Page 86 of Easton

As much as I want Rhett to get the credit for it, and want to ask him a million questions, I don’t. I let him have his secrets. They’re his to share.

When I look down, Hazel’s looking at me with these big brown eyes. She wiggles. “Oh, you’re awake.” I freeze, unsure what to do.Please don’t cry, please don’t cry, please don’t cry.

She smiles. I touch her little hand, and she wraps it around my finger, then smiles again.

“She likes you.” Archer sits on the arm of the chair.

“I like her too.”

He kisses the top of my head, and we sit there together, admiring the baby, talking to each other and just enjoying her. It’s not long before Daphne says dinner’s done, and Hazel is getting hungry, so I give her back to Simone so she can feed her.

“I’d let you do this part if you could,” she teases because she’s breastfeeding.

Conversation is loud and happy as we eat the stew Daphne made. They ramble about Archer’s upcoming EMT program and act in a way I’ve never seen my family do. Rhett is the quietest, and when I look over, I notice Meadow is sitting beside him, speaking to him softly. Cass is on the other side of her, watching his daughter interact with him.

When we finish lunch, Meadow says, “Ooh, it’s snowing again,” and a thought flickers in my head…snowball fights with Ella. I haven’t had one since I did it with her.

I take Archer’s hand. “Come outside with me.” We put on our coats and gloves. He tugs my beanie onto my head for me, taking care of people he loves the way he’s so good at.

“Where are we going?”

“To have a snowball fight.” My stomach twists, and I see the light go on in his eyes. He knows what this is, what it means.

“Good boy,” he says softly, just for me. I still like that, still want it. Want to be Archer’s good boy.

“Should I invite the others?”

“If you want. That’s all up to you.”

I never would have done this before, and honestly, it’s a little embarrassing, but it feels like honoring Ella too. She would love a big family like this, would love everyone playing in the snow the way she loved.

“We’re going outside,” I tell everyone. “I’m gonna beat Archer in a snowball fight, if anyone wants to join.”

I feel Morgan’s and Rhett’s gazes on me but can’t make myself look at them.

“That sounds fun!” Daphne says.

Everyone grabs their gear, putting it all on. Simone says she’s going to stay inside with the baby, and when Cora tries to do the same, she ushers her wife out with us.

I’m the first one to collect a ball of snow in my hand, and I watch it soar through the air and hit Archer’s shoulder.

“This means war!” he says, making a snowball.

Everyone starts in on each other, laughing and throwing snow at one another, except Rhett, who’s standing some distance away, taking it all in.

“Come play with us, Mr. Rhett,” Meadow calls to him.

“It’s not really my thing,” he replies just as snow clocks him in the chest.

Rhett’s head jerks to the side, shock on his face, and my gaze follows his to find a laughing Tripp Cassidy.

“You gonna let me win, or what?” Cass asks, bending down to grab more, and then…then Rhett does the same, balling snow into his hand and throwing it.

“This is nice,” I tell Archer.

“You have family. You’re loved.”

“I know.” I look up at the sky, feel snowflakes landing on my face, laughter all around me.

I’m going to be happy, Ella. For you and for me.

She doesn’t answer, but I don’t need her to.