Two Weddings

Sarah remembered her dreams since her mother’s death. She wondered how her mother could have known everything that had happened to her. For the first time in a long time, Sarah felt that her mother was not dead. She only lived on the other side. She couldn’t see her, hug her or call her, but she felt her love in her dreams, in the flower shop and in every room in the house.

She purchased an aquarium for her daughter Emily and let her choose the fish she liked. Emily chose three gold fish in three different sizes, believing that the big fish was the dad, the middle-sized fish was the mom, and the little fish was their daughter, named Emma. Sarah didn’t need a child psychologist to explain Emily’s state of mind.

One day when she was feeding the fish, she saw the bigger fish allowed the other two eat first. Was the fish giving her a message that Emily needed a father? Do the fish have families too?

***

Catherine was standing near the lake and looking at the sky. She didn’t notice that Oliver was watching her. He was rehearsing the words before talking to Catherine. He had never disclosed a devastating secret like the one he was about to share with Catherine. He waited until she turned around and saw him.

“Isn’t this a beautiful day?” Catherine asked smiling. She closed her eyes and filled her lungs with the fresh air.

“Yes, it’s a beautiful day.”

“I’ve never asked this before. Is there any church around here? I want to thank God for Sarah’s happiness.”

“No, there’s no church in Heaven.”

“Silly me. We’re so used to going to a building and seeing some one in a robe that sometimes we forget that we can talk to God directly at any time and any place we choose.”

***

After Oliver left, Catherine sat on the bench by the lake. She gazed into the distance trying to absorb the shocking news about her husband. Before long, she began crying quietly. She remembered long stretches when she had to run the business and raising three kids alone, all because of Patrick’s absence. She never questioned Patrick about money, and never inspected any business books, tax records or other documents. Patrick was in charge of the family’s financial matters. Catherine was sobbing now. She covered her face with both hands trying to hide the humiliation she felt.

Some one tapped her lightly on the shoulder and a female voice called her name. She wiped her tears and looked up.

“Hello Catherine.”

“Grandma Suri!” Catherine said with a sigh. She stood up and threw herself into Suri’s open arms. Suri kissed her several times. “My dear child.”

“You know about Patrick, don’t you?”

“Yes I do.”

“Why do I have go through this pain right after the happiest day of my life?”

“Some times you have to go through pain to appreciate happiness.”

“I thought you leave all the painful things behind when you come to Heaven.”

“You’ll have that. But right now you’re still connected to the other side. But my dear child, despite all the ups and downs in your life , you were happy. Weren’t you?”

“Yes I was. But why didn’t I feel it when I was alive?”

“That’s the human nature. Sometimes you’re given a piece of Heaven on earth and you don’t even notice it.”

Catherine started sobbing again. Suri embraced her and promised that the pain would go away. “The key is forgiveness.”

“How can I forgive him after thirty four years of deception?”

“When you forgive someone, you liberate yourself. Hatred and revenge only consumes your energy. It doesn’t bring happiness. But forgiveness lifts your spirit and gives you serenity.”