Always Adam

Chapter 50

EPILOGUE - SIX YEARS LATER

I look around the long table full of my friends and family. I feel such happiness. I turn to my maid of honor and ask, "how are you holding up." Nat looks down at her incredibly large breasts and says, "Can you believe I just pumped before we came." It's hard to believe Nat is the mother of two beautiful girls. Nat got pregnant with Melody four years ago. Her and Marcus got married and have been going strong since. They still go at it like rabbits. Thank goodness for birth control. Little Harmony was born four months ago. Marcus, our best man, is sitting next to her. He's talking across the table to Mike.

Mike. He's still my best guy friend. He still single. He says he's holding out for what I have. I pray he finds it. Donna and Ted. I'm as close to them as though they are my parents. We've come a long way. Ted will walk me down the aisle tomorrow. He will dance with me during the father daughter dance. Donna looks up to see me watching them. She smiles, and I smile back. Next to her is Teddy. A handsome young man in college. Beside him is Olivia. A beautiful teenage girl who cheers for West Riverside. My brother and sister. I was thankful for my family.

Lastly, my eyes land on Ava. My wonderful friend Ava. I stand and say, "I want to make a toast." Everyone stops talking and looks to me. "You're not supposed to be the one to make a toast," someone yells. Everyone laughs. "I want to thank all of you for being here on this special occasion. I love each and every one of you. I can't imagine my life without any of you in it. I want to thank someone in particular who had it not been for her, I wouldn't be standing here with all of you celebrating my wedding tomorrow." I pause while some people make some comments. Then I continue. "You all know tomorrow wouldn't be possible without help from Ava. Ava, thank you for making me realize I loved and needed your brother all those years ago." The table erupts with "To Ava." She looks at me and says, "I couldn't have done it without her," she says turning to Chloe. "To Chloe," the table says. Ava kisses Chloe.

Everyone at the table knows the story. Ava went to pastry school with Chloe. They formed a fast friendship that soon turned to romance. The two of them hatched the plan that led me back into Adams arms. Chloe began hanging out at their grandma's house. Nat had told Ava what I confessed to on the ride back from the airport. That I still loved Adam. Ava convinced Adam to go to Rush with Chloe that night. Ava knew I had overheard her Nat's conversation. She followed me to Rush and sent Chloe a text as to when to kiss Adam. When Chloe felt the vibration in her back pocket, she kissed Adam. Their plan worked perfectly. Chloe had never been interested Adam. She was interested in Ava. Ava didn't come clean to us until months later when her relationship with Chloe got serious. All these years later, they were still together.

I turn to Adam and smile. He takes my hand in his and kisses the back of it. Tomorrow he will be my husband. He pulls me to him for a kiss. "I love you Carly. I can't wait for you to be Mrs. Carly Gallo." I smile at him. "I love you, always Adam," I say as I squeeze his hand. I had to go through my journey to realize what I had with him was real and forever. It was always Adam for me and always would be. 

THE END