Epilogue

Flowers On The Grave

17th June 2014

11:37 AM

Coming back home is never easy.

Sometimes it brings relief, sometimes it only amplifies the pain. When you come back to the city of your youth; the city of your hopes, dreads, joys and dreams; the city where you have spent both the best and the worst years of your life, it's rather hard to tell whether it gives you solace or woe...

"Dear present here. Today we gathered in this place to pay our last respects to Terry Lawson, who has finished his pilgrimage on this Earth. He was a loving husband, father and friend. None of us expected him to die so suddenly, even despite his fatal disease. He was fighting until the very end, but, eventually, the lung cancer has sucked the last juices of life out of him. His last will was to be buried here, on Wights' Dead End Cemetery, next to his old friend. I know it is not easy to speak in circumstances like these, but, trust me," the Afro-American priest made a pause and looked at the small group of people in front of him, all dressed in black. "I really do feel sympathy for all of you."

After these words the man started to slowly go away, wanting to leave the family and friends alone over the grave of the deceased.

"Father." a young woman steeped forward from the crowd of mourners. The priest turned away and glanced at her. She was undeniably beautiful. Her sun-kissed skin was smooth and mat and her hazel eyes were sparkling like two stars – maybe that was because of tears? She was slender, or rather had been, as her quite big belly showed that she was pregnant at that time. She could be in third or fourth month of gestation.

"Yes?" he asked, moving towards her.

"Thank you for these last words. That's very kind of you." she said with disarming faint smile on her full lips.

The man smiled back. "You're welcome, my child. You're welcome." he turned around and directed his footsteps to the nearby church, saving the image of this girl under his eyelids.

A man with ice pale irises approached the woman from behind and wrapped his long arms around her.

"Are you okay, Lara?" he asked, kissing her gently on her cheek.

"I guess." she sighed, wiping her eyes out. "I shouldn't blubber like that. Terry wouldn't appreciate it." she said finally, turning her head around and looking at her companion.

He rolled his eyes. "Relax, girl. You've just lost your father. Besides, you're pregnant. You've got the full right to cry and be moody in any way you like."

Mrs Jayden smiled weakly but said nothing. After several seconds she emancipated herself from her husband's cuddle and approached a black woman kneeling by the grave. Tears were running down her face as she was adjusting flowers on the tombstone.

"I'm sure he loved the ceremony." Lara spoke slowly, lifting the other woman up, then looking into her eyes. "He had always wanted it to be simple and quick, and I think we managed to keep it like that."

"He was so excited about the boys..." the African American finally managed to mumble. "Pity he's not going to ever see them."

"He is, Kate." the gravid ensured her foster mother. "He'll be watching them growing from above. But that's a shame that they are never going to meet any of their granddads. You and Mary will have to be sufficient for all three of them." she laughed faintly. After her words Kate fell to pieces completely and snuggled into her totally. Usually Kate was a bad ass, but she had loved Terry very much and now she was missing him even twice as much as she loved him.

Both women remained like this for a few more seconds. Then Miss Lawson cleared her throat.

"I should go." she decided. "It's just... a bit too much for me now. I have to rest and think."

"Alright." Lara agreed and released her mother. "Just let us know when we will be permitted to visit you, okay?"

Kate smiled. "Of course I will. See you soon. And say goodbye to Norman on my behalf."

Mrs Jayden smiled back. "I'll keep that in mind."

After the exchange the women parted their ways. The Afro-American joined the others on their way back to their cars and the archaeologist walked to Norman. She double backed halfway, though, noticing a familiar name on a headstone nearby. She crouched and took a single white orchid from Terry's grave.

"I hope you'll forgive me." she said, rising and directing her footsteps to Norman, but passing him and moving further, deeper in-between the tombs.

"What are you doing, Lara?" the agent asked, frowning and following her. The woman didn't respond and just continued walking.

After several feet she stopped and lowered her eyes. Jayden stopped too and followed her gaze.

"Do you want to...?" he asked her hesitantly. "I mean, you're sure about that?"

Lara nodded. "He deserves at least this little respect after all." She knelt down and placed the flower on the gravestone. Then she closed her eyes and said a quick, yet touching prayer. When Norman was helping her to get back on her feet, she was crying again. The man turned her around, took her face in his palms and placed a soft, gentle kiss on the woman's mouth. As their lips finally parted, they heard some steps behind them. They turned their faces to the source of this sound.

"Hey, relax, it's me." a familiar voice greeted them.

"Ethan?" the girl wondered. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to speak with you and I accidentally read the obituary notice about Terry." He made a pause there and looked into Lara's irises. "Sincerest condolences."

"Thanks." she replied.

"Why did you want do speak with us?" Jayden inquired.

Mars scratched himself in the head. "Well, I wanted to show you the project I've drawn recently. Something perfect for you." Then he blushed slightly. "And... I've heard that you're pregnant." he apostrophized to the woman. "I wanted to congratulate both of you and wish the kid to be healthy."

Now Lara turned red. "Actually, the KIDS."

Ethan opened his mouth with astonishment. "Wait... You say they're TWINS?"

"One labor, one upbringing." Norman smiled. "Either way, we knew that one child was not enough for us and that we wanted at least two of them."

Ethan nodded. "I see. Boys or girls?"

"Boys." the profiler said with proud written all over his face.

"Have chosen names already?"

The girl nodded. "Phil and Henry, after our fathers."

Mars confirmed he understood everything and regrouped his thoughts. "In this case I have to adjust my design... It will be best if you come and visit me. We could discuss everything composedly. What do you say?" he asked them.

The married couple looked at one another. Lara nodded.

"Okay then." Norman said to Ethan. "Let's go."

All three of them finally exited the graveyard, leaving all the previous memories, woes, straits and tragedies buried deep beneath the surface of the ground and crossing the gate to unknown, unforeseeable future.

So... Here it is... The story has finished. I'm hoping you liked it and forgave me any of grammar or spelling mistakes. I'm hoping to have a pleasure to read your reviews for my next stories. I'm hoping... Hell, no more hoping! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing and have fun out there, in the real world.
All the best!

TheAga13