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Child Brides of India
By C. Stanton Leman
Chapter 60: Making Arrangements (Mgg, rom, cons, no sex)
I awoke, alone and in a fog. I looked at the clock: ten
am.
I dragged myself out of bed and completed my morning duties
and took a hot shower. I'd guessed the girls had let me
sleep, worried that I'd suffer from exhaustion. As the
spray from the shower washed over my face I prayed for
strength: strength to make it through the day and be strong
for my girls. I begged for forgiveness but I hadn't the
strength to say morning prayers.
I dressed and made my way downstairs to find Mom and the
girls at the table. Monaavi's eyes were red from crying and
Attiya looked like she was frightened because her routine
had been upset.
I think she sensed everyone's sadness, and I wondered
what
was going on inside her locked brain. She kept looking
around at everyone, not sure what to make of all the sad
faces. I said good morning to everyone and scooped her up
on my lap.
I hugged her to me, kissed her forehead and said to her
with a smile, "Morning pixie."
She looked up momentarily and then molded herself
against
my chest, seemingly wanting another hug, so I obliged her.
Priya reached over and laid her hand on my arm and
asked,
"How do you feel this morning? We let you sleep because
you'd been up almost two days in a row."
"Groggy," I replied, "I feel totally
wasted."
Monaavi expressed her condolences through her tears and
I
thankfully accepted them. Remembering what Mom said about
life going on, I asked, "Has everyone eaten?"
With mumbled no's I replied, "Well, today's another
day, we
need to eat and get on with life, right Mom?"
Mom smiled and said "Yes Sean, we need to get on
with life."
I really didn't feel like eating, but I figured I should
lead by example and asked Pita for breakfast. Everyone else
begrudgingly followed suit. I started to feed Attiya from
my plate then remembered my shot yesterday. I had Pita
bring me a plate and fork for Attiya and when we'd finished
eating, I put her down and gave her a love tap on her
little tooshie and said, "OK Leeya, you and Attiya have
studies don't you?"
Looking somber Leeya complained, "But I don't feel
like it."
"I know Sweetie," I replied, "But we have
to live our lives
even when it's hard."
Mom gave me a smile with her eyes over the rim of her
cup
and nodded.
Monaavi rose and took each girl by the hand and led them
to
the study. I sipped on a cup of coffee while Priya and Mom
talked. Priya asked me if I thought it wise to make Leeya
do school work today and I told her I thought it best to
try and get her mind off things: even if it was only for a
short while. I told Priya that if she's around Monaavi and
Attiya they may help distract her from dwelling on Emmy and death.
I asked her, "How are YOU doing?"
"I'm worried," she replied, "Worried that
you'll get sick too."
"Naw," I scoffed jokingly, trying to allay her
fears, "I'm
too much of a letch to get sick, remember?"
There! I did it: I made her smile. She smirked and
replied,
"Don't remind me!"
Just then the phone rang. I said, "I'll get
it" and rose to
pick up the line.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Hello, is this Sean Michaels?" Came the voice
on the other end.
"Speaking,' I replied.
"This is Dr. Gupta from the hospital, remember
me?"
"Oh yeah," I acknowledged, "What can I do
for you?"
"Well," He began, "We gave you an
injection yesterday and I
was wondering how you were feeling."
"Well," I replied, "Besides feeling
exhausted and worn out,
I'm fine I guess."
He said, "I wanted to follow up with you because of
your
possible exposure yesterday. Please refrain from sharing
any eating or drinking utensils and intimate contact with
anyone for two weeks. If you display any of the symptoms
during that time, even in the slightest, you need to come
back here immediately, do you understand?"
"I understand Doc, but why two weeks?" I
asked.
"These symptoms can appear anywhere from
twenty-four hours
to ten days. I'd like you to be safe by saying two weeks.
If you don't show any symptoms by then, I'm pretty sure
you'll be OK. To save your self a trip, if nothing happens
within that time, you can either call me here at the
hospital or leave me a message." He said.
"Will do," I replied, "I understand and
will be careful. Is that all?"
"That's all," He replied, "Just be aware
of your body and
be careful." He said.
"I will Dr. Gupta, and thanks for your concern.
Good day
sir." I said thanking him.
"Good day Mr. Michaels." Click.
