We move on, I thought. We pick up the pieces and we do the best we can to make things work.

“I’m not sure, Raven.”

“Will you be there for me?”

“Of course.”

“’Cause—not that I would ever need to—but I mean, if I ever did need someone to talk to, or whatever. Someday, I mean.”

“I’ll be here. I promise.”

“Okay.”

A long pause, then she said, “I miss her so bad.”

“So do I.”

“I hate pain.” Her voice was soft and broken. “It’s almost as bad as not feeling anything at all.” She leaned her head against my shoulder, and I put my arm around her and held her as she cried.

Memento mori.

Remember death.

No, I have a better idea.

Let’s remember life.

Moments, so brief, so precious.

Mist.

A vapor that so quickly passes us by.

I didn’t know if Tessa would pull away. I half expected her to, but she didn’t. Instead, she wrapped her arms around me, and I felt the warmth of her fingers as she squeezed my hand ever so slightly.

It was hardly enough to notice.

But it was enough to matter.

It was enough for now.

And I would hold her again if she needed me to, and I would do it every day after that until forever.

Because I love her.

And she’s my daughter now.

And I’m her dad.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks to Matt McCrory, Ashley Schwartz, Dr. Todd Huhn, Dr. J. P. Abner, Tom Colgan, Chris Grall, Grace House, Dan Conaway, Dr. Saad Al-Khatib, Dr. Kenneth E. Ferslew, Chanley Cox, Trinity Huhn, Liesl Huhn, and Sonya Haskins.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steven James is the national bestselling author of nine novels including the critically acclaimed thrillers Every Deadly Kiss, Every Crooked Path, Checkmate, The King, Opening Moves, and The Queen. He has won three Christy Awards for best suspense and was a finalist for an International Thriller Award. His thriller The Bishop was named Suspense Magazine's book of the year.

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