Day 4:
I had taken the day off of work to be home and get some things in order, maybe make a few phone calls. As if on cue, the phone downstairs began to ring. I heard my mom pick it up, then her muffled voice.
"Madison?! Telephone!" She shouted up the stairs. I picked up the line in my room and said hello. Everything else seemed to vanish when I heard his voice. I hadn't planned on talking to him until day 9, but there he was.
"Hi, Easton. So nice to hear from you." I sat back in my chair.
"Hey! I was just thinking about you and decided to give you a ring. How are ya?"
"Good, thanks. Took the day off to get some things done."
"Are you busy then?"
"No, not at all!" Too busy for Easton? Are you nuts?
"Great! Listen, I was wondering if you're free for dinner tonight. I know we haven't spoken in a while, and wanted to see you again."
Easton wanted to see me again! Yes, he just said that, Madison. I was stunned for a second.
"Madison?" I heard my name on the other line, "Listen, if you're too busy, or you just don't want to, just…"
"NO! I mean, no, I'm not too busy and I'd love to!" I interrupted.
"Alright, then. I'll pick you up at seven thirty?"
When I hung up the phone, I was all smiles. Knock knock.
"Can I come in, Madison?" I heard my mom's voice.
"Sure."
The door opened and in walked my mother. She was a petite woman, with graying blonde hair and small brown eyes. Most people said I resembled her, but I thought I looked more like my father. Well, I had his dark hair and bigger eyes at least. I was petite like my mother, who was trying to tell me something, so, thoughts, excuse me for a minute.
"Was that Easton on the phone?"
I sighed, "Yes. Oh, mom, I really like him a lot. He asked me to dinner, you know."
"Oh, really? That's nice. I like that Easton. He's a gentleman. Really on fire for God too. That's so important."
"Isn't he? We've had some really great Spiritual discussions. He listens to everything I say too, and I don't just mean about my faith. I feel I can talk to him about anything." Lord, if you want me to tell Easton how I feel, show me tonight.
*******
"What a beautiful place!" I exclaimed after Easton and I had been seated. It was a new restaurant that had just opened up and I'd been dying to go there. Easton surprised me when we pulled up, mentioning I had said something about wanting to come here. What a great memory too!
"Isn't it? I've been here twice. Once with clients, and another with my family." He said as he looked around. We had been seated in a booth and faced each other. I took a chance to glance at him while he was looking. His dark brown hair was cut short, his grayish blue eyes sparkled, and his smile was captivating, as it turned to me. Mine was apparently too. Did I have something in my teeth? Oh, no, I was staring.
"You ok?" He asked.
"Fine, so what's good to order?" I turned my eyes to my menu. I put it in front of me to block my view, but Easton had other ideas. He pushed the menu down to point some things out. I watched his finger go up and down the menu saying, "This is good, but this is even better." He had the most adorable hands.
"Thank you. I have my father's hand."
"What?" I asked stupefied.
"You just told me I have the most adorable hands."
"I…I did?"
"Unless I'm hearing things, which happens every once in a while." He winked.
I smiled. He always put me at ease. I breathed, not realizing I was holding my breath, "Well, you do."
"And you have the most adorable everything, my dear Madison." He smiled. I was about to say something back, but the waiter had just come over to take our order. I don't even remember what I said. I could have ordered liver and onions for all I knew.
Our order came fairly quickly and every bite was delicious. I never wanted this night to end.
But, end it did. Two hours later I was being dropped off in front of my house. I turned to Easton, "Thank you for a really nice evening. I had a great time."
"I did too, Madison. I'd like to see you again."
"You would?"
"How about tomorrow night?"
As I dropped into bed that night, I suddenly realized everything I wanted to get done today, my whole reason for being off, I didn't even do. I spent the whole day daydreaming, oh, and trying to figure out what to wear. Ever realize when you have a date you suddenly have nothing to wear? Your closet could be bursting with clothes, but you still have nothing. Took me three hours to figure out I had a great light blue dress right there in front of me. I think it was the first outfit I picked out. Sigh, I couldn't wait until tomorrow.
Day 5:
My ten days seemed to be passing like a blur. Half of the rest of my life was over. Weird to think that. I went back to work the next day and Lynette said she missed me and wanted to call me last night to talk, but decided at the last minute not to. I had to tell her I was out on a date last night, so I wouldn't have been home. Then I had to fill her in on all the details. It's fun to share things like that with your friends. I thanked God for friends and prayed God would bring someone else into Lynette's life when I was gone. For now, I was here, and I wanted to be there for her as much as I could. I did happen to notice, though, Alec's new interest in Lynette. It almost seemed to funny. She looked like Barbie, he looked like Ken. It was too perfect. But, that's what I was discovering. God works in mysterious ways.
