The Evil Inside

14. Wedding Bells

     About several months after John and Felicia has moved in together, John saved up enough money to get a ring and ask her to be his wife. She was touched by the effort he made despite the low income he was making. John had gone back to school to remedy that, but it was going to take some time before he would be able to apply his new education. The government had given John a grant, especially since he couldn't remember the education he had gotten before the accident. Since the accident wasn't even his fault, John was given a settlement from the other driver's insurance company, which he was going to use to pay for their wedding. It wasn't an enormous amount of money, but Felicia insisted on paying for some of it as well, refusing to let it eat away at most of John's settlement. As the big day drew closer, everyone had butterflies but for completely different reasons. Max and Janet had several fights over the course of those months, debates about the ethics of not telling Felicia who she might be actually marrying that day. Max would always win the day by reminding her that John might be innocent, and that it would be unfair to ruin their happiness for something that they have no idea is even true. The absence of evidence made it difficult to figure out how to handle it. Despite her reservations, Janet agreed to keep quiet as she was also confident Wilson, and his agents would never let anything happen to Felicia. She made life difficult for Max over it, but eventually had to let it go. Despite what she knew, she kept it all together for her friend and never let on to John that she knew. This was especially good since Felicia had asked Janet to be her maid of honor. John had also asked Max to be his best man, fitting since his hard work was the main reason John was living a good life and was happy. Despite some cold feet, the wedding was trouble free and without issue. Max was there to support John as he patiently waited for her bride to walk down the aisle. When Felicia did make her big appearance, Max could have sworn that John had wiped away a tear, which the first time the lawyer had ever seen something like that. Neither John nor Felicia was very religious but still got married in a church to keep her parents happy as well as go with the big white wedding, which was every girl's dream and John didn't want to take that spectacle away from her.

     Throughout the ceremony, Max kept looking over at his wife to see how she had been holding up. She hadn't taken the news well of what John could be, and why the FBI was still watching him. Yet he had convinced her to remain quiet, reminding her that John's life had changed and the years since that accident had resulted in zero blood shed, and he might live a long and happy life with Felicia and never go back to being that person if he ever was. Max also pointed out to her all the holes in the case that the D.A. had, and that the case was circumstantial at best. John took the deal because it was the path of least resistance, and he wanted a clean break. Wilson and the FBI were only doing their thing just in case they were right but not even they knew if John was really their guy. They were taking precautions, and even though not a single person had been killed since John's accident that morning in town, it was still coincidental and not certifiable evidence that proved John was that vicious serial killer.

     Max stood there beside John, as his best man, and watched as the couple made their vows, exchanged rings, and then kissed to seal the deal. They were both smiling, and even crying a little bit as this seemed to be the most amazing day of their lives. Max was sincerely happy for them and hoped that this was just the start of their happily every after. As the couple walked back down the aisle and back outside the church, Max couldn't help but notice someone at the back of the church. The sheriff was easy to spot as he was still in uniform and looking as tough as ever as he also stepped outside with the rest of the guests as everyone went outside to participate in the wedding photos. Max followed him outside, but he was too late. The Sheriff was already speaking to John when he caught up.

     "What are you doing here?" Max asked as he stepped between them. "Do I need to file a restraining order?"

     "No, you do not." The sheriff replied, "I merely came over to congratulate the happy couple and to show there are no hard feelings. I even brought a gift."