I returned to the table and asked Pita to come in and
sit
down. I told everyone who was on the phone and why. I
instructed Pita, "Make sure you keep my dishes, utensils,
cups, anything that touches my lips, separate from every
one else's, wash them separately and also wear gloves."
Priya got that scared look on her face again and I tried
to
slough it off by saying, "Don't get upset, it's only a
precaution that's all."
Trying to look on the bright side, I told Pita
"Well, with
us eating breakfast so late, looks like you don't have to
make lunch!"
Everyone knew I was hurting as much as they were and
putting up a front. They responded with nods and smiles.
I heard the front door open and turned to see my father
enter with an overnight bag. He dropped it in the hall and
as he walked to the dining room Mom rose and went to him.
As soon as he outstretched his arms to embrace her, Mom
broke down, collapsing into his arms and as he directed her
to the floor Mom sobbed out a heart-wrenching guttural cry,
"My Godchild is dead!"
I saw the tears stream down my father's cheeks as he did
as
I did yesterday with Emmy. I saw his jaw tighten as he
tightly squeezed his eyes shut to keep from falling apart.
He lovingly lifted her from the floor, scooped her up in
his arms and carried her upstairs.
Priya jumped from her chair and fell into my lap
sobbing.
With her mouth next to my ear, she sobbed out, "How can we
make the pain go away?"
I swallowed audibly hard and managed to get out,
"We need
to concentrate on loving instead of the pain."
"Oh God Sean!" My beloved cried, "If you
died, my world
would collapse! Leeya would be devastated. Oh God please
don't take him away from me!"
"Sshhhh," I whispered, "I'm not going
anywhere."
I needed to snap her out of it so I said, "I've
been
thinking… maybe I SHOULD marry Me Ma."
She sniffled and slapped me on the back and said,
"THAT'S
the worst thing you could do: I'd be a widow for sure!"
Well, it worked. We both had a tearful laugh as we just
held each other. Monaavi brought the girls in for a break
and Leeya was still somber. Attiya wanted her older sister
back so she took Leeya by the hand silently and led her
outside to the back yard. Monaavi went to the kitchen and
returned with some tea.
We sat and talked about the girls for a few moments and
I
told Priya I was going to call Imaam. I went to the study
and fortunately he was in. I explained all my circumstances
and he confirmed what Adib had said last night. He said
that if Emmy and I were espoused, her being a Christian and
believing in the line of Abraham, she could be buried with
us. I thanked him for his advice and accepted his
condolences. We said our salaams and disconnected.
I then called the cemetery that Adib had suggested and
they
informed me they had a large section set aside for Muslims,
but that because they mainly cater to the affluent, he
wasn't sure if I could afford their fees. I asked him how
much ten plots together would cost me and after hearing a
calculator whiz, he replied, $100,000 US. I told him I'd
have my secretary bring by a check and to prepare a grave
for a burial in the middle of our allotment two days hence.
I told Priya what I'd just done and her eyes bugged and
asked, "Ten? Why so many?"
I explained, "Well, there's Emmy, then the three of
us,
that makes four, and I figured that between the two of you
girls if each of you had three children, that would make
ten. Sound plausible?"
Shaking her head she replied, "Gosh, it seems so
morbid to
plan for one's death and their children's also."
"Yeah," I replied, "But at least no one
else will have to
worry about this detail and we'll all be together when the time
comes."
Dad came downstairs about an hour later. He said that
Mom
was resting and that she was completely devastated and
exhausted. I told him what she'd said to me last night and
he said that she was the strongest, most God fearing woman
he's ever met.
He extolled her by saying, "She's endured pains
that would
kill ten men and her faith just keeps her pouring her heart
out to others. That mother of yours doesn't just believe in
God, she walks with Him!"
"Life has driven me to my knees three times,"
he said, "And
she's helped me pick up the pieces, stood me on my feet and
damn if she didn't turn stone into gold! Ours is truly a
matriarchal family, always has been. I can see Priya is
following in her footsteps and is the true leader in your family."
Priya felt humbled by Dad's statement and replied,
"Well
right now, I'm following Sean, because I feel lost at the moment."
I told Dad what I'd done concerning the burial plots and
what Imaam had said. I asked him if he knew where Mom kept
her phone book and he told me she has her PDA in the study.
I asked Priya if she knew the name of the seamstress and
she gave me the name of the shop
I went to the study and pulling it from the cradle
looked
for the number. I called the shop, spoke to the owner and
told him what happened and that I wanted Emmy's wedding
attire completed by tomorrow. He told me that he'd work
diligently to comply with my wishes and waived the extra
fees for Emmy's sake.
