Page 100 of Beneath the Blue Moon

***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.”