Epilogue 1 - Ivan
Every glance at my beautiful bride overwhelms me more than the last. My wife.
Something I never thought I would have again.
After Kat’s mother passed, I didn’t think I would even find love, much less someone special enough to join in marriage.
Blanche Sinclair came into my life like a wildfire, burning away all the rubble left from past transgressions and renewing my heart.
If I’m honest with myself, my love for her exceeds any I’ve known before, even if I’ll never take the place of what she lost.
I still remember the night she called me crying.
“Okay, Ivan. I’m ready.”
I was on my way to Sasha and Lucy’s house after meeting my first grandchild.
I turned the car around, sped back to Henry and Kat’s house, where she was staying, and almost knocked down the door to get to her.
The love we shared that night was unmatched, passion sizzling in the air of every room we defiled. Sorry, Henry and Kat. Sorry, Vanya…
Our children were ecstatic to hear that we were finally official. Apparently, they all knew we had been…intimate with each other. I think I heard Sasha mumble something about a jump drive, and if he was talking about what I think he was, the kids definitely know more than I’d like them to.
From there, it didn’t take long before I was on one knee.
The ring had been designed a year prior, but I wanted to give our relationship at least a little time to breathe, more for Blanche than myself.
I was sure she would panic and leave, but since that night I got her call, she’s been all in.
I'm not sure what changed, but I’ll take it.
Our ceremony took place at Kat and Henry’s house, in front of a beautiful fountain in their backyard.
Our children and grandchildren surrounded us, and we didn’t need an outsider because Jack officiated.
He cried like a baby the whole time, barely able to get any words out, so in retrospect, it might have been in our best interest to find someone else.
In his defense, everyone was weeping. Even the family of ducks in the fountain seemed to watch on in reverence.
Finally home, I can’t help but notice a sniffle from Blanche as she pulls something from her desk. “Are you alright, l’vitsa?”
“Yes, just thinking about how lovely everything was today.”
She’s still facing away from me, so I close the distance between us, wrapping her in my arms and gently swaying us back and forth. “It was beautiful, almost as much as you, dear. We had our whole family there. Everyone was with us to celebrate.”
“Well, not everyone…”
“He was with us today, too,” I whisper, reaching for her hand, only to find her grasping a letter for dear life. “What’s this?”
Hesitating is so unlike Blanche, so when she doesn't respond, I spin her around so that we’re eye to eye. “What is it, darling?”
“It’s a letter.”
“From yo—”
“From Henry.”
“Okay, well, read it then!” I guess. Weird thing to do on our wedding night, but sure, I guess.
“It’s…for you.”
“Henry, your beloved husband, who passed away years ago, wrote me a letter?”
“Yes.”
“But…how did he know you would end up with me?”
She pushes the envelope against my chest with an exaggerated sigh. “He didn’t write it to you specifically! Just to whoever I chose to marry.”
I take the letter from her, noting the rather fancy handwriting.
To whom it may concern.
“Well…read it, please?” she asks, now pacing in circles around the room.
“Well…what did it say?”
I practically tackle Blanche, the only way to get her to stand still, as she continues to wear a hole in the floor as she marches back and forth.
“He said you liked to be shared and were very into necrophilia…”
“Oh my God, I am not into ne—”
Unable to hide my smirk, I nod toward the bed, excited to officially consummate this marriage. “On your back, Blanche.”