Chapter 25
***Ethan***
We walk into the church hand in hand. She’s been doing well
so far today, considering it’s the day of her father’s memorial service. Having
Sandy here has helped her a lot. She can only stay for the service, but I’m
glad Casey has a familiar face to rely on right now. I hope she doesn’t get
angry over what I’ve done, but I felt like I had to do something. When she
stops walking and goes rigid beside me, I know she’s seen them.
“Ethan, what did you do?”
“Are you angry?” I ask, seeing the tears glistening in her
eyes.
She shakes her head as they roll down her cheeks. “No. No,
I’m not.”
Stepping up to the three wreaths, she touches them one by
one. First, the one in the middle that says “Luke,” and then the two on either
side that say “Katy” and “EJ.” Sandy takes her hand and leads her to the front
pew while I make my way to the altar. The small crowd goes quiet and gives me
their full attention.
“First of all, on Casey’s behalf, I’d like to thank you all
for coming.” I look over at my parents, and Dad gives me an encouraging nod. Mother
looks like she had better things to do than be here. I take a deep breath and
continue. “I know you’re wondering about the two additional wreaths. What most
of you don’t know is that, at the time of the attack, Casey was two months pregnant…
with twins.”
A collective gasp comes from the congregation, and everyone
turns their attention to her. Her head is on Sandy’s shoulder, and she’s
sobbing quietly.
“We didn’t know that they were twins, but these were the
names she had chosen. Katherine, after her mom, if it was a girl… and Ethan Jr
for a boy.”
All the women in the room—except for Mother, of course—join
in the sobbing. The men look like they’re barely holding back the tears.
Swiping one from my cheek, I address the crowd once again.
“So today, join me in remembering these three lives taken
way too soon—Luke and his grandchildren, Katherine and Ethan.”