Page 70 of Easton

Softly, I ask, “What happened?”

Blowing out a breath, she says, “After I dropped off the check at the hospital, I decided to go upstairs to visit Lydia. I wanted to tell her how right she was about us.” She stops and smiles sadly at me, and I give her a small smile back. “Anyway, when I reached her room, a nurse stopped me from going in. She said there was someone else in there. I just figured Lydia had been moved. But then…” She sighs, and I take her hand again. “The nurse gave me the sad news.”

“I can’t believe it.” I murmur, shaking my head.

Claire squeezes my hand. “I know. She was truly someone special.”

An idea pops into my head, and I say, “You know what? We should do something to honor her memory.”

Claire nods. “Like having a plaque installed at the hospital, or maybe dedicating a bench to her? They could place it out in their atrium with all the flower gardens.”

“We can do those things,” I reply. “But I was thinking of something more personal. Something involving us that she would approve of and be proud of the two of us for finally admitting our true feelings for each other.”

Looking intrigued, Claire asks, “What did you have in mind?”

Now it’s my turn to squeeze her hand as I say, “Let’s get married.”

She laughs. “We already are, you silly man.”

“No, I know. But I mean let’s have the wedding we should have had. Our Vegas ceremony will always hold a special place in my heart, but I love you so much, Claire. I want all of our family and friends to be there to witness our vows. Well,” I clarify, “technically, it’d be a vow renewal. But that’s okay, right?”

Claire is smiling, and there’s happiness in her eyes.

I’m glad I was able to find a way to make her feel better.

“Yes,” she says, nodding. “I love that idea. And Easton?”

“Yes?”

“I love you so damn much.”

“Babe, I love you too.”

Easton’s idea for us to have a big wedding with all of our family and friends to honor Lydia is a great idea. But it’s more than that—it’s for us too. We need to celebrate what we’ve finally realized we have with each other—true, everlasting love.

That’s why, when we begin to plan our celebration, it’s important to us to make sure everything is perfect.

We start by doing the things we didn’t do the first time around.

For one, Easton officially asks my mom, and even my dad, for my hand in marriage. He explains to them that though it will technically be a vow renewal, we’re treating it like a full-on first wedding.

Mom is ecstatic, and my father…well, he’s my typical stoic dad.

But of course they give their blessings.

Second order of business is that I take Madison out to lunch so I can ask her to be my maid of honor, something she’s wanted since we became friends.

When I finally toss it out there, casually before the food arrives at our table, she’s so excited that she squeals and hops out of her chair. She runs over to my side, bends down, and throws her arms around me.

“Wow,” I say, laughing as I hug her back. “I guess that’s a yes?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” she replies before letting me go and straightening up. “Absolutely.” Peering down at me, she asks coyly, “By the way, is Lennox going to be Easton’s best man?”

I laugh. “As a matter of fact, he is. We’re only having you two as attendants. We want to keep the bridal party small since everything else is turning out to be so big.”

“Understandable,” she says, nodding.

I watch her closely as I ask, “Is there something going on with you and Lennox?”

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