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E aston’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?”

“No.” She shakes her head, acting all innocent as she trots back to her side of the table and plops down in her seat. “I just still think he’s hot as hell.”

Hmmm, I’m not sure if I believe her. She looks like she’s keeping a secret. But digging deeper into this is a task for another day.

Because I have a wedding to plan!

And plan I do.

Easton and I choose a nice church and rent out a beautiful reception space. With Madison’s help, I find the prettiest silk and lace wedding gown to wear. She opts for a long maid of honor dress.

Also, the guys pick out and rent their tuxedos.

And then there’s everything else that Easton and I slowly check off—invitations, the music, flowers, the cake…

The list goes on and on.

In the end, the only things we don’t need are rings. We have our simple platinum bands that we picked out in Vegas.

I look down at my left hand now and smile as I think about that day and how far we’ve come.

I’m waiting for Easton in the entry hall of our house, dressed in a shimmery silver dress with spaghetti straps and a pair of high heels. The dressy look is for a reason—Easton is taking me out to dinner tonight to a fancy restaurant. He said that he wants to celebrate that the wedding is now only a week away and we, at last, have everything finalized.

He had a quick errand to run before we leave for the restaurant. That’s why I’m waiting.

A few minutes pass, and then I hear his Range Rover pulling up outside.

I’d normally just go out, but he insisted before he left that he wants to come to the door and pick me up like a “real” date.

He’s such a romantic.

After we complete that formality, we head out to the vehicle with Easton holding my hand.

When we reach the passenger door, he opens it for me.

I say, “Thanks,” then add, “You look really handsome tonight, by the way.”

He replies, “Not as good as you, babe. But thank you anyway.”

We reach the restaurant, and the booth we’re given has a giant window, affording us beautiful views of the mountains in the distance and the setting sun.

“This is so nice,” I say to Easton.

“Only the best for my beautiful wife.”

“Aww,” I coo. “You’re so sweet. You know what? You’re so wonderful, I think I’ll marry you again.”

“Speaking of which,” he says as he slips out of the booth and walks over to my side. “I wanted to wait until after dinner, but I can’t.”

No sooner do I get the words “Wait for what?” out of my mouth, Easton is dropping down to one knee and holding out the most stunning diamond engagement ring I think I’ve ever seen.

“I never gave you a proper proposal with a ring, Claire, so I want to do so now.” He clears his throat and goes on. “Claire Weller, will you marry me again and accept this ring as a token of all of our love?”

‘Yes, yes,” I say excitedly.

This is actually our third proposal. I once asked him all those years ago when we were seventeen, and he asked me when we reunited out here in Arizona.

But this proposal is by far the best.

Easton slips the ring onto my finger and stands up.

But before he heads back over to his side of the booth, he leans down, and we share a kiss.

When he turns around, to our surprise, the people in the restaurant and the staff break out in raucous applause.

Wow, I didn’t even realize anyone was paying attention.

But I’m glad they were and are, in a way, celebrating with us.

And it is a celebration. Even our waiter presents us with a complimentary bottle of champagne.

We go on to have a wonderful dinner while the sun sizzles down behind the mountains. Once it’s dark out, the sky fills with a million twinkling stars.

It’s the perfect ending to a perfect night with the most perfect man and the promise of a perfect life.