Matters of the Heart

Chapter 24

A little smile came running towards her as Everly opened the door once again to the Richard's mansion. The feeling of nostalgia gushed through her as the breeze and the smell hit her face, pleasantly. The only new addition and joy was the little one in her arms now. Brandon Richards, son of Maheen and Adam Richards, had become quite fond of his aunt Everly. And Everly relished in the feeling.

It had been two months since she had seemed permission to come and visit the kids as much as she can, and since then she had made almost 4 visits, staying for four days and more at a stretch.

"Welcome Everly!" Maheen came from behind Brandon, with her stomach carrying another bundle of joy who was soon to come. "Join us for breakfast, you must be famished."

"No, actually, I just came here to drop my bags off," Everly slowly placed Brandon on the floor and giving him a gift said, "and to see this cutie."

Maheen looking at the gift said, "You do too much Everly, this is not necessary. He is going to be spoiled for choices!"

"It's not enough Maheen, just making up for the time that I have missed, and also what are aunts for, to spoil the kids so that the parents have extra work in order to keep them in discipline."

Maheen chuckled and bent down to Brandon, who at this point was oblivious to the conversation that the elders had, and nearly opened his gift.
"Brandon, what to we say to aunty for bringing us this gift?"

Brandon turned with his bright, shiny, little eyes and said, "Thank you, Aunty." And ran away without a breath, surely to his playroom to explore his now new fascination.

As her gazed lost Brandon, Maheen turned towards Everly and crossed her hands in front of her chest and said, "Why might I ask aren't you staying put for breakfast?"

"Well, now that the interrogation has begun, I have to say it or else it was going to be a surprise." Everly took a deep pause and stared into Maheen's eyes, while she tried to figure out if this news of hers would be taken with a cheer or a disappointment. "Today I am here only for a day, I have an interview at the bank, I have cleared the first two rounds, this one is the final. I am moving back home."

As soon as Maheen heard the word 'home' she jumped and gave a big hug to Everly, she couldn't be more happier for her. While still embracing her she spoke, "This is great news Everly! I am so happy!" Now coming to face her, Maheen continued, "When are you moving back?"

Everly took a breath of relief before continuing, "Probably by the end of next week." Looking at her watch she said, "I have got to go, I'll see you after?"

"Absolutely!" Maheen had a huge smile on her face indicating to Everly that she was genuinely happy with all her heart. Everly quietly turned around and headed out the door, she had a sense of pleasant relief in her mind about how everything had turned out to be, and how happy the future seemed that she had Adam, Maheen and their kids as her family. 

*********

17 missed calls. Everly opened her phone and she saw the message. She immediately called back. "Adam, what's going on?" She said in the most concerned tone. 

There was no reply from the other end. "Adam?.... Adam are you there?" 

Everly could hear a soft mumbled voice from the phone, like someone was crying, but why was Adam crying? After a long pause, Adam finally replied, "Can you come to the hospital? Its Maheen." And the phone was disconnected. Everly had thousand questions running through her head, why was Maheen, in the hospital, she had just seen her, why was Adam crying, what had happened in the last couple of hours? She gathered herself, with all the thoughts going through her head, she tried to call for an Uber, but her vision was obstructed for some reason. As the tears rolled down the cheeks she realised her eyes had welled up and hence she could not figure her phone out. Her hands were shaking and she could not move another step. She was grateful for the driver who had willingly stopped in front of her to offer her the ride.