Epilogue 3

"Mom the tree is blooming!" Olivia excitedly told me.

Oh, sweet Olivia, what would I do without you? I ask myself. I smiled and thought of that tree. Planted almost 52 years ago. There are 50 pictures of Ethan and I in front of that tree. One on our wedding day and one each year on our anniversary. He missed being in the 51st picture by just a month. How I miss that man.

"Olivia, you're my favorite child."

She laughed, "I'm your only child!"

"True but you're still my favorite."

"Let me help you up" Olivia came over as she saw me trying to stand up. Aging sucks, as it gets harder to move with each passing year.

"Thank you, but I can manage on my own."

"I know Mom, but let me help you, please." She intertwined her arm with mine and we walked outside. She led me to the bench we'd put in on our twenty-fifth anniversary. I loved this tree and everything it stood for. "I promised Dad I'd bring you here every year when it bloomed just like he use to. He made me promise that I'd tell you how much he loved you."

She hugged me, we were both crying at this point. Ethan was always a bit of a romantic. We had almost 51 years together and it wasn't enough. I doubt even a hundred years would have been enough. After the embrace I held her hand as we sat on the bench in silence. After a few minutes a maid came out.

"Lady Maxwell"

Olivia and I both answered "Yes."

Then I laughed, "Sorry, old habits, you go on dear, I'll stay here for a bit longer." I patted Olivia's hand. She nodded and stood to follow the maid back into the house. Even thought it's been twenty years since we handed down the title of Lord and Lady Maxwell to Olivia and her husband, I still found myself answering to it occasionally.

I turned to the tree and spoke aloud to my sweetheart. "Oh Ethan, I miss you. This is the first year of blooms that you weren't here for. Olivia made sure to watch every day and bring me the first blossom she saw, just like you use to. We couldn't have asked for a better daughter. I see you in her, not just in her looks but in her actions. You made her a romantic like you. It's helping her right now as she helps little Grace plan the wedding. I guess I shouldn't call her little Grace anymore, as she's to be married in a few months. It's hard to believe how fast time has gone, Love. You'll be happy to know that Grace is getting married right here, just like we did and Olivia. Apparently we started a tradition. I'm about to be interrupted so just know I love you Ethan and it is hard not having you by my side."

Olivia came and sat with me again. I looked at her questioningly. She shook her head, "It was nothing, just had to clarify on an order."

I nodded and she looked at me worriedly, "It's a bit chilly, we should get you back inside."

"You're a bigger worrier than my Mom was." I protested with a smile.

"But you get cold so easily Mom." She was right, it was chilly and I was starting to get cold. One other thing she got from her father, knowing what I needed. She helped me inside and placed me in my chair by the heater. She treats me like I'm a fragile old lady, which is probably how she sees me. Sometimes it's hard to believe it myself that I'm almost 80 years old. Sometimes it feels like a cruel joke and I'll wake up to be half my age again, but it never happens. Life is crazy like that, days seem to last forever but then all the sudden years are gone and things change forever with the passing of time. Pretty soon you're old and philosophizing about life.

My happily ever after thoughts never included losing my husband nor did I want it to. However we cannot choose our endings, we can just live them and make the best of what we have been given.

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"Mom, I thought I'd bring you to see the blossoms." Olivia said as she pushed my wheelchair outside. It was spring again and our tree was blooming. This was the twelfth time that Olivia brought me here instead of Ethan. Twelve years without my handsome husband. We'd just celebrated my ninetieth birthday a few months back.

Olivia helped me onto the bench and then told me how much Ethan had loved me, she made sure she kept her promise to her dad. She and her husband had given up the title to their son and she was an awesome grandma.

It's weird seeing your child become a grandma. That definitely makes you feel old. Not that I needed help feeling old anymore, I couldn't walk very far and my health was declining. No one told me, but after ninety years in this body I knew it was close to the end.

After a few minutes Olivia left me alone, as she had each year so I could have some time alone. I looked at the tree to start my conversation with my beloved.

"Ethan, getting old is hard, you had the better idea. Cash out while you could still do things freely and not have to have help. Oh how I miss you Love. When do I get to see you again?" I paused and felt a pain in my chest. I inhaled and clasped it.

"Sera, Love, it's okay. I'm here with you now." I heard a voice I hadn't heard in years. I looked up to see Ethan standing there. "Take my hand." I put my hand in his and stood up, the pain was gone. I embraced Ethan and then turned to see an old lady slumped in the bench by our tree.

"They're going to miss having you around, but I'm going to love having you back." He said as he took my hand and led me away. I couldn't be sad at leaving all the struggles behind and having Ethan by my side again. This was truly happily ever after, being reunited with my love.