“It’s time. Your sister was right when she said sometimes we need someone to step in and save us from ourselves. I had people who tried to do that. Dustin, Caden, Brooke . . . all of them. And you. And I suppose my father too, even though it’s harder to see it that way. But I need to deal with the past and Brooke is going to help me do that.” She shot him a small smile. “She just doesn’t know it yet.”

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “I’m here for you.”

“I know. I’d be in a puddle on the floor if you weren’t.” She patted his cheek. “You’re a good man, Gavin Black.”

“I try.”

“So, how’d it go with Kaylynn’s professor?”

“He’s facing charges of sexual harassment and will lose his tenure at the university. Kaylynn didn’t want to tell our father about what was going on because she was afraid he’d do something he’d regret. But she’s told my parents, the school, and the police everything. She also said she plans to testify if he decides to plead not guilty and force a trial.”

“She’s a brave girl. One who’s very blessed to have you looking out for her.”

He straightened. “I see someone who wants to look out for you.”

She drew back and frowned at him. Then looked over her shoulder. “What’s he doing here?” Her father walked slowly, his hand pressed to his shoulder.

“General?”

“Sarah.”

He’d called her Sarah. Hope sprung. She sighed. “I just want you to know I’m glad you’re not dead.”

“I’m glad you’re not dead too.” His gruff voice held a lot of emotion that wasn’t reflected on his face.

“Mom lived here before she met you,” she blurted.

He blinked. Realization dawned in his eyes. “And that’s why you wanted to live here.”

“I told myself that, but I wonder if it was more that it made you mad. And I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry for a lot of things.”

He cleared his throat. “So am I.”

Sarah nearly fell over.

Her father glanced at Gavin, then back at her. “I wish I’d done things different, but I can’t go back and redo them.”

“No one can,” she said. “I figured that out a while ago.”

He rubbed his chin, then stuffed his hand in his pocket. “But we can make changes going forward, can’t we? I’d like to try anyway.”

It was all Sarah could do not to let her jaw drop to her chest. “So would I. That’s why I’m giving up the apartment and moving in with Caden for now. As much as I love some of the residents, it’s time for me to leave.”