I called Prishi and told her the bad news and she was
very
upset upon hearing of Emmy's passing. I told her I was
giving her an important task and that she had two hours to
find me an excellent funeral home to handle the details of
Emmy's remains. It was now twelve-fifteen.
I returned to the table and informed Priya and Dad what
I'd
done and that I was waiting for Prishi's call about two pm.
I called the hospital to check on Faatina's condition
and
they said that her breathing tube had been removed and she
was sleeping. The nurse said that her tiny body was in
what's called a recuperative slumber where the body shuts
down while it fights off the disease. She told me they did
a CAT scan of her brain this morning and I requested that
the doctor call me with the results as soon as they were
in. I asked if her mother or father was with her and they
said that her father hasn't been in to see her and that
Alpa had left yesterday evening and hasn't come in yet today.
I spoke to Priya and had her call her mother and see if
they could make some arrangements for one of our drivers to
be at Alpa's disposal to get to and from the hospital.
While Priya was on the phone with her mother, Dad and I
talked about the timetable of events for Emmy's funeral. We
were kinda in a holding pattern until I heard from Prishi
on a funeral home.
I got a call from Prishi at one-thirty and she said that
in
the case of death in India of a foreign national, a letter
from the American Embassy is required and then the hospital
will embalm the body and turn it over to you. You may then
have Emmy's remains picked up by the cemetery personnel for
burial. The family is usually responsible for preparing the
body for burial such as final dressing. Most Indians
cremate the dead except Muslims and Muslims generally don't
embalm because they bury their dead within forty-eight
hours after death. They wash and anoint the body and wrap
it in white linen. I was shocked. We would have to dress
Emmy before the funeral.
I returned to the table ashen and Dad and Priya asked me
what was wrong. I informed them of Prishi's findings and
that we would be responsible for carrying out Emmy's last
wishes. In the meantime, Mom had come downstairs and had
heard what I'd said.
When Dad looked over at her, we turned to see Mom
standing
in the doorway. We visually followed her as she entered and
sat. She have a sigh and said, "Sean, you and I will dress
Emmy. I have no qualms about doing this for her, do you?"
"No Mom," I replied, "None at all."
I scooted out my chair and said, "I'm gonna call
the US
embassy to get what I need done," and left to make the call.
I called and asked to speak to Paul Whitfield and after
giving his condolences, he told me to come by as soon as I
could and he'd wait for me if I arrived past three pm. I
called the hospital and luckily I got hold of Dr. Gupta. I
told him I needed Emmy's death certificate to take it to
the US embassy and he said he'd have it waiting when I arrived.
Monaavi was is the study with the girls, so I told Mom
and
Dad I was leaving for the hospital and then to the embassy.
Priya asked to go so I got Emmy's passport and we left.
After tracking down Dr. Gupta and receiving the
necessary
documents, I asked him how long he'd be here. He said he
was on duty until eleven pm so I told him that after I
obtained the release from the embassy, I'd return with the
paperwork to have Emmy embalmed and he said that he'd take
care of everything when I got back.
We left for the embassy and arrived at Paul's office at
four-twenty. Paul again offered his sympathy and
condolences and completed the necessary forms. We thanked
him for his staying late to accommodate us and left for the hospital.
At the hospital we met with Dr. Gupta again, and after
he'd
verified all the paperwork, he left us to call the morgue.
He returned about ten minutes later and said he'd arranged
to have Emmy's remains embalmed in the morning and we could
pick up her body after one pm. He gave us the necessary
forms, and instruction on where to go. We thanked him and
left for home.
We arrived home at seven-thirty and everyone was about
finished with dinner. Priya and I ate a bite and when we
were finished, she took Leeya into the living room to watch
a movie. I brought Mom and Dad up to speed on things and
said we could pick Emmy up after one tomorrow.
Mom silently rose and walked to the study. We followed
her
and she said she was just calling the seamstress to make
sure Emmy's s clothes were ready tomorrow by noon. After
haggling with him for fifteen minutes she told us he was
going to work through the night to finish at the appointed time.
I called the cemetery, but got an answering machine so I
left a message. Having finished all we could do for today,
we joined Priya and Leeya in the living room. When the
movie was finished, I told the girls it was time for
evening prayers. We hugged and kissed my parents goodnight
and went upstairs.
