Epilogue
Jack Bolton put his pen aside and stretched his arms and legs. He just finished checking the last of the written P.E. tests and he was looking forward to going up to bed. He got up from his chair and headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth.
He stared at himself in the mirror. He noticed a gray streak in his hair: a reminder that he was a few months short of his 50th birthday. But his face and body still looked like he was in his prime. Exercise and a rigid diet typical of a physical education teacher kept it that way. He would really hate himself if he didn't look in the best of health.
When he finished his nightly hygiene routine, he turned to head up the stairs but he paused as he heard a car pull up outside and a car door slam a moment later. He listened in as he heard slow steps scrape against the gravel of his driveway. Curiously, he headed towards the door and looked through the window. It was dark out but he could see a figure walking slowly and painstakingly up the steps. On the street, the taxi the person had taken was driving away.
He turned on the porch lights and he could clearly see a young blonde woman, heavy with child. He hurriedly unbolted his door and rushed to meet his nighttime visitor.
"Sharpay, what are you doing here?" He didn't wait for an answer. He gave her his arm and supported her up to the door. He could see through her face, partly hidden by her hair that she had been crying recently. He led her in and had her seated on a comfortable chair. When he was sure she was properly relaxed with fluffy pillows for her back, he sat next to her on the arm rest of her chair and repeated his question.
"We had a fight," she said softly. "Again."
He drew her head onto the crook between his shoulder and chest and let her sob.
"I asked him again and again to take a leave, especially with the baby coming, but he refused. He said it was a good opportunity and he wasn't going to past it up."
She cried harder and Jack let her, patting her head to comfort her.
"He's probably too busy with all the attention of those chorus girls that's why he doesn't want to let this go," she said bitterly.
He pulled away to stare at her face. He understood how vulnerable she felt right now. Sharpay always had a vain streak and she worried about how she looked. She probably wasn't the most confident with her body now that she was in her ninth month. "Sharpay, you know he wouldn't do that. He loves you."
"But he refuses…" she reasoned. "And it's not like we need the money. We can live off the interests of the investments I made from my trust fund."
"It's not just about money. It's a wonderful chance for his career, you know. Not many times you get the chance to star in a Mackintosh play. It's not exactly easy to give that up."
"But I did. I was in a lead role in Wicked and I didn't think for a second. I said no when I found out I was pregnant."
Jack sighed. "I know dear. But he has been waiting for this break rather long. He risked a lot before when he quit the NBA. But if it bothers you so much, I can talk to him."
"Can you?" she asked. "I've just about given up. I walked out on him tonight."
"Don't," he said. "You'll get through this. You can't quit now, not when there's a little girl on the way." He patted her full belly. "Don't be—"
"Like Mom," she finished. "I won't." She massaged her own stomach. "I won't let my little girl end up like Cara if I can help it. But can I stay here tonight? I don't want to go home yet."
"Of course," he replied. "We'll deal with everything in the morning. It's always best to start afresh then."
He helped her up the stairs and settled her in Troy's old bed. He got a blanket and extra pillows from the closet and arranged them so Sharpay and her baby were comfortably snug and warm.
"Do you need anything else?" he asked.
She shook her head and reached out a hand. He took it, and she squeezed tightly. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Sharpay." He kissed her forehead, then her belly. "Sleep tight."
He turned off the light and closed the door slightly. He crept down the stairs, sat on the couch with a sports magazine, and waited for another car to pull up his driveway. Predictably, it came fifteen minutes later. He opened the door without hesitation. He wasn't surprised to find his son standing at his door. He rather expected it.
"Is Sharpay here, Dad?"
He smiled. "You know she always is." He let Troy in and had him seated in the same chair Sharpay was in earlier.
"She walked out on me," explained Troy. "She said if I couldn't quit for her then I didn't love her enough. I totally messed up."
"Are you willing to quit?" asked Jack.
"Yes! I was so wrong not to. I mean, there will be other musicals, but the baby only comes once. I was just too stupid by ambition to see it." He paused and eyed his father fearfully. "Do you think she'll come back? When she left tonight, I thought she might really mean she'd leave forever. I just got so scared."
"Relax, son. She loves you. Go apologize and make up. But perhaps you should do it tomorrow. She's upstairs sleeping in your room. Let her rest for tonight."
"I will. But I'd just like to see her. I won't wake her. I just want to be near her."
