Ezra Henderson’s response was short, bitter, and to the point. “Judge, this man’s record speaks for itself. He’s a criminal, and just because he’s managed to stay out of trouble for six months doesn’t mean he’s ready to be responsible for my daughter’s children and my grandchildren. Bocephus Haynes is a dangerous human being, and those kids are better off with their grandmother and me.”

After a five-minute recess, where Bo, T. J., and Lila paced the floors of the hallway outside the courtroom, Woodruff reconvened and made his decision.

“After consideration of the arguments made by counsel, the wishes of the children, and the statements given by Mr. Haynes and Mr. Henderson, it is the ruling of this court that custody of Lila Michelle Haynes and Thomas Jackson Haynes be awarded to . . .” He paused and smiled. “. . . their father, Bocephus Aurulius Haynes.”

In the aftermath of Woodruff’s ruling, Bo hoped for some kind of reconciliation with Ezra, but the old man fled the courthouse before Bo could talk to him. Juanita Henderson, however, stayed behind and gave Bo a kiss on the cheek. “Take care of my grandchildren, Bo.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. Then he turned to his kids, both of whom were smiling ear to ear. “Well . . . are you guys ready to go home?”

That night, in their new house on Jefferson Street in downtown Pulaski, Bo kissed his daughter on the cheek while tucking her into bed. “Do you like your room?”

“I love it,” Lila said, hugging his neck tight. “Hey, Daddy,” she whispered in his ear.

“Yeah, baby.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

Lila’s eyes glistened in the faint light from the moon, which shone down through her window. “For not giving up on us.”

Bo bit his lip hard as he reflected on the long road he’d taken to get to this point. The pain. The obstacles. The loss. He saw fleeting images of Jazz and Tom McMurtrie in his mind and then a five-year-old boy on a suffocatingly hot August day who saw something no child should ever have to witness.

What was it that made a person not quit? Was it God? The human spirit?

Or could it be the people who came along in your life and who taught you to endure the pain . . . the obstacles . . . and the loss and keep going? For Bo, there had been three such people.

Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, who had taught him the value of a strong work ethic and that the lessons of winning on the football field carried over to life.

Professor Thomas Jackson McMurtrie, who had shown him, through his words and his actions, how to practice law and, more importantly, how to face adversity.

And Jasmine Henderson Haynes, who had granted him the most ethereal of gifts: a wondrous love, acceptance, and . . . two priceless and precious gifts.