Matters of the Heart

Epilogue

Adam was back in his backyard in a tux, walking down the same aisle he walked, several years ago.

It had been 1 year, 11 months, 11 weeks and 11 days, that Maheen had taken her last breathe in his arms, and here he was again, standing at the end of the aisle, waiting for the woman who was soon going to be his wife and mother of his children.

After the traditional music of 'Here comes the Bride', Adam saw Everly walking down the aisle, just as Adam had reached the end of it. She looked stunning in a plain all white wedding gown, with a beautiful white carnation bouquet in her hand. Her entry was  followed by Brandon, and Linda who were dressed similar to Adam and Everly. The ceremony did not have a lot of people but it did have both their friends and family.

Adam looked at Everly as she walked down the aisle. Tears started down his cheeks the moment he saw, his two children behind her. He immediately thought of Maheen, and was taken back to their wedding day, he never thought that he would be back here, waiting on the same spot for a different woman, who had given so much for him. He did not want the ceremony, as it was too difficult to go through all of it again, but Everly deserved it. She deserved to be made special and to have a day of celebrations, she deserved to do this her way. So Adam gave in. Everly did not want a whole lot, just a ceremony that would celebrate their union with close friends and family. 

The ceremony went beautifully, Adam did not say any vows of his own and neither did Everly. She wanted to say a lot but she knew it was not appropriate. Everly though devastated was happy when her wedding day came, she was getting married to someone she always wanted to, but she never thought it would be this way. She still embraced the situation and all the responsibilities which came with being the wife of Adam. She was ready to take those up, she had taken them up since Linda was born.

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On seeing Everly out the door of her room, Maheen said to Adam, "Everly is so good with the kids." Everly had in her arms Linda and was speaking to Brandon about a story he had recently concocted. Maheen was still too week to carry her kids, and hence they just came for visitations once in a while. "She would make a great mother someday." Maheen said as Adam and her both stared at her. After a bit, Maheen continued, "Adam, if ever anything were to happen to me, please remember, that our children deserve a mother, and I think Everly would be a great one." 

Adam interrupted Maheen, "What are you saying..... This is never going to happen." 

Maheen held on to Adam a little tighter and continued, "If ever anything were to happen to me, promise me that you would marry her, and give our children a mother." 

Adam could never deny Maheen, and her persuasion skills always made him agree to whatever she said. And so he agreed to her to satisfy her in that moment, not knowing that indeed there would be a day that all of it could be coming true.

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Adam recalled the conversation with Maheen as he sat in his groom chair and saw Everly dancing with his parents and children. He remembered how adamant Maheen had been. He thought about how things took a turn, how life took a turn, making him the husband of the girl who had loved him forever. She was someone who was always a constant, always there for him. And now she was his wife. She is the mother of his children. She is a promise made to the love of his life and he was never going to break it. 

Everly on the other hand, had a bit of difficulty on what had just happened in the past few years. Her coming back to their lives, Maheen passing away and now she being Adam's wife. She always wanted that, be it the time and space between them, but she did not know it would happen this way, she did not want it to happen this way. But it did happen and she was ready to embrace it all. 

"Hi." Everly came panting and sat beside Adam. 

"Hi." Adam replied, "You enjoying?"

"Yes, very much." Everly said. 

And so there were only so many words exchanged, but still so much said, being the matters of the heart.