Matters of the Heart

Chapter 23

Everly stared at a calm Adam as he started to share his life after the high school had ended. His stories were filled with how once Brandon had kept them up all night while he suffered to a stomach ache and no one seemed to know what needed to be done, until Maheen held him close to her and calmed him down, and another time, how Brandon randomly started walking on the floor because his toy was too far and going on four legs was getting difficult for him. 

Everly couldn't have been more proud and happy watching Adam sharing all the photos and videos on the little one. She thought how she loved having conversations with Adam, and how much those conversations had now changed. Seeing him happy and content made Everly even more guilty. She wanted to be there for Adam, she wanted to be there for his child, when he was born, the preparations, the support he and Maheen probably needed after. She thought of how she missed on becoming the babysitter and later a cool aunt to their bundle of joy, she did not want to miss that out in the future. 

"Adam.... I would really like to be a part of the journey with your second child. I have been pretentious and dismissive of you and your life, for the longest time and I don't think I can take a second of it anymore." Adam gave her the most satisfying smile, which definitely depicted forgiveness and happiness. Before Adam could say anything else, Everly continued, "I know you or Maheen wouldn't want that, but I could be a distant aunt who comes to visit once in a while." 

Adam stuck his hand out, palm side up indicating for Everly to give her hand into his, which she ultimately did. Adam looked at her hand for a bit with his thumb caressing hers, looking up after sometime in her eyes, he leaned forward and said, "I would love that, we would love that!"

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When Adam finally entered through the main door, a maid came running to ask for the coat, making him realising the time and how late it had been in the evening. He rushed up to meet Maheen, who, he knew, must have been waiting for him to come, or must have been working on documents for the office in the library. 

"Hi my love." Adam said as he embraced Maheen from behind, who was surely sitting at the desk sorting documents. 

"Hey! How did it go? Was it horrible?" Maheen said still holding Adam, who was half bent to the chair where Maheen was sitting. 

"Actually no," Adam said in a voice, which reassured even Maheen that it did go well, "Also, she is waiting downstairs, she would like to meet you." Adam whispered in her ears. Maheen turned towards Adam giving him a look, which was has confused, and half shocked. But she was more than happy that she had come all the way to meet her. She appreciated the effort which Everly was willing to make to bridge the gap of communication they always had. So Maheen left Adam's embrace and struggled a bit to get up from the chair. She made her way down the stairs and found Everly still standing on the door way with her coat on. Whatever the differences Maheen never wanted Everly to ever feel unwelcome to their home, she respected the relations she had with Adam and her family, and it was never her intension to come between that. 

Everly looked up as Maheen, though 5 months pregnant, she still looked as pretty as she was in high school. She nervously rubbed her hand with each other, but as soon as she saw Maheen and Adam, walking down the stairs hand in hand, something in her eased and she saw Maheen smiling at her with the most pleasant of smiles and her nervous hands automatically dropped down. 

"Why may I ask are you still standing at the door way?" Maheen said as she folded her hands in front of her chest, leaving Adam's, in a tone which was both friendly and motherly. 

Everly chuckled, "I was just here to greet you, I will be on my way soon." 

"Utter nonsense, you are coming to dinner with us." Maheen said as she moved closer to her and gave her a hug, forgetting every little things that had happened. That seemed to be the best course of action as whatever had happened, happened long time ago, a lot had changed since then, they had grown.  

Everly knew it was a waste of time to say anything further and walked with Maheen as she guided her to the very familiar hall ways into the dinning room. Nothing had changed, Everly remembered each and every corner, like it was yesterday that she walked them. 

"How have you been, Maheen?" Everly asked as they sat next to each other on the sofa just little further from the dinning table. 

Adam excused himself, as it was better to leave them alone. While they talked he organised the table. 

"I am good Everly, it is so good to see you after so long. I am glad you came here." 

"How couldn't I? So much time has passed and I missed Adam, you and so much of life and moments." Everly looked down to her hands, which were back in their nervous grip on her lap. "Maheen, I would like to ask you something." 

Maheen shifted a little in her place, and leaned attentively to hear what Everly had to say. 

"You have every right to deny the request and I would completely understand it." 

"Everly, do tell me what it is." Maheen shifted further, now being more attentive, and even a little concerned as to what was Everly's request. 

"I have wasted so much time, in anger, and guilt, that I could not be there for the man who was most important to me. Adam, as always been there for me, and when he needed me, I never was. And to make up for that I would really like to seek your permission.." Everly paused to read Maheen's face which did not give away anything, only her eyes staring at her waiting in anticipation. Everly found her voice and continued, "I would like to be a part of your life, you know as a distant aunt who comes once in a while to be with the kids, Adam's family has always been important to me, and you are his family and the kids, and I would love to be there, but only with your permission." 

At the end of that sentence, Everly's voice became high and sped up like she was really trying to convince Maheen. Maheen moved further and gripped Everly's nervous hands. She stared deep into her eyes, making sure Everly registers everything that she has to say. 

"Everly you are more than welcome through the doors, anytime you want. You are a part of this family and always will be." 

The hug between them was broken by Brandon, who had come downstairs with his father. Everly looked at him and she wouldn't control the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She immediately embraced Brandon as well while Adam walked beside Maheen, and mouthed, everything okay?  She responded with a nod and a smile. 

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Everly left the house with a smile on her face and with peace in her heart. She never thought it would be so straight froward, the acceptance of the apology. She never knew the joy which she could clearly see in Adam eyes, every time he talked about his life, until she held that sweet child in her hand. The affect of a child on an adult is an experience from a different world, the way he tried to make words from his mouth, without much understanding of the world, the eagerness to meet new people and explore them, the fondness of the toys and the pure innocence in their eyes. Truly, Adam had found his whole world right here in a town where they all grew up in. Maheen and Brandon, were his whole world and there was no denying of that fact. 

Maheen was a great wife, and even fantastic mother, the love with which she had held this family together, and everything else, was beyond admirable. She was strong, determined and passionate about the things which really mattered in life. She was a woman which Adam always needed and Adam was the man Maheen always needed. Seeing them together, taking care of the child, their child, all the pieces of the puzzle fit together, and Everly finally realised, that whatever had happened, was always meant to happen. 

On a chilly night as Everly walked back to her hotel room, she could only look at the sky and admire the beauty with which the stars shined above her. How simple, yet so glorious. Just like the family she had just experienced. She was happier than yesterday and hopeful for tomorrow, everything just felt right. The matters of her heart had calmed, and a peaceful feeling consumed her. 

Though in this moment Everly's heart found peace, the future held a storm for which no one was prepared.

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