After prayers, we got cleaned up, undressed and then
climbed into bed together. I held them close and poor Leeya
was shaking. I quietly asked what was wrong and she
replied, "I'm afraid."
"Afraid of what Baby," I asked.
"I'm afraid you're gonna die," she gently
cried, "I'm
afraid that you'll leave me and there'll be a big hole in
my heart that will never go away. I couldn't live if I lost you."
I hugged her gently to me and said soothingly, "I'm
not
gonna die. We still have to make baby Emmy right? Besides
I've decided I wanna grow old with you two. I want to see
you grow up, grow boobies (I tweaked her tiny nipple bump
and she giggled) and have babies. I can't do that if I die, right?"
"Right," she affirmed.
"Now," I said, "Let's not have any more
thoughts of anyone
dying alright? Let's just live and love each other with all
our hearts and be happy together, OK?"
"OK Sean," she said, "You know I love you
so much, my heart
is full of love for you."
"I know Sweetie," I said as I kissed the back
of her head,
"Your love and Priya's is what's gonna keep me alive for
many years to come, I promise."
Priya hugged me from behind and added, "That's one
promise
you'd better keep to BOTH of us!"
I turned onto my back and pulled both of them close and
said, "Let's try and get some sleep, OK?"
Both girls kissed an arm and replied, "Yes
husband."
I said to both of them, "I love you girls."
Each replied in unison, "I love you more."
Although uneasy, we managed to get to sleep.
I woke at six-thirty and wasn't looking forward to today
at
all. I roused the girls and after a few grumbles, we got up
to prepare for the day. After performing our morning ritual
we went downstairs at seven.
Mom was on the phone with the seamstress so before I sat
to
eat, so I called the cemetery again. I spoke to the owner
and told him the situation. I asked him to arrive with his
top of the line casket, which he was more than happy to
comply with. He told me that he had a room in their main
building for preparing bodies for burial and that he would
meet us at the hospital at one. From there, we could go to
the cemetery and prepare Emmy for burial.
Mom had finished her call and said that we could go to
the
seamstress' at noon and pick up Emmy's clothes. So, with
the plan set, we sat to eat. I think Mom and I were on the
same wavelength because we were relatively quiet while eating.
Attiya was doing a passable job of occupying Leeya with
some childish kidding around. Dad had a bad case of jet lag
and was still sleeping. When Monaavi arrived, we had tea
and I filled her in on today's agenda and she said she'd
keep the girls occupied all day.
Priya asked to go and Mom asked her. "Priya, can
you handle
this? I remember that you did well at Liz's funeral but
this is gonna be different. Sean and I will actually be
dressing her body and preparing her for burial. If you feel
you might get sick or faint-hearted, it's best you don't
go. This is going to be hard enough and I don't want to
have to attend to you if you get faint or ill, understand?"
"I understand Mom," she said, "I know
that I'll be alright
for her sake. I want to do my part, as her sister, to lay
her to rest."
"OK then," Mom replied, "Let's get some
things ready. We
need to get her some lingerie, a hairbrush and curling iron
and some make-up."
Mom and Priya had everything ready and packed in a
backpack
and we left at eleven for the seamstress. We arrived at
eleven forty-five. The seamstress spent another twenty
minutes finishing Emmy's dupatta and then packed everything
for transport.
The driver had some trouble finding the morgue entrance
but
once there, the hearse was already there and waiting. I
gave the attendant the necessary papers and he led us to
the refrigerated drawer that contained Emmy's body. He
pulled the drawer out and we gasped when we first saw her.
She was an ashen, bluish white, and she had a look of
peaceful slumber on her face.
I cried as I helped lift her nude body into the casket
for
transport. Mom and Priya were huddled together silently
crying as they watched on. With Emmy in the hearse, we
followed behind to the cemetery. On the ride to the
cemetery, we were quiet but I took the time to think about
her. Her wondrous smile and the way her button nose would
crinkle when she smiled. Emmy's rosy cheeks, the sprinkle
of freckles across her nose and the sparkle of her
brilliant azure blue eyes.
I remembered the first night here in India when I'd met
her, how her pinkish little toes poked out from under her
sari. I thought about the softness of her lips and the way
she kissed. I'd never been kissed with so much toe-curling
passion by anyone else: even Priya. It's as if she poured
all her love into her kisses.
