Page 37 of Season of Mercy
EPILOGUE
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ON HER WEDDING DAY, AS Mercy waited for it to start, she could hardly believe this was reality. The fears and trepidation in her heart when she’d married Ethan in the hospital were long gone. Now she had no doubt the man waiting for her at the end of the aisle was the man she wanted to spend her entire life with, until the very end.
Everything was so different today, from the church decorated with white bows and her favorite hyacinths to the incredible feeling of happiness that filled her.
As she walked down the aisle, her parents about to give her away, Mercy felt elated. The church was filled to the brim. Ethan did have many relatives and cousins. His parents smiled at her as she passed, and so had Mamá Rosa. Ethan and Mercy had decided to have the reception catered by Mamá Rosa’s restaurant, set in Ethan’s backyard, which was big enough for that. There was going to be a sea of hyacinths there, decorating tables, chairs, and even trees and the fence.
She smiled at the thought that Tom Marks’s band had agreed to play at the reception.
Stevie looked so handsome in his little tuxedo, holding a pillow with rings. He’d been bursting with excitement to be a ring bearer and practically bounced off the walls the entire day. It was difficult to believe that not so long ago he’d had surgery. Mercy’s heart overflowed with love.
Her precious, precious boy, finally getting the family he deserved...
She let her hair flow over her shoulders, and the white dress, while simple, made her feel beautiful. She beamed at Ethan, who’d opted for a blue tuxedo.
That day in the hospital, she’d held her head high and smiled, but she’d cried inside. If she cried today, it would be tears of happiness.
As she stood near the altar, she knew she’d finally left her fears and insecurities behind. She’d thought that her second marriage might turn out her biggest mistake.
Instead, it had been the biggest blessing for her and Stevie.
When it came time to say the vows, she felt true tears of happiness prickle behind her eyes. She’d written her vows, but they suddenly felt too formal. So she went with her thoughts at that moment. “I fell for you, Ethan, the moment I saw you. But you didn’t pay attention to me then.” She paused, as there were several murmurs in the pews.
“What did she say?” one of Ethan’s cousins asked.
Mercy hesitated. “Okay, I think I started wrong. My road to you was a long and bumpy one. Sometimes I wasn’t sure if I should be running toward you or from you.” With more murmurs in the pews, she paused again. She should’ve gone with the written vows.
Ethan’s smile was unwavering on his face.
It gave her strength. “Now, I’m so grateful to God that He gave me you as my soul mate, because that’s who you are to me. My soul mate. My friend. My confidant. My supporter. The best father for my little boy I could wish for. And the husband I love with all my heart.”
Ethan’s eyes sparkled. “You were meant for me, Mercy. And I was meant for you. I’m sorry it took me some time to figure it out. I’ll be forever grateful to God that you became my wife. You’re beautiful, kind, caring, lovely...” He took a breath.
“Okay, we get the point,” one of Ethan’s cousins whispered and was immediately hushed by Mamá Rosa.
Ethan continued, “You’re everything I could want and more. You’re the most amazing person I’ve met in my life. And if I live to a hundred, I know that you’ll still be the most amazing person I’ll ever meet.”
“You, too,” Mercy whispered.
“You’re the one for me. The only one. You’ll always be.”
“You’re the only one for me.” Mercy didn’t know she could love him any more than she already had. But she was wrong. She felt her love was growing stronger not just with each passing day but with each passing moment.
“I know that you love me because of me, not because of my social status or money. If I lost the job, the mansion, the car, and had to start from washing and painting vehicles again, you’d still stay with me.”
Mercy nodded. “I would. I’d be washing or painting vehicles by your side, if necessary.”
Ethan’s smile became even brighter. “You’re my soul mate. My friend. My confidante. My supporter. The best mother to the little boy I adore as my own. Well, and it doesn’t hurt that you make excellent chicken mole and tamales.”
Several people chuckled.
“That’s important!” Mamá Rosa said in a whisper loud enough for the entire church to hear.
“I treasure every moment I spend with you, Mercy. People told me love diminishes in marriage. They are wrong. I love you more and more every day. I’ll cherish you forever. You’re the wife I love with all my heart.”
As she listened, Mercy felt so absolutely, deliriously happy that she was afraid to take her next breath. She smiled her brightest smile as one happy tear rolled down her cheek.
I love You, Lord. Thank You.
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THE END