********
It was around 3 pm when I received the phone call. Easton Ray was in the hospital. He had gotten into a car accident on the way to work and was in a coma. I sat completely numb at my desk. It took Lynette and Alec ten minutes to get me moving and out of the office. Lynette offered to drive me to the hospital. I was too shook up to say no. She walked with me all the way into the ER. I saw his family sitting there waiting to hear what would happen next. I was told I could see him quickly. Lynette stayed outside while I went to his bedside. His head was wrapped in a bandage and tubes seemed to stick out everywhere. I heard the heart monitor beeping signs of life.
"Oh, Easton. What happened?" I cried, tears spilling down for the first time since I heard the news. I sat down in a chair, and buried my head in his hand. When I finally calmed down, I looked at his face. A black and blue right eye, a cut across the bridge of his nose, and a swollen lower lip. He was still handsome, I thought. I took hold of his hand, his adorable hand, smiled thinking of how I told him that, and then said a quick prayer. I was told I needed to leave as they were running more tests, so I got to know his family even better for the next four hours.
He was right. He had his dad's hands. I held his hand as the four of us, his mom, dad, and two sisters, prayed. When we looked up, I saw pain in all their eyes, yet a peace that was unmistakable. They were in pain because of their son and brother, but at peace with God's will.
His mother, Esther, was sweet and gentle. She seemed to be the calm one. She told me how much Easton talked about me, and how highly he spoke of me. It brought more tears to my eyes. His father, Payton, was quiet, but whenever we made eye contact, he'd give me a smile. I was told Easton was a combination of both parents. Pretty neat, I thought. His twin sisters, Livinia and Annabelle, were great to talk to. Both were 2 years younger than I, and 8 years younger than Easton. Ok, that would make them a surprise 8 years later, I was told. First laugh we had all night.
The doctors finally told us Easton only suffered a mild concussion but wouldn't know how much damage, if any, until he woke up. They moved him into ICU and we were told to go home and rest until tomorrow and hopefully they would know more. How could I rest when the man I loved was in critical condition?
Day 6:
I woke up the next morning eager to get over to the hospital to see Easton. First thing I did was call to find out if there was any progress. None, they told me. I finally found myself at his bedside. Easton looked the same as the night before. His family had been to visit and had gone to eat dinner when I arrived, which gave me time alone. I pulled a chair up close and took hold of his hand.
"Easton, I have four more days to live." I stopped, almost as if to let it sink in, but could Easton hear me? They say people in a coma can, but I wasn't so sure, " If I don't tell you now, I don't know if I ever will. You are the most special man to me. When I first saw you, something about you immediately attracted me. Part of it was the way you handled yourself, with confidence, the other was your enthusiasm for life. I loved the way you spoke of your salvation, and how much Jesus means to you. I loved the way you made me laugh until I couldn't breath. I loved how you seemed to hold on to every word I said, listening and enjoying my company. The things you shared with me, things we have in common, things we disagree on, just added to your charm." I paused for a minute, listening to the heart monitor, and watching his chest rise and fall. His hand felt cold and I took hold of it with both hands to warm it up, rubbing it gently with my fingers, "I may not know you the way your family and close friends do, but I know enough to know that you're the man I want, well, wanted to spend the rest of my life getting to know. I'm also observant enough to see things other may not see. I won't go into details, but I see enough to know you're the kind of man that's imperfect, but perfectly suited for me. You're special, Easton, unique and wonderfully made in God's image. I have never felt this way before about anyone before, and I want you to know how much I care for you. I thought you'd be the one I'm to marry, but it seems God has other plans. I just want you to know how deeply you have touched my life." I finally stopped and just sat back and prayed. Not one minute passed before I felt it…the squeeze of his hand. Easton Ray had heard everything I had said. This time, I was sure of it.
********
His family was thrilled Easton was showing signs of recovery, but he was still not out of the woods. I went home after they came back from dinner, happy I had shared the things I did, yet afraid of what Easton might think if he woke up. Did I say too much? Should I have said it? A million thoughts ran through my mind, that when the alarm went off on day 7, I hadn't gotten any sleep. 3 more days and my list still sat on my desk. I seemed to have forgotten about it, but soon realized it wasn't just about the list.