A kiss… such a simple thing and yet, so very personal
and
intimate. A dissertation on one's feelings can be expressed
in a single kiss. Even the simple peck by a child defies
explanation, it's meaning so simple yet so profound.
I thought about our relationship. It seems strange that
I
felt that I loved her deeply but never got the chance to
strengthen that relationship by learning what her hopes and
dreams were for the future. Thinking back, I realized that
her intense passion was not only fueled by her love for me
but also for love itself. Having lost all that was
important to her, I think she felt starved for love. A love
that was so extremely personal and intimate that she
considered it sacred to her and necessary for her survival.
Realizing that, I cursed myself for being such a fool.
For
being so smart, I was a real retarded fuck head for only
seeing the passion and equating that with sex. I had
forgotten the very lesson that I'd tried to impart to her,
that the BRAIN is the greatest sex organ. I was continually
thinking with my dick. A friend of mine once made the
observation that there's a very thin line between love and
lust and sometimes it's hard to tell the two apart. In that
regard, I had failed her and I asked God for forgiveness.
My retrospection ended as we pulled into the cemetery.
We
pulled around back of the main building and parked as the
hearse backed up to the service entrance. I helped the
attendant put the casket on a dolly and we followed behind
to the preparation room.
Once inside the room, it was very cold. We opened the
casket, and lifted Emmy's body onto the table. We were
shaking: both from the cold and from not knowing where or
how to begin.
The owner, Harib, saw our dilemma and said
understandingly,
"I show you what to do. Out of respect, I no touch body but
tell you what to do, OK?"
We had tears in our eyes as he went to a cabinet and
brought out some chemicals. He filled two buckets with
water and stirred in the chemicals. The room became
engulfed in a sweet smelling fragrance and he said, "wash
her body, make her smell sweet and pleasing to God."
Mom and I looked at each other and uncannily said in
unison, "It is a sweet savour, an offering made unto the
Lord."
Mom looked at me, smiled and asked, "Do you
remember the
chapter and verse?"
"No,' I replied, "It's just that when he said
smell sweet
to God, that verse suddenly came to mind."
She said, "Exodus 29:18. The first burnt offerings
ordered
by Moses to Aaron and his sons were described in such a
way. Emmy is just that. She's our most perfect lamb,
beautiful and pure, and she is our sweet smelling sacrifice to God."
Priya fell to her knees then prostrate to the floor and
began to pray in Erdu. After several minutes she stopped,
knelt silently for a moment then stood and said, "Your
words about Emmy being our sweet smelling sacrifice to God
just moved me so much I had to pray before we prepared our sacrifice."
Mom and I looked at each other and she asked
"Ready?"
I nodded silently yes twice.
Mom and I started to reach in the buckets when he
stopped
us and said, "No, not safe, must wear gloves. Touching dead
body can make very sick and die: (handing them to us) wear gloves.”
Mom and I donned
gloves and Mom started washing Emmy's face and I
started at her feet.
I never realized the symbolic importance of treating a
corpse with reverence. I knew that Emmy's spirit, the real
Emmy that made her heart beat and that gave life to the
vessel we were washing was in heaven but it seemed fitting
to treat her body with love in remembrance of her while she
had occupied this body.
Her body felt cold and stiff, the warmth from her heart
gone now for two days. My tears mingled with the scented
water and fell on her feet as I gently washed every crevice
of her. I worked my way up her right leg to her thigh then
moved to her left foot. Mom had finished with her face and
neck and was new washing her chest.
Wearing gloves, Priya looked on as she gently held
Emmy's
stiff right hand. I had finished with Emmy's legs and Mom
had finished with her upper body down to her hips. We
looked at each other, and I said to mom, "You wash her vulva."
Mom held herself back from crying and whispered,
"She's
your wife Sean, you wash her."
I felt such sadness at having to touch her like that. It
was almost as if I didn't have her permission to touch her
intimately. I looked at Priya, then back and Mom and said,
"I don't know if I can do this."
Mom laid her gloved hand on mine and placed it on Emmy's
mons and said, "Do it with love and reverence."
We tried to pull her legs apart, but could only manage a
few inches. Mom said, "Just use you hand to wash her."
