“Honestly, I was very resistant to that idea until recently. But I have moved to a different town, and I’m out of the police force so I think I’m ready now to start seeing someone. Like you, I get the nightmares.”

“Just know that it does get better. You have to work at it, but it will progressively improve. At least that’s how it has worked for me.“

“Well, thank you for talking to me. I can’t explain it, but I just needed to know that you were okay.”

“My brother is a firefighter, and he has saved some people over the years. I know that he doesn’t like being called a hero. It makes him feel uncomfortable. And I feel like maybe you’re uncomfortable with being called a hero because of the situation. I just want you to know that saving my life wasn’t in vain. Not only did you keep me from being attacked by that vicious creature, but you’ve allowed me to have extra time with my husband and kids. And I’m going back to school to become a nurse!”

“Wow! That’s fantastic! I’m so glad you’re moving forward.”

“It’s all thanks to you. But if you don’t want to be called a hero, I just want you to know that what you did mattered. And while a life was lost in that process, just remember that he chose that. You didn’t.”

As they said their goodbyes, Emma thought about her last statement over and over. That the guy - whose name happened to be Ricky - chose what happened to him. She had never thought about it that way. This whole time she’d been putting the blame on herself, but maybe that was wrong. Maybe his actions foretold his destiny. She just happened to be the conduit that connected his actions to his outcome.

He chose to attack women. He chose to take one hostage. He chose to point a gun at a police officer. His choices led her to have to make the most difficult one of her life. She didn’t choose to kill another human being. She was forced to make a choice between his life and the life of an innocent woman, and she made the only decision.

Julie and Charlotte laid on their chaise lounges on the beach, the wind blowing toward them as they each drank a cup of coffee. The spring festival had been exhausting, and Julie was glad it was over even though she had enjoyed it immensely.

Seeing her sister and William get engaged in such a romantic and spontaneous way made her giddy with delight. She couldn’t wait to see them finally get married and start their lives together. Janine had talked a lot about adoption, and she was thrilled at the idea of finally getting a niece or nephew.

“Lucy makes a dang good cup of coffee,” Charlotte said.

“She certainly does. And those pancakes this morning? The woman knows her way around the kitchen, doesn’t she?”