Could the day hold any more surprises? “Uh. No, I think I’m the one who owes you the apology.”

“He was a jerk.”

The druggie boyfriend. “At least we agree on that.”

“So . . . I couldn’t say it back then, but thanks.”

“Of course.”

She let out a little puff of sound that could have been a sigh or laughter. He couldn’t tell which. “Okay, I’ll be waiting for her call.”

“Bye, Kay.” The nickname she hated slipped out. “Sorry. Kaylynn.”

“You can call me Kay. Bye.” She hung up.

Still off-kilter from the conversation with his sister, Gavin watched Caden on his phone, pacing the small area in front of Sarah’s room. When Caden finally hung up, he sighed.

Gavin narrowed his eyes. “What is it?”

“Kilgore’s dead.”

“How?”

“He hung himself in his basement.”

Gavin flinched. So much pain, so much death. “It’s hard to feel sorry for him.”

“Yeah. I wanted him to pay for what he’d done, but I didn’t wish death on him. Donna will live to stand trial.”

“Good.” They fell silent for a moment, eyes on Sarah’s room. “Did you see her? In the parking lot?” Gavin asked.

“I saw her.” Caden shook his head and wiped eyes that had teared at the memory. “I’ve never seen anything like that. Is that what Dustin felt in his last moments?” His voice roughened with his effort to control his emotions.

Gavin understood the feeling. “I don’t know. I don’t want to think so.”

“Yeah.”

“It was like someone flipped a switch,” Caden said. “She was fine one minute—well, safe and happy to be that way—but then it was like a terrible sadness came over her and there was nothing she could do to stop it.”

“But absolutely had to stop it.”

“Any way she could.” A pause. “She would have run straight out into the road if you hadn’t caught her. It was blocked off, thanks to all of the law enforcement vehicles, but I have no doubt she would have kept going and . . . found a way to kill herself if you hadn’t grabbed her.”

Gavin drew in a deep breath. “Well, it’s over now. We just have to pray Heather’s right about the treatment.”

As though she heard him speak her name, Heather slipped out of Sarah’s room and let the door shut behind her. He caught her gaze and simply waited.

“She’s going to be all right,” Heather said.

“How do you know?”

“Because she has to be.”

“That’s not helpful.”

“I’m sorry. It’s all I can offer right now. But she’s very peaceful. Calm. No nightmares or restlessness. I’m very hopeful.”

Caden crossed his arms, then rubbed his chin. “I hope you’re right.”