I took the bucket and poured a little water over her
mons
and began to wash her vulva with my hand. This was the
first time I'd seen her intimate area and her beauty was
indescribable. Where her puffy lips curved downward into
her crease, there was a gradated tinge of light coral pink.
I washed her gently with my hand and dragged my finger
through her crease gently twice. I told Mom, "There, it's
finished."
Mom and I were sweating and decided to take a breather
for
a few minutes. After summoning the courage to finish, we
gently turned Emmy over and washed her. As I washed her
buttocks I dragged my hand down the crease of her butt.
When my hand came in contact with her anus, I could feel
something that felt like a plug had been inserted. I asked
Harib about it and he said that it's customary to seal off
all body openings including the nose and throat.
Once the bathing was completed, we dried her as best we
could and Harib said to let her air dry for fifteen minutes.
Mom, Priya and I shed our gloves and Harib gave each of
us
a bottle of water. We didn't say much as we drank in
relative silence. When it was time to dress her, Mom opened
the box that contained Emmy's wedding attire. In the box
lay a baby blue Lengha covered in sequins and stones, along
with the ornate and intricate embroidery work that Priya's
contained. I gasped at the beauty of the craftsmanship.
I slid her panties on and pulled them in place. I then
lifted her up while Mom hooked her bra. I continued to hold
her up as Mom slid her short choli over and down her arms
then over her head. She pulled the garment down and
straightened it in place. I held up Emmy's hips as Mom slid
the Lengha under her, wrapped it around her waist and
fastened it.
Harib instructed us to put her into the coffin, which we
did: me with her upper body and Priya and Mom with her
legs. Once in place, Mom carefully and lovingly
straightened her clothes.
I went to a chair, sat and wept as Mom and Priya began
to
fix Emmy's hair and apply her make-up. When they'd
finished, Priya draped the lemon yellow duppata trimmed in
baby blue over her head and straightened it.
I looked at my would-be bride; she looked like a
princess
from a long lost dynasty. Her Lengha and choli shimmered
and sparked from the light reflecting off the sequins and
stones. Her duppata hid her face in a seductive, virginal
way. She was breathtakingly beautiful!
Priya said, "She's the most beautiful bride I've
ever seen!
Her Momma and Daddy will be happy to see her."
I swallowed hard to keep myself composed. Having
finished,
Harib wheeled the casket into a refrigerated locker and
closed the door. We agreed on one viewing for tonight at
eight and we'd bury her tomorrow.
It was now five-thirty and we headed for home. Mom said,
"This may sound strange, but doing that for her gave me
peace. I can now let her go with a peace in my heart that
I've given her all I can give."
I looked towards the Heavens and said, "Emmy, if
you're
looking down on us, "You were right, you ARE the most
beautiful bride in all of India!"
We arrived home at six and we then had everyone get
ready
for the viewing. After a quick shower and change, we were
all ready to leave and drive to the cemetery at seven-
fifteen. We'd decided that Attiya would not react well or
understand death, so Pita took her home. All present, my
parents, Priya, Leeya, Monaavi and I paid our last respects
to Emmy.
After seeing her, my father fell to his knees and
sobbed.
Mom fell to the floor, embraced him and broke down with
him. Leeya looked at Emmy for a long while before turning
and jumping into my arms, crying and shaking. Priya was
sitting in a chair, leaning over with her face buried in
her hands, weeping.
I know not from whence my strength came from, but I
hugged
my little wife to me and stroked her hair as I comforted
her. When it was time to leave, Priya and Leeya kissed
their fingers and placed them on Emmy's lips. My dad leaned
in and kissed her forehead then stroked her folded hands.
Mom leaned in and kissed her lips and whispered,
"Sleep in
peace, my little angel."
Monaavi prayed a Muslim prayer for her in Erdu and touched
her shoulder.
I fell to my knees and sobbed for several minutes, while
I
held her tiny alabaster hands in mine. Mom and Dad tried to
pull me away but I clung to her, not wanting that lid to
close for the last time.
I stood and leaned over her still form, gazing at her
sleeping in repose. As my tears fell, they darkened the
lemon yellow dupatta that covered her face. I remembered
Momma's words when she said to always love her memory but
love is for the living. I now have two wives that needed
me. Emmy needed me no more.
I leaned in and whispered to her as she slept, "I
have
espoused you and will love you until the end of time."
I turned and was enfolded in the arms of my wives and
family. With one last look back, we turned and left for home.
Continued in Chapter 61…
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