"Go on up then."
"Thanks, Dad."
Jack watched his son stride up the stairs to check on his wife. He knew it would be alright in the end. Troy and Sharpay's marriage was never very calm and peaceful but they loved each other so much Jack knew they would hold on to each other. He just had to be content with being bothered at night when one of them came running to him to cry after they had a fight. It was usually Sharpay who did.
He stared at a picture on a side table. Troy had his arm around Sharpay's waist and she was kissing his cheek while staring at the camera lens. Beside Sharpay was Cara who was wearing a goofy smile while she hugged Ryan who looked like a deer caught in headlights. Jack was standing behind all of them with his arms outstretched in a futile effort to hug his four "children." It was taken during Troy's and Sharpay's wedding reception and it was his favorite among all the shots that day so he had it framed and displayed it in his living room.
He remembered that day clearly. Sharpay looked beautiful in her gown of white. She gave her arm to him and they walked the aisle together, finally stopping in front of Troy and the minister. He knew the rite of walking with the bride was an act of giving her away to her husband and new family. But he found the irony that in giving Sharpay away to his son, he was claiming her for himself. She was now officially his daughter and he couldn't be happier.
He grinned to himself at these memories. He was content with his life. He had two wonderful daughters and soon he would be getting another little girl: his first granddaughter. He pictured teaching her to play basketball, much like he did to Troy and Sharpay. One of his biggest regrets was that he never had the chance to do that with Cara, but he consoled himself that he was going to be there for this new baby and was going to be her first coach in just about anything: first steps, first jump, first dribble.
"DAD, HELP!" Troy's frantic scream woke him from his reverie. His heart hammered as he ran up the stairs two at a time. He saw his wife was scrambling from the next room in her nightgown and slippers, but Jack pushed past her into Troy's room.
He found his son helping to get Sharpay up from the bed. He noticed the blankets he put on her earlier were wet. Troy looked panicked and Sharpay was moaning in fright.
"Her water bag broke," Troy explained. "We have to get her to the hospital. She's about to go on labor."
Jack took Sharpay's other side and assisted his son in helping her up.
"I'm sorry…" Troy whispered to her. "I love you."
"You can apologize later!" she screamed at him. "Right now, baby wants to come out!" But she kissed him on the cheek just the same.
Jack could never get used to the way his son and daughter-in-law made up after a fight. He helped the couple down the stairs while Susan frantically packed a bag to take to the hospital.
They got Troy and Sharpay at the back of the car. He took the driver's seat and Susan took shotgun. He drove in silence, listening as Troy spoke softly to Sharpay to help her to breathe easier.
He glanced at the rearview mirror and met Sharpay's gaze. She smiled up at him in silent thank you. He smiled back and thought about the baby in her womb that would soon be joining them in the world.
And when she does, he thought. I'm going to be there.
It's over! (Sniff, sniff!) As promised, I updated before August 17 so you'll all have time to enjoy the new movie and lament the new lame canon Disney wrote that we have to work with for future fanfics. You know I wrote the epilogue as early at the same time I was writing chapter 1, and I just made a few minor edits before I posted it. I really planned the whole story to fit just this epilogue that showed Sharpay and Jack having a wonderful lifetime relationship together.
I'll try to write the sequel soon. It won't be as lengthy as this. It just ties up a few things that I left out in this story that I deliberately didn't resolve. I hate accommodating new canon, especially since I already know it's not very promising. I already have my HSM2 soundtrack. It's not really as good as the first. There are a few good songs, I guess. (I particularly like Ryan's and Chad's song and "You are the Music in Me" is okay. I like both versions, even Sharpay's rock adaptationI like the piano improv in the instrumental. And I think the "Humuhumu…" song is cute too). But the rest… well, I don't want to sound like a music snob but it just doesn't have the same edge as the first. Gabriella's voice reached a new level of annoyance for me. I couldn't even appreciate her solo song until I heard another version of it on the bonus track sang by Nikki Gil (if you don't have this it's probably because this is the local soundtrack released only in the Philippines). She sounds so much better than Vanessa Hudgens. Anyway, I think my author's note has turned into a review of the soundtrack, so I ought to stop now.
Again, I'm all praises for all those who read, reviewed and waited patiently until the end for this. It was a wonderful journey with all of you and I'm going to miss it. But I hope to hear from you again soon when I finally write something again. Toodles