I went through a range of emotions while reading Andy's journey: despair, anger, hope, joy, sorrow...you name it. Andy and Zander, and with them, the supporting characters of Zander's parents, Kaz, Terry, Eustace, Ambrose, Andy's uncle and Grandma Walker...will live on in my memory. I miss them already.

 

I was beyond thrilled that A&Z bought Eustace's farm, but I was even happier that nothing bad was mentioned about Eustace. There have been so many epilogues I have read that have one of the characters dying, and I wouldn't know how I would have handled that if anything had happened to Eustace. So thank you, Parker, for keeping him (and all of them!) alive in my memories. :)

 

I know from the other review responses (boy, there were tons of reviews! :) ), there probably won't be a sequel. I'm so glad the story ended where A&Z are kind of 'paying it forward' by taking Reed in. I know there would be no way Andy would ever let someone else suffer like he had.

 

Thank you so much for writing such a beautiful and well-written story, Parker. And please thank Mom for me for her awesome editing!

 

I can't wait to read more of what you have in store! :)

I am very sorry to have taken so long to reply; I hope your tears of joy have dried. More gratifying is that the characters remain vivid and appealing to you at the end of the story. I hope you still remember them a year from now. I also hope you will feel like revisiting A and Z someday, and that the story will have worn well with time. Reed has a life of his own to lead, but Andy and Zander will be there for him, surely. Many thanks for your very kind and generous reviews.

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I discovered your story several days ago and read it straight through. In a way I'm glad I did not find it until it was complete. I would have been impatient for each chapter had I started it when you first began. It is an excellent story, well written, with believable characters and a great plot with lots of surprises. Thank you for the happy ending as I was agonizing over Andy's situation through much of the story.
I also write gay fiction and found many of the elements of your story to fit with my one of my own- a boy from an abusive background finding the love of his life, difficult family relationships, the acceptance of what becomes a new family, even an Episcopal wedding. At the end the happy couple finds themselves the parents of orphaned twin boys. I invite you to read it. http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/marco-in-the-park/
I look forward to reading more from you. Consider me a fan.
Nick Brady

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