Page 92 of The Keeper

“Madeline.” Mom pulls away. “We didn’t turn on him. We needed you to help us understand. And I don’t think any of us did a good enough job of meeting you in the middle. Iwillsay that Lenny and Jules were on your side. They stayed quiet while we figured out what was going on, but they never stopped giving me grief. Becket too. Don’t worry about this family turning their backs on that man. We all love him. But we were as mad at him as we were with you.”

“He wants to marry me again. In front of everyone.”

“Oh.” Mom is careful not to give away her thoughts. “And what doyouwant?”

“I don’t want some big, stuffy thing. That’s so not me,” I tell her honestly. “We’re already married. I don’t really see the point.”

“The point, princess”—Easton wraps and arm around me from behind, startling me—“is for us to promise to love each other in front of the most important people in our lives. Juliette pointed out to me that the people who love us should get to celebrate with us.” He looks over at my mom. “Hey, Ashlyn.”

Brandon walks in with the takeout. “Are we eating in here or the dining room?”

“Here,” Mom and I both say at the same time.

“So? Come on, princess. Don’t make me beg.” Easton drops down on one knee, and I try to pull him back up.

“What are you doing?”

“Madeline Kingston Hayes. I have loved you for what feels like my whole life, and I promise to love you until we’re old and gray. Will you marry me? Again?” he adds, and I laugh.

“Get up, hockey boy.” I pull him up and press my lips to his. “If you really want to do this again, I’ll marry you.”

He lifts me off my feet and holds me to him. “Love you, baby.”

“I love you too, you big goof. Now put me down.”

He drops me back to my feet, and my mom and Brandon hug us both. “I’ve always wanted to plan your wedding,” she whispers.

“Small, Mom. Just family and a few friends,” I tell her.

Brandon clears his throat. “Your family is bigger than the average person’s wedding, shortcake.”

“Don’t remind me.”

* * *

Easton

Ipull Brandon to the side while Lindy’s hugging her mom goodbye. “The only thing I regret about marrying Lindy in Vegas is not asking you for your permission first.”

“She’s her own woman. We both know that. You don’t need my permission, and you’ve had my respect for a long time. There’s no one in this world I’d rather see her spend her life with, Easton. Be good to each other. And be prepared—because you may think you know what being a part of this family means, but you don’t have a clue until you marry one of them.” He pats my back. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

The snow falls around us as we walk to the SUV, and when I open her door, Lindy stops and kisses me. “It’s like we’re in the middle of a snow globe.”

“I guess it does, now get in before you get cold.”

“Thank you for making me come here tonight, E. You were right. I needed to do that. I know how much you miss your mom, but I’ve got to believe she’s watching over you, and she’s so incredibly proud of the man you are. I know I am.”

I wrap my hand around her head and press my lips to hers. “I fucking love you, Lindy.”

“Good. Then let’s get home so you can show me just how much.”

“Deal.” She gets in the car, and I close her door and round the front hood. When I look behind us, there’s a man in a sedan one house down. He’s sitting in the car with the headlights off, and something about it feels wrong.

I turn our car on and look in the rearview, but he doesn’t move.

Maybe I’m overreacting. But something just feelsoff.

“You buckled in, princess?”

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